Joshua 2

Spies Sent to Jericho

1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out two spies from Acacia and said to them, “Go and look at the land, particularly at the city of Jericho.”
So the men went to Jericho and stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab.

2 Someone told the king of Jericho, “Some men from Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”

3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house. They have come to spy out our whole land.”
4 But the woman had hidden the two men. She said, “They did come here, but I didn’t know where they came from.5 In the evening, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know where they went, but if you go quickly, maybe you can catch them.”6 (The woman had taken the men up to the roof 

7 So the king’s men went out looking for the spies on the road that leads to the crossings of the Jordan River. The city gate was closed just after the king’s men left the city.
8 Before the spies went to sleep for the night, Rahab went up to the roof.9 She said to them, “I know the Lord has given this land to your people. You frighten us very much. Everyone living in this land is terribly afraid of you10 because we have heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea when you came out of Egypt. We have heard how you destroyed Sihon and Og, two Amorite kings who lived east of the Jordan.11 When we heard this, we were very frightened. Now our men are afraid to fight you because the Lord your God rules the heavens above and the earth below!12 So now, promise me before the Lord that you will show kindness to my family just as I showed kindness to you. Give me some proof that you will do this.

13 Allow my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all of their families to live. Save us from death.”

14 The men agreed and said, “It will be our lives for your lives if you don’t tell anyone what we are doing. When the Lord gives us the land, we will be kind and true to you.”
15 The house Rahab lived in was built on the city wall, so she used a rope to let the men down through a window.

16 She said to them, “Go into the hills so the king’s men will not find you. Hide there for three days. After the king’s men return, you may go on your way.”
17 The men said to her, “You must do as we say. If not, we cannot be responsible for keeping this oath you have made us swear.18 When we return to this land, you must tie this red rope in the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your family into your house.19 If anyone leaves your house and is killed, it is his own fault. We cannot be responsible for him. If anyone in your house is hurt, we will be responsible.

20 But if you tell anyone about this, we will be free from the oath you made us swear.”

21 Rahab answered, “I agree to this.” So she sent them away, and they left. Then she tied the red rope in the window.
22 The men left and went into the hills where they stayed for three days. The king’s men looked for them all along the road, but after three days, they returned to the city without finding them.23 Then the two men started back. They left the hills and crossed the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them.24 They said, “The Lord surely has given us all of the land. All the people in that land are terribly afraid 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