Joshua 2:6

Authorized King James Version

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהִ֖יא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#2
הֶֽעֱלָ֣תַם
But she had brought them up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#3
הַגָּֽג׃
to the roof
a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar
#4
וַֽתִּטְמְנֵם֙
of the house and hid
to hide (by covering over)
#5
בְּפִשְׁתֵּ֣י
of flax
linen (i.e., the thread, as carded)
#6
הָעֵ֔ץ
them with the stalks
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#7
הָֽעֲרֻכ֥וֹת
which she had laid in order
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
#8
לָ֖הּ
H0
#9
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#10
הַגָּֽג׃
to the roof
a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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