1 T hen Joshua the son of Nun sent two men from Shittim to go in secret to learn about the land. He said to them, “Go and spy out the land, and Jericho.” So they went and came to the house of Rahab, a woman who sold the use of her body, and they stayed there.

Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.

2 T hen the king of Jericho was told, “See, men of Israel have come here to spy out the land.”

It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”

3 S o the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you and have gone into your house. For they have come to spy out all the land.”

And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”

4 B ut 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 were from.

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

5 W hen it was time for the gate to be shut after dark, the men went out. I do not know where they went. Be quick to go after them, for you will catch them.”

It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”

6 B ut she had brought them up to the roof and had hidden them under the grain she had put up there.

But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.

7 T he men went after them on the road to the Jordan as far as the river crossing. As soon as those going after them had gone out, they shut the gate.

So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.

8 B efore they lay down, she came up to them on the roof.

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,

9 A nd she said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land. The fear of you has come upon us. All the people living in the land have become weak with fear because of you.

and said to the men, “ I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.

10 F or we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. We have heard how you destroyed the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan.

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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

11 W hen we heard it, our hearts became weak. No man had strength of heart any more because of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

12 N ow I have shown you kindness. So I beg of you, promise me by the Lord that you will show kindness to those of my father’s house. Give me something to show that you will be faithful.

Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth,

13 D o not kill my father and mother and my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them. Save us from death.”

and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

14 S o the men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell anyone what we are doing, we will be faithful and show you kindness when the Lord gives us the land.”

So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” The Promise to Rahab

15 T hen she let them down by a rope through the window. She lived in her house that was built on top of the city wall.

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.

16 S he said to them, “Go to the hill country, or those who are looking for you might find you. For three days hide yourselves there until those who are looking for you return. Then you may go on your way.”

She said to them, “ Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.”

17 T he men said to her, “We will be free from this promise you have made us swear

The men said to her, “ We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear,

18 u nless, when we come into the land, you tie this red rope in the window you let us down through. Bring your father and mother, your brothers and all those of your father’s house into your house.

unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household.

19 I f anyone goes out through the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head. We will not be guilty for his death. But if a hand is laid upon anyone who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head.

It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.

20 A nd we will be free from the promise you made us swear if you tell anyone what we are doing.”

But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.”

21 S he said, “Let it be as you have said.” Then she sent them away, and tied the red rope in the window.

She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 T hey left and came to the hill country and stayed there for three days until those who were looking for them returned. The men had looked for them all along the road, but had not found them.

They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them.

23 T hen the two men came down from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him all that had happened to them.

Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them.

24 T hey said to Joshua, “For sure the Lord has given all the land into our hands. All the people living in the land have become weak with fear because of us.”

They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”