 1 Joshua the son of Nun sent two men out of Acacia to spy secretly saying, Go look over the land, even Jericho. They came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told about it saying, Behold, men from the children of Israel came in here tonight to search out the country. 3 The king of Jericho sent to Rahab saying, Bring out the men who have come to you, those who have entered into your house. For they have come to search out all the country. 4 But the woman hid the two men and said, Two men came to me but I did not know from where they came. 5 When it was dark at the time of shutting the gate, the men went out and I do not know where they went. Go after them quickly and you will overtake them. 6 But she had taken them up on the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order upon the roof. 7 The men went after them on the way to Jordan, to the fords. When those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Before they laid down, she came up to them on the roof. 9 She said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror has fallen on us and that all those who live in 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 that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 We had heard, and our hearts melted, nor did any more spirit remain 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 ask you to swear to me by the Lord since I have dealt with you in kindness so that you will also deal with kindness to my father's house and give me a true token. 13 Then save my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death. 14 The men answered her, Our life will be for yours if you do not tell our business. When the Lord has given us the land, we will deal kindly and truly with you. 15 Then she let them go down by a cord through the window. For her house was on the town wall and she lived on the wall. 16 She said to them, Go up onto the mountain lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way. 17 The men said to her, We will be blameless of this oath to you that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall set this line of scarlet thread in the window from which you let us down. And you shall bring your father and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father's household, home to you. 19 Whoever shall go out the doors of your house, his blood shall be on his head and we will be blameless. Whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is on him. 20 If you tell our business, then we will be free of the oath that you have made us swear to you. 21 She said, Let it be according to your word, and she sent them away and they departed. Then she set a scarlet line in the window. 22 They came to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers looked for them throughout all the way but did not find them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him all that happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for even all those who live in the country faint because of us.
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