17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless of this your oath which you have made us to swear.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
And the men said unto her, (h) We [will be] blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
(h) We will be released from our oath if you perform this condition that follows for so shall you and yours be delivered.
And the men said unto her,.... Some think that this discourse, which passed between the spies and her, was while in the house before she let them down, or otherwise they would have been in danger of being overheard, and so the whole affair discovered; but as it was on the other side of the house, and under the wall of the city, and without it, they might with the greater safety converse together:
we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear; that is, they would most faithfully and punctually keep it, it should be sacred to them, and she should have no occasion to lay any blame upon them in the least.
In conclusion, the spies guarded against any arbitrary interpretation and application of their oath, by imposing three conditions, on the non-fulfilment of which they would be released from their oath. הזּה for הזּאת is to be explained in Joshua 2:17 from the fact that the gender is often disregarded in the use of the pronoun (see Ewald, 183, a.), and in Joshua 2:18 from the fact that there the gender is determined by the nomen rectum (see Ewald, 317, d.).
Said - Or, had said; namely, before she let them down; it being very improbable, either that she would dismiss them before the condition was agreed on; or that she would discourse with them, or they with her, about such secret and weighty things after they were let down, when others might overhear them. Blameless - That is, free from guilt or reproach if it be violated, namely, if the following condition be not observed.
*More commentary available at chapter level.