Joshua 2

1 And Joshua (Yehoshua) the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, “Go view the land, even Yericho.” And they went, and came into a harlot’s house, named Rachav, and lodged there.

2 And it was told the king of Yericho, saying, “Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Yisrael to search out the country.”

3 And the king of Yericho sent unto Rachav, saying, “Bring forth the men that have come to you, who have entered into your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, “There came men unto me, but I knew not whence they were.

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; whither the men went I knew not; pursue after them quickly, for you shall overtake them.”

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan (Yarden) unto the fords; and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

9 And she said unto the men, “I know that יהוה hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

10 For we have heard how יהוה dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when you came out of Egypt (Mitsrayim); and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan (Yarden), Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you, for יהוה your God (Elohim), He is God (Elohim) in heaven above, and on earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, please swear unto me by יהוה, since I have shewed you kindness, that you will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token;

13 And that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

14 And the men answered her, “Our life for yours, if you utter not this our business. And it shall be, when יהוה hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

16 And she said unto them, “Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned. And afterward may you go your way.”

17 And the men said unto her, “We will be blameless of this your oath which you have made us swear.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which you didst let us down by; and you shalt bring your father, and your mother, and your brethren, and all your father’s household, home unto you.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless; and whosoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

20 And if you utter this our business, then we will be quit of your oath which you have made us to swear.”

21 And she said, “According unto your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned; and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua (Yehoshua) the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them.

24 And they said unto Joshua (Yehoshua), “Truly יהוה hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”