[1] Then Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men from Shittim secretly, with
the purpose of searching out the land, and Jericho. So they went and came
to the house of a loose woman of the town, named Rahab, where they took
their rest for the night. [2] And it was said to the king of Jericho, See,
some men have come here tonight from the children of Israel with the
purpose of searching out the land. [3] Then the king of Jericho sent to
Rahab, saying, Send out the men who have come to you and are in your house;
for they have come with the purpose of searching out all the land. [4] And
the woman took the two men and put them in a secret place; then she said,
Yes, the men came to me, but I had no idea where they came from; [5] And
when it was the time for shutting the doors at dark, they went out; I have
no idea where the men went: but if you go after them quickly, you will
overtake them. [6] But she had taken them up to the roof, covering them
with the stems of flax which she had put out in order there. [7] So the men
went after them on the road to Jordan as far as the river-crossing: and
when they had gone out after them, the door into the town was shut. [8] And
before the men went to rest, she came up to them on the roof, [9] And said
to them, It is clear to me that the Lord has given you the land, and that
the fear of you has come on us; [10] For we have had news of how the Lord
made the Red Sea dry before you when you came out of Egypt; and what you
did to the two kings of the Amorites, on the other side of Jordan, to Sihon
and Og, whom you gave up to the curse. [11] And because of this news, our
hearts became like water, and there was no more spirit in any of us because
of you; for the Lord your God is God in heaven on high and here on earth.
[12] So now, will you give me your oath by the Lord, that, because I have
been kind to you, you will be kind to my father's house, [13] And that you
will keep safe my father and mother and my brothers and sisters and all
they have, so that death may not come on us? [14] And the men said to her,
Our life for yours if you keep our business secret; and when the Lord has
given us the land, we will keep faith and be kind to you. [15] Then she let
them down from the window by a cord, for the house where she was living was
on the town wall. [16] And she said to them, Get away into the
hill-country, or the men who have gone after you will overtake you; keep
yourselves safe there for three days, till the searchers have come back,
and then go on your way. [17] And the men said to her, We will only be
responsible for this oath which you have made us take, [18] If, when we
come into the land, you put this cord of bright red thread in the window
from which you let us down; and get your father and mother and your
brothers and all your family into the house; [19] Then if anyone goes out
of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, we will not
be responsible; but if any damage comes to anyone in the house, his blood
will be on our heads. [20] But if you say anything about our business here,
then we will be free from the oath you have made us take. [21] And she
said, Let it be as you say. Then she sent them away, and they went; and she
put the bright red cord in the window. [22] And they went into the
hill-country and were there three days, till the men who had gone after
them had come back; and those who went after them were searching for them
everywhere without coming across them. [23] Then the two men came down from
the hill-country and went over and came back to Joshua, the son of Nun; and
they gave him a complete account of what had taken place. [24] And they
said to Joshua, Truly, the Lord has given all the land into our hands; and
all the people of the land have become like water because of us.