- The Canaanites descended from Noah’s grandson, Ham.
- The Canaanites were the most vile, wicked, and idolatrous people on earth in that day – large in physical stature, brutal in battle, and heartless in their treatment of the captors, but they feared the God of Israel.
Several days before the Israelites were to cross the Jordan River into Canaan, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to test their military strength and to determine the method of attack.
- The two men found refuge in the house of Rahab the, harlot, which backed up to the outer wall of the city.
- When the authorities discovered the intentions of the men and their whereabouts, they asked Rahab to reveal them.
- Instead, Rahab hid the spies, lied to the messengers as to when the men were at her house, and then sent the king’s messengers on a worthless pursuit.
- Rahab then told the two men she knew their God had given the Israelites the land of Canaan, for she had heard what He had already done for them since leaving Egypt.
- Rahab said everyone was in fear because of the mighty things God had done for the Israelites, but she was the only one to confess: “For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
- In exchange for their safety, the spies promised Rahab no harm would come to her or to her family.
