The news of the arrival of the Israelite spies reached the king of Jericho. It is possible to render The king of Jericho heard … that night as “That same evening the king of Jericho heard….” The Hebrew word translated king is used in the general sense of ruler; Jericho was a city-state, an autonomous city. So the king sent word to Rahab to turn the spies over to him. In verse 3 the Hebrew text does not refer explicitly to the king’s messengers (or officers, or soldiers) who took the message to Rahab; it is in verse 5 that the text makes clear the presence of the royal messengers, who heed Rahab’s advice and set out to capture the Israelite spies (verse 7). On the basis of verses 5 and 7, sent word to Rahab may be translated “sent some men (or messengers, or soldiers) to say to Rahab.”

Since it is quite possible that more than two men were in Rahab’s house, The men in your house have come to spy out may be rendered either “There are two men in your house who have come to spy out” or “Two of the men in your house have come to spy out.”

Bring them out may imply accompaniment, and so the command may be translated “Send them out (to us)!”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .