Rahab Welcomes the Spies
(Hebrews 11:30–31)

1And so Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men from Shittim to explore in secret. And he said to them, “Go and consider the land and the city of Jericho.” And while traveling, they entered into the house of a harlot woman named Rahab, and they rested with her. 2And it was reported to the king of Jericho, and it was said: “Behold, men have entered to this place in the night, from the sons of Israel, so that they might explore the land.” 3And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying: “Bring out the men who came to you, and who entered into your house. For certainly they are spies, and they have arrived to consider the entire land.” 4And the woman, taking the men, hid them. And she said: “I admit that they came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5And when the gate was closed, they went out together in the darkness. I do not know where they have gone. Pursue them quickly, and you will overtake them.” 6But she caused the men to ascend to the roof of her house, and she covered them with the stalks of flax that were there. 7But those who had been sent pursued after them along the way that leads to the ford of the Jordan. And as soon as they went out, the gate was closed.

The Promise to Rahab

8Those who were hiding had not yet fallen asleep, and behold, the woman went up to them, and she said: 9“I know that the Lord has given this land to you. For the terror of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land have languished. 10We have heard that the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea upon your arrival, when you were departing from Egypt, and we heard of the things that you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put to death. 11And upon hearing these things, we were very afraid, and our heart languished. Neither did there remain in us any spirit at your arrival. For the Lord your God is the very God in heaven above and on earth below. 12Now, therefore, swear to me by the Lord that in the same way that I have acted with mercy toward you, so also shall you act toward the house of my father. And may you give me a true sign 13that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all that is theirs, and that you may rescue our souls from death.” 14They responded to her: “May our lives be yours unto death, if only you do not betray us. And when the Lord will have delivered the land to us, we will act toward you with mercy and truth.”

15Therefore, she sent them down from a window with a rope. For her house was joined to the wall. 16And she said to them: “Climb up to the mountains; otherwise, they may meet you as they are returning. And lay hidden there for three days, until they return. And then you will go on your way.” 17And they said to her: “We shall be innocent of this oath, to which you have sworn us, 18if, when we enter into the land, this scarlet cord has been placed as a sign, and you have tied it at the window by which you let us down. And so, gather your father, and mother, and brothers, and all your family into your house. 19Whoever will have exited from the door of your house, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be uninvolved. But the blood of all who will be with you in the house shall fall back upon our own head, if anyone touches them. 20But if you will have betrayed us, so that you spread this word in their midst, we will be free from this oath, to which you have sworn us.” 21And she responded, “Just as you have spoken, so let it be done.” And sending them to travel on, she hung the scarlet cord at the window.

22And truly, walking on, they arrived at the mountains, and they stayed there for three days, until those who had been pursuing them returned. For having sought them along the entire way, they did not find them. 23And when they returned and entered the city, the explorers descended from the mountain. And crossing the Jordan, they went to Joshua, the son of Nun, and they reported to him all that had happened to them. 24And they said, “The Lord has delivered this entire land into our hands, and all its inhabitants have been struck down by fear.”