Joshua 2
1 Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies and said, “Go, look over the land and Jericho.” They went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some men from the Israelites came here tonight to spy out the land.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they came to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “That’s true, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.
5 When the gate was about to close at dusk, the men left. I don’t know where they went. Hurry after them, because you can catch up with them.”
6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax she had laid out there on the roof.
7 The men pursued them along the road to the Jordan, as far as the fords. The gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out after them.
8 Before the spies lay down, she went up to them on the roof.
9 She said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that fear of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted before you.
10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Reed Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.
11 When we heard this, our hearts melted, and no courage remained in anyone because of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
12 So now, swear to me by the LORD that just as I have shown kindness to you, you will also show kindness to my father’s family. Give me a trustworthy sign.
13 Spare the lives of my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue our lives from death.”
14 The men replied to her, “Our lives for yours, even to death, if you do not tell anyone about this matter of ours. When the LORD gives us the land, we will show you kindness and faithfulness.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall; she lived in the wall.
16 She said to them, “Go to the hills, so the pursuers won’t find you. Hide there for three days, until the pursuers return, and then go on your way.”
17 The men said to her, “We will be released from this oath you made us swear.
18 When we enter the land, tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down. Gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s family into your house with you.
19 Anyone who goes out through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, and we will be innocent. But if anyone lays a hand on someone who is with you in the house, that person’s blood will be on our heads.
20 But if you tell anyone about this matter of ours, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 She replied, “Let it be as you say.” Then she sent them away, and they left. She tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They went to the hills and stayed there for three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers searched all along the road but did not find them.
23 The two men returned, came down from the hills, crossed over, and went to Joshua son of Nun. They told him everything that had happened to them.
24 They said to Joshua, “The LORD has handed the whole land over to us. All the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted before us too.”
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