Joshua 2:20 is the condition the two Israelite spies attach to their promise to Rahab. If she keeps quiet about their mission, they will be released from the oath they have just sworn to spare her and her household when Israel takes Jericho. The verse is spoken by the spies to Rahab, the woman in Jericho who hid them on her roof and helped them escape the city’s guards.
But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you’ve made us to swear.”
Joshua 2:20 (WEB)
What Joshua 2:20 Means
The verse begins with “But if you talk about this business of ours.” The spies are asking Rahab to keep their visit secret. “This business” refers to their reconnaissance mission, which would be dangerous for them if the king of Jericho learned of it. Their safety and hers depend on silence.
The next phrase, “then we shall be guiltless of your oath,” works as a release clause. An oath, in the ancient world, was a binding promise made in God’s presence. The spies are saying that if Rahab betrays them, they are no longer obligated to keep the promise they made to her. The protection is conditional, and the condition is her discretion.
The verse does not promise that Rahab will be safe no matter what. It makes her protection depend on her keeping faith with the spies. It also does not explain how Israel will treat the rest of Jericho, a question the book takes up in later chapters. What the verse does show is the practical logic of a bargain struck between two parties in a dangerous situation.
The Context of Joshua 2:20
The book of Joshua records Israel’s entry into the land of Canaan after Moses’ death, with Joshua as the leader. Tradition holds that Joshua himself wrote much of the book, though the text includes later editorial notes, so scholars often describe its final form as the product of a longer process. Its first readers were Israelites who needed to understand how God had given them the land and how they were to live in it.
Just before this verse, Rahab has asked the spies to swear that they will spare her family when the city falls, and they agree to do so with a sign. Verses 17 through 19 set out the terms: a scarlet cord hung from her window will mark her house, and anyone inside must stay there. Verse 20 comes right after these instructions, which is why it reads as a second clause in the same deal. Seeing this sequence helps explain that the spies are not expressing contempt for Rahab. They are laying out the conditions of a sworn agreement with care.
Key Phrases in Joshua 2:20
Joshua 2:9
She said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
(WEB)
This verse is Rahab’s own declaration that the people of Jericho are afraid of Israel’s God. It explains why she chose to help the spies, and it shows the faith behind her actions. Reading it alongside verse 20 helps you see the motives and the trust on both sides of their agreement.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
(WEB)
The writer of Hebrews lists Rahab among the people of faith, noting that she received the spies in peace. This connection reminds readers that her protective act was part of a larger story of trust in God. It places the events of Joshua 2:20 within a longer account of faithfulness.
A Short Prayer From Joshua 2:20
Lord, you are faithful to keep your promises, even when the people around us are unsure of what to trust. Help me to be a person whose word can be relied on, especially when others depend on my discretion. Give me wisdom to know when to keep a confidence and courage to honor the trust placed in me. Let my faithfulness reflect your own, and let me find safety in the promises you have made. Amen.
