A few miles beyond the river, just opposite the place where the Israelites were encamped, was the large and strongly fortified city of Jericho. This city was virtually the key to the whole country, and it would present a formidable obstacle to the success of Israel. Joshua therefore sent two young men as spies to visit this city and ascertain something as to its population, its resources, and the strength of its fortifications. The inhabitants of the city, terrified and suspicious, were constantly on the alert, 483 and the messengers were in great danger. They were, however, preserved by Rahab, a woman of Jericho, at the peril of her own life. In return for her kindness they gave her a promise of protection when the city should be taken.

Nogle få kilometer på den anden side af floden, lige over for det sted, hvor Israels lejr var, lå den store, stærkt befæstede by Jeriko. Den var faktisk nøglen til hele landet, og den ville være en meget stor hindring for Israels videre fremrykning. Josua sendte derfor to unge mænd ind i byen som spejdere for at skaffe oplysning om dens befolkning, dens forråd og fæstningernes styrke. Byens indbyggere, der var bange og mistænksomme, holdt vagt ustandselig, og spejderne var i stor fare. Men Rahab, en kvinde i Jeriko, reddede dem med fare for sit eget liv. Til gengæld for hendes venlighed lovede de at beskytte hende, når byen blev indtaget.