Joshua 2

Rahab Hides the Spies

1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho.2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,9 and said to the men: I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my fathers house, and give me a true token,13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.14 So the men answered her, Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.16 And she said to them, Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.17 So the men said to her: We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your fathers household to your own home.19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.21 Then she said, According to your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.24 And they said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted 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