But she had taken them ... on the roof

This is background information and explains how she had hidden the men in Joshua 2:4. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)

the roof

The roof was flat and strong, so people could walk around on it.

a plant that is grown for its fibers, which is used in making cloth

The men pursued the spies because of what Rahab had told them in Joshua 2:5.

places where a river or other body of water is shallow enough for people to get to the other side by walking through it