Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. New Living Translation Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. English Standard Version Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. Berean Standard Bible Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them. Berean Literal Bible And the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and they came to Joshua son of Nun and told him all that had found them. King James Bible So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: New King James Version So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. New American Standard Bible Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country, and they crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun. Then they reported to him all that had happened to them. NASB 1995 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. NASB 1977 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. Legacy Standard Bible Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they recounted to him all that had happened to them. Amplified Bible Then the two men turned back and came down from the hill country and crossed over [the Jordan] and came to Joshua the son of Nun [at Shittim], and told him everything that had happened to them. Berean Annotated Bible Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity) and reported all that had happened to them. Christian Standard Bible Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. American Standard Version Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them. Contemporary English Version the two spies went down into the Jordan valley and crossed the river. They reported to Joshua and told him everything that had happened. English Revised Version Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then the two spies came down out of the mountains, crossed the Jordan River, and returned to Joshua, son of Nun. They told him everything that had happened to them. Good News Translation Then the two spies came down from the hills, crossed the river, and went back to Joshua. They told him everything that had happened, International Standard Version Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, approached Nun's son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. NET Bible Then the two men returned--they came down from the hills, crossed the river, came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered. New Heart English Bible Then the two men returned, descended from the mountain, passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had happened to them. Webster's Bible Translation So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them. World English Bible Then the two men returned, descended from the mountain, crossed the river, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him all that had happened to them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the two men turn back, and come down from the hill, and pass over, and come to Joshua son of Nun, and recount to him all that has come on them; Berean Literal Bible And the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and they came to Joshua son of Nun and told him all that had found them. Young's Literal Translation And the two men turn back, and come down from the hill, and pass over, and come in unto Joshua son of Nun, and recount to him all that hath come upon them; Smith's Literal Translation And the two men will turn back and come down from the mountain, and will pass over, and will come to Joshua the son of Nun, and will recount to him all things having found them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when they were gone back into the city, the spies returned, and came down from the mountain: and passing over the Jordan, they came to Josue the son of Nun, and told him all that befel them. Catholic Public Domain Version And when they returned and entered the city, the explorers descended from the mountain. And crossing the Jordan, they went to Joshua, the son of Nun, and they reported to him all that had happened to them. New American Bible Then the two came back down from the hills, crossed the Jordan to Joshua, son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them. New Revised Standard Version Then the two men came down again from the hill country. They crossed over, came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo the two spies came down from the mountain, and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And those two spies went down from the mountain and they crossed over and they went to Yeshua son of Nun, and they told him everything that happened to them, and they said to Yeshua: “LORD JEHOVAH has delivered into our hands all of the land, also all of the inhabitants of the land are afraid of us” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the two young men returned, and came down out of the mountain; and they went over to Joshua the son of Naue, and told him all things that had happened to them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Promise to Rahab…22So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road. 23Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them. 24“The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”… Cross References Then the two men started back, Numbers 13:25-26 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, / and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Deuteronomy 1:25 They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us word: “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.” Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” came down from the hill country, Matthew 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Luke 9:37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd. and crossed the river. Joshua 3:14-17 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, / the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. … Joshua 4:10-13 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until the people had completed everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell them, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried across, / and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people. / The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over before the Israelites, armed for battle as Moses had instructed them. … 2 Kings 2:8 And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. So they came to Joshua son of Nun Numbers 27:18-23 And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. / Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. / Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. … Deuteronomy 31:7-8 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Joshua 1:1-2 Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, / “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. and reported all that had happened to them. Acts 14:27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Exodus 18:8 Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Acts 4:23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient. Treasury of Scripture So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: Jump to Previous Account Befallen Befell Complete Country Crossed Descended Hill Hill-Country Hills Joshua Mountain Nun Passed Related River StartedJump to Next Account Befallen Befell Complete Country Crossed Descended Hill Hill-Country Hills Joshua Mountain Nun Passed Related River StartedJoshua 2 1. Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim8. The covenant between her and them 23. Their return and description of events Then the two men started back The two men refer to the spies sent by Joshua to scout the land of Jericho. This mission echoes the earlier spying mission in Numbers 13, where Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan. Unlike the previous mission, which resulted in fear and rebellion, this mission is marked by faith and obedience. The spies' return signifies the completion of their task and the beginning of the Israelites' conquest of Canaan. came down from the hill country and crossed the river So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them Persons / Places / Events 1. The Two SpiesThese were the men sent by Joshua to scout the land of Jericho. Their mission was crucial for the Israelites' strategy in conquering the Promised Land. 2. The Hill Country This refers to the region where the spies hid for three days to avoid capture by the king of Jericho's men. It symbolizes a place of refuge and divine protection. 3. The Jordan River A significant geographical and spiritual boundary for the Israelites, representing the transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. 4. Joshua son of Nun The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. His leadership is marked by faithfulness and obedience to God. 5. The Report The spies' report to Joshua was a testimony of God's faithfulness and the fear that had fallen upon the inhabitants of Jericho, setting the stage for Israel's conquest. Teaching Points Faithful ObedienceThe spies' mission underscores the importance of obeying God's commands and trusting in His protection and guidance. Divine Protection The hiding in the hill country illustrates God's provision of safety and refuge for those who are on His mission. Effective Leadership Joshua's role as a leader who listens to reports and acts on God's promises is a model for Christian leadership today. Testimony of God's Work The report given by the spies serves as a reminder to share testimonies of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Crossing Boundaries The crossing of the Jordan symbolizes stepping out in faith to claim God's promises, encouraging believers to move forward in their spiritual journey. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 2:23?2. How does Joshua 2:23 demonstrate the importance of obedience in God's plan? 3. What can we learn from the spies' report about trusting God's promises? 4. How does Joshua 2:23 connect with God's faithfulness in Deuteronomy 31:6? 5. How can we apply the spies' diligence in our daily spiritual walk? 6. What role does accountability play in fulfilling God's mission, as seen in Joshua 2:23? 7. How does Joshua 2:23 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises? 8. What role does Rahab play in the fulfillment of Joshua 2:23? 9. How does Joshua 2:23 reflect the theme of divine guidance and protection? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 2? 11. How could two foreign spies move so freely in Jericho without immediate suspicion, as described in Joshua 2:2-3? 12. Judges 2:6 describes Joshua sending the people away, yet Joshua appears to have died in the previous book; how can this timeline be reconciled? 13. Did Joshua and the Israelites capture Jerusalem? Yes (Joshua 10:23, 40) No (Joshua 15:63) 14. What does the Bible mention about hornets? What Does Joshua 2:23 Mean Then the two men started back- After hiding three days in the hills (Joshua 2:16,22), the spies knew God had cleared their escape route. - Their resolve mirrors the earlier promise to Rahab: “When the LORD gives us the land…” (Joshua 2:14). God’s faithfulness motivates decisive action (Psalm 37:5). - Like Abraham’s servants who “returned to Abraham” after their mission (Genesis 22:19), these men illustrate obedience that begins and ends with returning to the one who sent them. Came down from the hill country - The rugged Judean hills had been a divinely timed refuge. Now, descending signifies transition from concealment to proclamation, much as Elijah left Horeb to speak for God (1 Kings 19:15-18). - God often uses hidden seasons to refine courage before public testimony (Galatians 1:17-18; Mark 6:31-34). And crossed the river - The Jordan stands between promise and possession. Though not yet parted for the nation (Joshua 3), these spies manage the crossing, previewing God’s impending miracle. - Their safe passage echoes Israel’s earlier Red Sea deliverance (Exodus 14:29) and foreshadows believers’ assurance of victory even before the final act (Romans 8:37). So they came to Joshua son of Nun - Returning to God-ordained leadership maintains unity. Compare Moses’ twelve spies who bypassed communal accountability and spread fear (Numbers 13:31-33). - Joshua had been commissioned by the LORD (Joshua 1:1-2); honoring that chain of command reflects submission to God-given authority (Hebrews 13:17). And reported all that had happened to them - Their report was filled with faith, not fear: “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands” (Joshua 2:24). - Good news strengthens the body; Rahab’s testimony plus their firsthand experience confirm God’s promise (Deuteronomy 7:17-19). - The pattern continues in Acts 14:27, where Paul and Barnabas “reported all that God had done,” igniting worship and readiness for the next step. summary Joshua 2:23 captures the moment when covert obedience turns into courageous testimony. Protected by God in the hills, empowered to cross the Jordan, and accountable to Joshua, the spies relay a faith-filled report that readies Israel for conquest. Their journey models confident trust, orderly submission, and the power of declaring God’s works before moving forward. Verse 23. - And passed over. The sacred historian does not say how. But it is improbable (see ver. 7) that they forded the river. They probably swam across, as they were no doubt unarmed (cf. 1 Chronicles 12:15). That befel them. Literally, "that found them."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then the [two] menהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (hā·’ă·nā·šîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person started back, וַיָּשֻׁ֜בוּ (way·yā·šu·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again came down וַיֵּרְד֣וּ (way·yê·rə·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend from the hill country מֵֽהָהָ֔ר (mê·hā·hār) Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country and crossed [the river]. וַיַּעַבְרוּ֙ (way·ya·‘aḇ·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on So they came וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites son בִּן־ (bin-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of Nun נ֑וּן (nūn) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5126: Nun -- father of Joshua and reported וַיְסַ֨פְּרוּ־ (way·sap·pə·rū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every that had happened הַמֹּצְא֖וֹת (ham·mō·ṣə·’ō·wṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present to them. אוֹתָֽם׃ (’ō·w·ṯām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among Links Joshua 2:23 NIVJoshua 2:23 NLT Joshua 2:23 ESV Joshua 2:23 NASB Joshua 2:23 KJV Joshua 2:23 BibleApps.com Joshua 2:23 Biblia Paralela Joshua 2:23 Chinese Bible Joshua 2:23 French Bible Joshua 2:23 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 2:23 Then the two men returned descended (Josh. 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