Then Joshua the son
of Nun
sent
two
men
as spies
secretly
from aShittim
, saying
, "Go
, view
the land
, especially
Jericho
." So they went
and came
into the house
of ba harlot
whose name
was Rahab
, and 1lodged
there
.
It was told the king
of Jericho
, saying
, "Behold
, men
from the sons
of Israel
have come
here
tonight
to search
out the land
."
And the king of Jericho
sent
word 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 land
."
But the awoman had taken
the two
men
and hidden
them, and she said
, "Yes
, the men
came
to me, but I did not know
where
they were from.
"It came about when it was time to shut
the gate
at dark
, that the men
went
out; I do not know
where
the men
went
. Pursue
them quickly
, for you will overtake
them."
But ashe had brought them up to the roof
and hidden
them in the stalks
of flax
which she had laid
in order
on the roof
.
So the men pursued
them on the road
to the Jordan
to the fords
; and as soon
as those who were pursuing
them had gone
out, they shut
the gate
.
Now before they lay
down
, 1she came
up to them on the roof
,
and said to the men
, " aI know
that the LORD
has given
you the land
, and that the bterror
of you has fallen
on us, and that all
the inhabitants
of the land
have 1melted
away
before
you.
" aFor we have heard how
the LORD
dried
up the water
of the 1Red
Sea
before
you when you came
out of Egypt
, and bwhat
you did
to the two
kings
of the Amorites
who
were beyond
the Jordan
, to Sihon
and Og
, whom
you 2utterly
destroyed
.
"When we heard it, aour hearts
melted
and no
1courage
remained
in any
man
any
longer
because
of you; for the bLORD
your God
, He is God
in heaven
above
and on earth
beneath
.
"Now therefore, please
swear
to me by the LORD
, since
I have dealt
kindly
with you, that you also
will deal
kindly
with my father's
household
, and give
me a apledge
of 1truth
,
and 1spare my father
and my mother
and my brothers
and my sisters
, with all
who
belong to them, and deliver
our 2lives
from death
."
So the men said
to her, "Our 1life
2for yours if
you do not tell
this
business
of ours; and it shall come
about when the LORD
gives
us the land
that we will adeal
kindly
and 3faithfully
with you."
Then she let them down
by a rope
through
the window
, for her house
was on the city
wall
, so that she was living
on the wall
.
She said to them, " aGo
to the hill
country
, so
that the pursuers
will not happen
upon you, and hide
yourselves there
for three
days
until
the pursuers
return
. Then afterward
you may go
on your way
."
The men said
to her, " aWe shall be free
from this
oath
1to you which
you have made us swear
,
1unless, when we come
into the land
, you tie
this
cord
of scarlet
thread
in the window
through which
you let
us down
, and agather
to yourself into the house
your father
and your mother
and your brothers
and all
your father's
household
.
"It shall come about that anyone
who
goes
out of the doors
of your house
into the street
, his blood
shall be on his own head
, and we shall be free
; but anyone
who
is with you in the house
, ahis blood
shall be on our head
if
a hand
is laid on him.
"But if you tell
this
business
of ours, then we shall be free
from the oath
which
you have made us swear
."
She said, "According to your words
, so
be it." So she sent
them away
, and they departed
; and she tied
the scarlet
cord
in the window
.
They departed and came
to the hill
country
, and remained
there
for three
days
until
the pursuers
returned
. Now the pursuers
had sought
them 1all
along the road
, but had not found
them.
Then the two men
returned
and came
down
from the hill
country
and crossed
over
and came
to Joshua
the son
of Nun
, and they related
to him all
that had happened
to them.
They said to Joshua
, "Surely
the LORD
has given
all
the land
into our hands
; moreover
, aall
the inhabitants
of the land
have 1melted
away
before
us."