The spies. — Perhaps, rather, the scouts of the blockading squadron. The Israelites, like most ancient nations, were little able to take cities by storm, and relied either on blockade or on internal treachery.
Saw a man come forth. — Probably he stole out secretly, and was seized by the scouts. Similarly the Persians took Sardis by seizing a path used by a man who had dropped his helmet, and descended the hill fortress to pick it up (Herod. i. 84).
We will shew thee mercy. — They bribed him. with the promise of personal safety. (Compare Joshua 2:12; Joshua 2:6)