[1] And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies,
saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went, and came
into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. [2] And
it was told the king of Jericho, "Behold, certain men of Israel have come
here tonight to search out the land." [3] Then the king of Jericho sent to
Rahab, saying, "Bring forth the men that have come to you, who entered your
house; for they have come to search out all the land." [4] But the woman
had taken the two men and hidden them; and she said, "True, men came to me,
but I did not know where they came from; [5] and when the gate was to be
closed, at dark, the men went out; where the men went I do not know; pursue
them quickly, for you will overtake them." [6] But she had brought them up
to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in
order on the roof. [7] So the men pursued after them on the way to the
Jordan as far as the fords; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the
gate was shut. [8] 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, and
that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of
the land melt away before you. [10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up
the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what
you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to
Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. [11] And as soon as we heard it,
our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any man, because of
you; for the LORD your God is he who is God in heaven above and on earth
beneath. [12] Now then, swear to me by the LORD that as I have dealt kindly
with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a
sure sign, [13] and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and
sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
[14] And the men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this
business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the
LORD gives us the land." [15] Then she let them down by a rope through the
window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she dwelt in
the wall. [16] And she said to them, "Go into the hills, lest the pursuers
meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have
returned; then afterward you may go your way." [17] The men said to her,
"We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours which you have
made us swear. [18] Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this
scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down; and you shall
gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your
father's household. [19] If any one goes out of the doors of your house
into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be
guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon any one who is with you in the house,
his blood shall be on our head. [20] But if you tell this business of ours,
then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath which you have made us
swear." [21] And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she
sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet cord in the
window. [22] They departed, and went into the hills, and remained there
three days, until the pursuers returned; for the pursuers had made search
all along the way and found nothing. [23] Then the two men came down again
from the hills, and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they
told him all that had befallen them. [24] And they said to Joshua, "Truly
the LORD has given all the land into our hands; and moreover all the
inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of us."
