Joshua 2
Rahab Hides the Spies
1 And Joshua the son of Nun sentt two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
8 Before the ment lay down, she came up to them on the roof9 and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.t11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."14 And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.16 And she saidt to them, "Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way."17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear.18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household.19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear."21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."
Joshua 2
Joshua Sends Spies into the Land
1 Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them:t “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.”ts They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there.t2 The king of Jericho received this report: “Note well!t Israelite men have come here tonightt to spy on the land.”3 So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab:t “Turn overt the men who came to yout – the ones who came to your houset – for they have come to spy on the whole land!”4 But the woman hid the two ment and replied, “Yes, these men were clients of mine,t but I didn’t know where they came from.5 When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left.t I don’t know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!”6 (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread outt on the roof.)
7 Meanwhilet the king’s men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan Rivert near the fords.t The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them.t
8 Now before the spiest went to sleep, Rahabt went upt to the roof.9 She said to the men, “I know the Lord is handing this land over to you.t We are absolutely terrified of you,t and all who live in the land are cringing beforet you.t10 For we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan.t11 When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you.t For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below!12 So now, promise me this with an oath sworn in the Lord’s name.ts Because I have shown allegiance to you, show allegiance to my family.t Give me a solemn pledget13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue ust from death.”
14 The men said to her, “If yout die, may we die too!t If you do not report what we’ve been up to,t then, when the Lord hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiancet to you.”t
15 Then Rahabt let them down by a ropes through the window. (Hert house was built as part of the city wall; she lived in the wall.)s16 She told them, “Headt to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don’t find you.t Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing yout to return. Then you can be on your way.”17 The men said to her, “We are not bound by this oath you made us swear unless the following conditions are met:t18 When we invade the landt, tie this red ropet in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father’s house.t19 Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death – we are innocent in that case!t But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible.t20 If you should report what we’ve been up to,t we are not bound by this oath you made us swear.”21 She said, “I agree to these conditions.”t She sent them on their wayt and then tied the red rope in the window.22 They wentt to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing themt to return. Their pursuerst looked all along the way but did not find them.t23 Then the two men returned – they came down from the hills, crossed the river,t came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered.
24 They told Joshua, “Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us!t All who live in the land are cringing before us!”t
