2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2:2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
2:3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
2:5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”
2:6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.)
2:7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
2:8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof
2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
2:10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
2:11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
2:12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.”
2:14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.”
2:15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.
2:16 Now she had said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
2:17 The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us
2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
2:19 If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
2:20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
2:21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
2:22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them.
2:23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them.
2:24 They said to Joshua, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent out from Shittim two men as spies, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and entered the house of a woman who was a harlot, whose name was Rahab; and they lay down there.
2:2 And the king of Jericho was told, saying, There are some men who have now come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the land.
2:3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, Bring out the men who have come to you and who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.
2:4 And the woman took the two men and hid them. And she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
2:5 And when it was time to shut the gate at dark, the men went out; I do not know where the men have gone. Pursue quickly after them, for you can overtake them.
2:6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.
2:7 So the men pursued after them on the way toward the Jordan as far as the fords. And as soon as those who pursued after them went out, the gate was shut.
2:8 And before the spies lay down, she went up to them on the roof;
2:9 And she said to the men, I know that Jehovah has given you the land, and that the dread of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt before you.
2:10 For we have heard how Jehovah 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
2:11 When we heard, our hearts melted; and there no longer remained any spirit in any man because of you; for Jehovah your God, He is God in heaven above and upon earth beneath.
2:12 So now, swear to me by Jehovah, I beg you, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house; and give me some token of trust,
2:13 That you will preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.
2:14 And the men said to her, Our life for yours! If you do not utter anything of this matter concerning us, then when Jehovah gives the land to us, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.
2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the wall of the city and she dwelt on the wall.
2:16 And she said to them, Go to the mountain, so that your pursuers do not come upon you; and hide yourselves there for three days, until your pursuers return; then afterward you can go on your way.
2:17 And the men said to her, We will be released from this oath to you that you made us swear,
2:18 Unless, when we enter the land, you tie this line of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s house to you in your house.
2:19 And anyone who goes forth from the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be upon his own head, and we will be innocent. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood will be upon our heads if a hand should come upon him.
2:20 But if you utter anything of this matter concerning us, we will be released from this oath to you that you made us swear.
2:21 And she said, According to your words, so shall it be. Then she sent them away, and they left. And she tied the scarlet line in the window.
2:22 And they left and came to the mountain, and they remained there for three days, until their pursuers returned. And although their pursuers searched the entire way, they could not find them.
2:23 Then the two men returned and came down from the mountain, and they crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun. And they related to him all that had happened to them.
2:24 And they said to Joshua, Jehovah has indeed given all the land into our hand; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt before us.