In the towns of the latter peoples, however, which your God יהוה is giving you as a heritage, you shall not let a soul remain alive.
Not to allow a single member of the seven [Canaanite] nations to live, as [Deuteronomy 20:16] states: "Do not allow a soul to live."
They exterminated everything in the city [Jericho] with the sword: man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey.
Only Rahab the prostitute and her family were spared by Joshua, along with all that belonged to her, and she dwelt among the Israelites—as is still the case. For she had hidden the messengers that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Why was Rahab spared, going against an explicit commandment from God?
Now, since I have shown Chesed to you, swear to me by GOD that you in turn will show Chesed to my family. Provide me with a reliable sign
that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
Chesed in 2:12 is hard to translate. It means a combination of loyalty and kindness.
The men answered her, “Our lives are pledged for yours, even to death! If you do not disclose this mission of ours, we will show you true Chesed when GOD gives us the land.”
The men are explaining that Chesed involves an ongoing relationship, way beyond a tit for tat transaction.
Thus said the Divine:
Let not the wise person glory in their wisdom;
Let not the strong person glory in their strength;
Let not the rich person glory in their riches.
But only in this should one glory: that they understand and know Me, that I am the Divine who exercises Chesed, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
But only in this should one glory:
In their earnest devotion to Me.
For I the LORD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares the LORD.
JPS in 1985 and 2006 translate וְיָדֹ֣עַ as devotion instead of know. Devotion does not appear in the dictionary as a valid translation. Could this be showing a Team Law bias by the translator? How does it change the meaning to say devotion instead of know?
וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֗ים וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ לְכ֣וּ ׀ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה אֶל־הַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה וְאֶל־בֵּית֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ מִדְּרָכָ֔יו וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּאֹֽרְחֹתָ֑יו כִּ֤י מִצִּיּוֹן֙ תֵּצֵ֣א תוֹרָ֔ה וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
“Come,
Let us go up to the Mount of GOD,
To the House of the God of Jacob;
That we may be instructed in God’s ways,
And that we may walk in godly paths.”
For instruction shall come forth from Zion,
The word of GOD from Jerusalem.
With myriads of streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for my sins?
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good,
And what GOD requires of you:
Only to do justice
And to love Chesed,
And to walk modestly with your God;
Who is a God like You,
Forgiving iniquity
And remitting transgression—
Not staying angry forever
Toward the remnant of Your own people,
Because You love Chesed!
And let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; And He shall come unto us as the rain, As the latter rain that watereth the earth.’
Let us pursue devotion to GOD,
And we shall become devout.
As sure as daybreak is God’s appearance,
Which will come to us like rain,
Like latter rain that refreshes the earth.”
For I desire Chesed, and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
Devotion to God, rather than burnt offerings.