Joshua Chapter 2 verse 6 Holy Bible
But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
read chapter 2 in ASV
But she had taken them up to the roof, covering them with the stems of flax which she had put out in order there.
read chapter 2 in BBE
But she had taken them up to the roof, and secreted them under the stalks of flax, which she had laid out on the roof.
read chapter 2 in DARBY
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.
read chapter 2 in KJV
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.
read chapter 2 in WBT
But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.
read chapter 2 in WEB
and she hath caused them to go up on the roof, and hideth them with the flax wood, which is arranged for her on the roof.
read chapter 2 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 6. - But she had brought them up. Literally, and she caused them to ascend; but our version has very properly (see ver. 4) given the preterite the pluperfect sense here. "Two strangers, Israelites, spies, have a safe harbour provided them, even amongst their enemies, against the proclamation of a king." "Where cannot the God of heaven either find or raise up friends to His own causes and servants?" (Bp. Hall.) To the roof of the house. The flat roofs of Oriental, and even of Greek and Italian houses, are used for all kinds of purposes, especially for drying corn and other things for domestic use (see 1 Samuel 9:25, 26; 2 Samuel 11:2; 2 Samuel 16:22; 2 Kings 23:12. Also Acts 10:9, where the roof is used as a place of retirement and repose). Stalks of flax. Literally, flax of the tree. The word translated flax either of the raw material or of the linen made from it. Here it must mean flax as it came cut from the field; that is, as our version translates it, the stalks of flax (λινοκαλάμη, LXX.), which grows in Egypt to a height of three feet, and may be presumed to have attained a height not much less at Jericho. The word עָרַד which signifies to lay in a row, and is used of the wood on the altar in Genesis 22:9, and of the shew bread in Leviticus 24:6, confirms this view. It is obvious that this would have formed a most sufficient hiding place for the fugitives. "Either faith or friendship are not tried but in extremities. To show countenance to the messengers of God while the publique face of the State smiles upon them, is but a courtesie of course; but to hide our own lives in theirs when they are persecuted is an act which looks for a reward" (Bp. Hall).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) The stalks of flax.--It is remarked that flax and barley are both early crops (Exodus 9:31), and that the first month (see Joshua 4:19) was the time of barley harvest. (Comp. 2Samuel 21:9.)
