THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

 

Joshua Chapter 2

1 ¶ Then from Shittim Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies, saying, Go and look over the land, especially Jericho. And they went, and came into the house of a harlot, named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 But the king of Jericho was told, Behold, certain men of the children of Israel came here tonight to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that have come to you, who have entered your house: for they have come to search out all the country.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and she said, The men did come to me, but I did not know where they were from:

5 However, when it was dark, about the time when the gate was closed, the men left: I do not know where they went: pursue them quickly; for you will catch up with them.

6 But she had taken them up to the roof of the house, and hidden them in the stalks of flax, which she had laid out there.

7 So the men pursued them along the Jordan road to the fords: and as soon as those who pursued them had left, the gate was shut.

8 ¶ And before they fell asleep, she came up to them on the roof;

9 And she said to the men, I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites, who were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you will also show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a sure sign:

13 And that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and spare us from death.

14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if you do not report our mission. Then it will be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window: for she lived in a house that was built into the town wall.

16 And she said to them, Go to the mountain, lest your pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned: and after that you may go your way.

17 And the men said unto her, We will be free of this oath that you have made us swear.

18 Unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord in the window which you let us down by: and you shall bring your father, and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father’s household, into your house.

19 And it shall be, that if anyone shall go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: but if anyone is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head, if he is harmed.

20 But if you expose our mission, then we will be free of your oath which you have made us swear.

21 And she said, Let it be as you have said. And she sent them away, and they left: and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 ¶ And they departed, and went to the mountain, and remained there three days, until the pursuers had returned: and the pursuers searched for them all along the way, but did not find them.

23 So the two men returned, and came down from the mountain, and crossed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him everything that had happened to them:

24 And they said to Joshua, Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are faint-hearted because of us.