Joshua 2:24 kjv
And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
Joshua 2:24 nkjv
And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."
Joshua 2:24 niv
They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
Joshua 2:24 esv
And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."
Joshua 2:24 nlt
"The LORD has given us the whole land," they said, "for all the people in the land are terrified of us."
Joshua 2 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 2:9-11 | “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that dread... has fallen upon us... melted before you.” | Rahab's confession, preceding and validating the spies' report. |
| Num 13:31-33 | “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we...” | The earlier, faithless spy report leading to disobedience. |
| Num 14:28-30 | “...not one of you shall come into the land... except Caleb... and Joshua...” | Consequence of the faithless report, contrasting with Joshua 2:24's outcome. |
| Deut 1:21 | “Behold, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession...” | Similar divine command to take possession of the promised land. |
| Deut 2:25 | “This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples...” | God's direct promise to instill terror in the enemies of Israel. |
| Deut 7:23 | “...the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed.” | God's promise to ensure Israel's victory over the inhabitants. |
| Deut 11:25 | “No man shall be able to stand before you. The Lord your God will lay the dread and fear of you on all the land...” | Reiteration of God causing widespread fear among the Canaanites. |
| Ex 15:15 | “Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.” | Prophetic declaration of the Canaanites' terror and fear before Israel. |
| Ex 23:27 | “I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come...” | God promising to use terror to pave the way for Israel's conquest. |
| Gen 12:7 | “To your offspring I will give this land.” | Initial Abrahamic covenant promise regarding the land. |
| Gen 15:18 | “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates...” | Detailed boundary of the land promise given to Abraham. |
| Josh 1:2-3 | “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan... Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you...” | God reiterates the promise of the land to Joshua as Moses' successor. |
| Josh 6:2 | “And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.” | Divine declaration of victory before the battle, emphasizing God's giving. |
| Josh 10:8 | “And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not a man of them shall stand before you.” | God's assurance of handing over specific enemies during battle. |
| Ps 44:3 | “For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm bring them victory, but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your face...” | Ascribed victory in the land to God's intervention, not human might. |
| Isa 13:7-8 | “Every hand will go limp, and every man’s heart will melt. They will be dismayed, pangs and sorrows will seize them...” | Similar language of demoralization and terror applied to nations under judgment. |
| Heb 3:17-19 | “And with whom was He provoked forty years?... to those who disobeyed... they could not enter because of unbelief.” | The New Testament commentary on Israel's unbelief from Numbers 13. |
| Heb 11:30-31 | “By faith the walls of Jericho fell... By faith Rahab... did not perish...” | Connects the fall of Jericho and Rahab's deliverance to faith. |
| Rom 8:31 | “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” | Theological principle of divine aid ensuring success against opposition. |
| 1 Sam 17:46-47 | “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” | Declaration of divine deliverance of an enemy into human hands. |
Joshua 2 verses
Joshua 2 24 Meaning
The spies' report to Joshua unequivocally affirms the divine fulfillment of God's covenant promises concerning the land of Canaan. It declares that the Lord has sovereignly granted the land into Israel's possession and that the local inhabitants are utterly demoralized by their presence, signifying that the way for conquest has been prepared by divine intervention, not merely by Israel's might.
Joshua 2 24 Context
Joshua chapter 2 details the mission of the two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout the city of Jericho. Their mission brings them into contact with Rahab, a prostitute, who hides them from the city guards. During this encounter, Rahab makes a profound confession of faith in the Lord, revealing that the fear and dread of Israel and their God had already gripped the inhabitants of the land (Josh 2:9-11). She recounts how they had heard of the Red Sea crossing and the defeat of the Amorite kings. Joshua 2:24 marks the conclusion of the spies' report back to Joshua after they successfully return from Jericho, having confirmed Rahab's words and seen the tangible evidence of fear in the land. This report is critical as it stands in stark contrast to the negative, faithless report of the twelve spies in Numbers 13, which resulted in a forty-year wandering in the wilderness due to the people's unbelief. Here, the report confirms God's active work, emboldens the nation, and prepares them for immediate entry into the promised land.
Joshua 2 24 Word analysis
- And they said: Refers to the two spies, implicitly Caleb and Joshua's peers who have a renewed spirit of faith. Their collective voice brings a decisive report.
- to Joshua: The divinely appointed leader. Receiving this affirmation strengthens his leadership and God's plan.
- Truly (Hebrew: אָמְנָם, 'omnām): An emphatic adverb meaning "indeed," "certainly," "of a truth." It confirms the veracity and absolute reliability of their observation, making it a statement of deep conviction rather than mere speculation.
- the Lord (Hebrew: יהוה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness to His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. It asserts divine agency.
- has given (Hebrew: נָתַן, nāṯan): A completed past tense action, emphasizing divine sovereignty. God's action is decisive and already accomplished from His eternal perspective, though the physical conquest is yet to unfold. It denotes divine bestowal and ownership.
- all the land: Emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the divine gift – the entirety of Canaan. It points to God's complete provision and full fulfillment of His promise.
- into our hands: Signifies transfer of possession, authority, and ultimate victory. It is God's power working through Israel.
- and all the inhabitants: Highlights the complete demoralization of the entire population, not just specific groups or regions.
- of the land are fainthearted (Hebrew: נָמַסוּ, nāmasû, from māsas): Literally means "have melted," or "have dissolved." This vivid imagery describes utter demoralization, panic, and a complete loss of courage and will to resist. It’s a deeper, more profound fear than just being "scared," indicating a loss of spiritual and moral fortitude, a prelude to surrender.
- because of us: Implies that the very presence and reputation of Israel, backed by their God, is the source of the inhabitants' terror, a visible sign of Yahweh's overwhelming power and active presence among His people.
- "Truly the Lord has given": This phrase encapsulates the core theological truth – the conquest is not Israel's doing, but God's divine act. It underscores divine initiative and sovereignty as the primary engine of their success. It mirrors Rahab's confession in Josh 2:9, establishing a consistent testimony.
- "all the land into our hands, and all the inhabitants... are fainthearted": This parallel structure highlights both aspects of God's work: giving the land and demoralizing the enemy. The divine gifting of the land is assured, and the pre-emptive terror of the inhabitants is proof of this divine activity. The fear of the Canaanites acts as God’s "weapon" against them, a psychological victory preceding military one.
Joshua 2 24 Bonus section
The concept of enemies' "hearts melting" or being "fainthearted" is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament when describing divine intervention that pre-emptively demoralizes opposing forces before a physical confrontation. This demonstrates that victory often comes not primarily through Israel's military might but through God's psychological warfare and direct involvement. It underscores a key theological truth: Yahweh fights for His people, and when He acts, no human force can stand. This narrative not only assured Israel of success but also taught them reliance on divine power rather than human strength or numbers. This initial affirmation of divine assurance laid a strong foundation for the subsequent acts of faith and obedience, such as the crossing of the Jordan and the battle of Jericho.
Joshua 2 24 Commentary
Joshua 2:24 encapsulates a pivotal moment for Israel's conquest. It is the spies' conclusive report, infused with faith and divine perspective, directly affirming the Lord's absolute sovereignty over the promised land. Unlike the disastrous report from Kadesh-barnea, this report centers on God's active work: He has given the land, a completed divine action, and He has caused the inhabitants' hearts to melt, signifying a spiritual and psychological defeat even before military engagement. The fear of the Canaanites, openly acknowledged by Rahab, validates the spies' observations and demonstrates that God is preparing the way for His people. This verse transforms a mere reconnaissance mission into a powerful statement of God's faithfulness and irresistible power, serving as a divine encouragement to Joshua and the nation for the imminent conquest.