On the eve of crossing into the Land of Israel, while camped at Shittim near the Jordan River, Joshua initiates a covert espionage mission. This decision naturally raises a profound question: after the catastrophic failure of the spies sent during the time of Moses, why risk another reconnaissance mission? Furthermore, why not rely entirely on God's promise of guaranteed victory?
The primary approach among commentators [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל] is that Joshua internalized the lessons of the past. Unlike Moses, who sent twelve prominent leaders at the behest of the people to evaluate the quality of the land, Joshua acted independently. He dispatched only two ordinary men whose actual profession was espionage, and he did so for a strictly tactical purpose: to determine the most strategic route for conquest. Other perspectives suggest the mission was not military at all, but psychological. The goal was to gauge the enemy's morale and discover if they were paralyzed by fear, which would in turn bolster the confidence of the Israelite fighters before the impending battle [רלב״ג, אלשיך].
There is also a deeper spiritual dimension to this effort. Following the Israelites' recent sin of immorality at Shittim, the nation was no longer entirely worthy of a purely miraculous victory, necessitating natural human effort [אהבת יהונתן]. Additionally, the espionage served as a strategic decoy. By making the Canaanites believe the Israelites were relying on conventional military tactics, it prevented the local populations from fleeing in sheer despair. From a mystical standpoint, it is suggested that the Canaanites had fortified Jericho with witchcraft, and the spies were sent specifically to assess and neutralize these dark arts [צווארי שלל, חומת אנך].
The nature of this mission was defined by profound secrecy and clever subterfuge. To avoid inciting panic, the operation was kept entirely hidden, even from the Israelites themselves [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The men were tasked with quietly probing the thoughts and anxieties of the local inhabitants [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג]. To execute this, they employed elaborate disguises. Some suggest they posed as deaf-mutes, ensuring the locals would not suspect them of being foreigners and would speak freely in their presence [רש״י, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה, ראשון לציון]. Alternatively, they disguised themselves as carpenters or potters carrying earthenware. By selling pottery to local women, they could seamlessly blend into the population and gather vital gossip regarding the public mood [רש״י, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה, צווארי שלל].
Their primary target was Jericho. Although it was just one part of the broader territory, it was uniquely significant because it was the most heavily fortified and formidable city in the region. Serving as the main gateway near the Jordan River crossings, its conquest was essential [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, by analyzing the specific conditions within Jericho, the spies could accurately deduce the military and psychological state of the entire land [אלשיך].
Upon arriving, the spies sought refuge in the house of a woman named Rahab. While some interpret her profession simply as an innkeeper who sold food, others understand her to be an actual prostitute [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה]. Selecting this specific location was a calculated, twofold ruse. First, the Canaanites were well aware that the Israelites strictly avoided immorality, making a brothel the last place they would search for Israelite spies. Second, such establishments naturally attracted the local elite and government officials. Rahab herself was well-connected to various kings and dignitaries, making her home the ideal listening post for state secrets and high-level intelligence [מלבי״ם, ראשון לציון, אלשיך, צאינה וראינה].
This choice of lodging also carried profound spiritual weight. By withstanding the temptations of an impure environment, the spies were enacting a spiritual rectification for the Israelites' recent sin of immorality at Shittim [אהבת יהונתן]. Mystical traditions even suggest a destined connection: Rahab is seen as the reincarnation of Potiphar's wife, while Joshua carried the spiritual essence of Joseph. This deep cosmic tie ultimately led to her conversion and marriage to Joshua [חומת אנך].
The operation required the men to lodge there for only a single night, using the space purely as a temporary base to fulfill their mission before departing [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, a fascinating psychological misstep occurred during their stay. The very fact that two men entered a prostitute's quarters together—a behavior highly unusual for regular patrons—is precisely what aroused the suspicion of the King of Jericho. This anomaly led him to the correct and dangerous conclusion that these men were not ordinary clients, but disguised spies infiltrating his city [ראשון לציון].