| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1After this, Nun's son Joshua sent two men from the Acacia groves as undercover scouts. He told them, "Go and look over the land. Pay special attention to Jericho." So they went out, came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there. | 1Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, "Go and scout the land, especially Jericho." So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. |
| 2Then the king of Jericho was told, "Look! Israeli men arrived tonight to scout out the land." | 2The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land." |
| 3So the king of Jericho sent for Rahab and ordered her, "Bring out the men who came to visit you and lodged in your house, because they've come to scout out the entire land." | 3Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land." |
| 4Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, "The men really did come to me, but I didn't know from where they came. | 4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, "Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from. |
| 5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I don't know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and you might overtake them." | 5At nightfall, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don't know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!" |
| 6But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. | 6But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. |
| 7So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them. | 7The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the gate was shut. |
| 8Before the scouts had lain down, she went up to them on the roof | 8Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof |
| 9"I'm really convinced that the LORD has given you the land," she said, "because we're overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence, | 9and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. |
| 10because we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Reed Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan River—to Sihon and Og—whom you completely destroyed. | 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. |
| 11When we heard these reports, we all became terrified and discouraged because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. | 11When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. |
| 12Now therefore, since I've treated you so kindly, please swear in the name of the LORD that you'll also be kind to my father's household by giving me this sure sign: | 12Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign |
| 13Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won't be killed." | 13that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death." |
| 14So the men told her, "Our life for yours—even to death—if you don't betray this mission of ours. Then when the LORD gives us this land, we'll treat you graciously and faithfully." | 14The men answered her, "We will give our lives for yours. If you don't report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land." |
| 15So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived. | 15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. " |
| 16She told them, "Go out to the hill country, so the search party won't find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way." | 16Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won't find you," she said to them. "Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way." |
| 17The men replied, "We'll be free from our commitment to you to which you've obligated us | 17The men said to her, "We will be free from this oath you made us swear, |
| 18when we invade the land, if you don't tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you don't gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your father's household into your house. | 18unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into your house. |
| 19Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but we'll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him. | 19If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his blood will be on our heads. |
| 20But if you report this incident, we'll be free from the oath to which you've made us swear." | 20And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear."" |
| 21"Since you put it that way," she replied, "I agree." After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window. | 21Let it be as you say," she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window. |
| 22The scouts left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them. | 22So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. |
| 23Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, approached Nun's son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. | 23Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. |
| 24They reported to Joshua, "The LORD really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!" | 24They told Joshua, "The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us." |
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