Chapter 2
1
Joshua son of Nun sent two men to spy out Jericho secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, and Jericho." They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and they lay down there.
2
And he said to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men have come here tonight from the sons of Israel to spy out the earth."
3
And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out all the land."
4
The woman took the two men and hid them and said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from."
5
It was about time for the gate to close at dark, and the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.
6
She had brought them up to the roof and hidden them among the flax stalks that she had arranged on the roof.
7
And the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan at the fords, and they closed the gate after the pursuers went out after them.
8
And before they 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, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away in fear of you."
10
For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Yam Suf 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 to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11
And we heard, and our heart melted, and no spirit arose any longer in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath.
12
And now please swear to me by the LORD, since I have done steadfast love with you, and you will do steadfast love with the house of my father also, and give to me a true sign.
13
You shall keep alive my father and my mother, my brothers and my sisters, and all that they have, and you shall deliver our lives from death.
14
And the men said to her, "Our life will be in your hands unto death. If you do not tell this matter of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land, we will deal with you with steadfast love and faithfulness."
15
Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was in the city wall, and she lived in the wall.
16
She said to them, "Go to the mountain so the pursuers won't meet you, and hide there for three days until the pursuers return. Afterward, go on your way."
17
And the men said to her, "We will be clean from this oath that you caused us to swear."
18
Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this rope of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down. You shall gather your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household to you in the house.
19
And it will be: everyone who goes out from the doors of your house to the outside—his blood on his head—and we will be innocent. And everyone who is with you in the house—his blood on our head—if a hand is upon him.
20
And if you tell this word of ours, then we will be innocent from your oath that you caused us to swear.
21
She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away, and they went. She tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22
And they went and came to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers sought along all the way and did not find.
23
The two men returned, came down from the mountain, crossed over, and came to Joshua son of Nun. They told him all their findings.
24
And they said to Joshua, "For the LORD has given into our hand all the land, and also all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us."