Joshua, Chapter 2:
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Joshua Verses, Chapter 2 of the Book of Joshua of the Bible.
Rahab and the spies
- 1. After the death of Moses, Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim to survey the land, especially Jericho. They went and entered the house of a woman named Rahab, who was a prostitute, and spent the night there.
- 2. But the king of Jericho was told, "Some Israelites came here tonight to spy out the land."
- 3. Then the king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab, saying, "Send away the men who entered your house, for they have come to spy out all the land."
- 4. But the woman who had hidden the two men replied, “It is true that the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.
- 5. When night was falling and it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don't know where they went. Follow after them quickly, maybe catch up.”
- 6. She, however, had taken the men to the roof and had hidden them among the flax stalks that were there.
- 7. The pursuers set out towards them along the road that leads to the crossing point of the Jordan. As soon as they left, the city gate was closed.
- 8. Before the spies went to bed, Rahab went up to the roof
- 9. and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land. We are terrified of your fame and all the inhabitants of this land are afraid.
- 10. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what you did to the kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, who were on the other side of the Jordan and whom you completely defeated.
- 11. When we heard this, our hearts lost courage, and everyone was discouraged because of you, for the Lord your God is God both in heaven above and on earth below.
- 12. Now, I ask you to swear an oath to me by the Lord: as I have been kind to you, be kind to my family. Give me a sure sign
- 13. that you will spare the life of my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and everything that belongs to them. Deliver us from death.”
- 14. They replied, “Our life in exchange for yours! If you do not reveal what we are doing, we will be kind and faithful to you when the Lord gives us this land.”
- 15. Then Rahab helped them down through the window with a rope, for her house was built on the wall of the city.
- 16. She said to them, “Go to the mountains, so that the pursuers do not find you. Hide there for three days, until they come back; then you can go your way.”
- 17. The men said to him, “We will be released from this oath you made us swear.
- 18. if, when we enter the land, you do not tie this red cord to the window through which you helped us down and if you do not bring your father, mother, brothers and all your family into your house.
- 19. If anyone goes out of the door of his house, he will be responsible for his own death; we will not be at fault. But if anyone with you is killed, we are to blame.
- 20. Furthermore, if you reveal what we are doing, we will be released from this oath you made us take.”
- 21. “I agree,” replied Rahab. And she let them go. Then he tied the red string to the window.
- 22. When they left, they went to the mountains and stayed there for three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers looked for them all the way, but did not find them.
- 23. So the two men went down from the mountain, crossed the river and came to Joshua, son of Nun, and told him all that had happened.
- 24. And they said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given the whole land into our hands; all the inhabitants of this land are terrified because of us.”
