Rahab Hides the Spies

1Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, see the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab and [†]lodged there. 2And it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3And 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.” 4But 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. 5Now it happened 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 may overtake them.” 6But she had brought them up to the roof and concealed them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7So 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.

8Now before they lay down, [†]she came up to them on the roof 9and said to the men, “I know that Yahweh 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. 10For we have heard how Yahweh 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 [†]devoted to destruction. 11Indeed we heard it, and our hearts melted, and a courageous spirit no longer rose up in any man because of you; for Yahweh your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12So now, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have shown lovingkindness to you, that you also will show lovingkindness to my father’s household and give me a pledge of [†]truth, 13and preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, with all who belong to them, and deliver our [†]lives from death.” 14So the men said to her, “Our [†]life [†]for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it will be when Yahweh gives us the land that we will show lovingkindness and truth to you.”

The Oath to Rahab

15Then 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. 16And she said to them, “Go to the hill country, lest the pursuers reach you. And hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17And the men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath [†]to you which you have made us swear, 18[†]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. 19And it will be 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. 20But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they went; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22And they went and came to the hill country and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had sought them [†]all along the road but had not found them. 23Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they recounted to him all that had happened to them. 24And they said to Joshua, “Surely Yahweh has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have [†]melted away before us.”