Rahab Welcomes the Spies
(Hebrews 11:30–31)

1  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent out) יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ־ (Joshua) בִּן־ (son) נ֠וּן (of Nun) מִֽן־ (from) הַשִּׁטִּ֞ים (Shittim) שְׁנַֽיִם־ (two) אֲנָשִׁ֤ים (men) מְרַגְּלִים֙ (to spy) חֶ֣רֶשׁ (secretly), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לְכ֛וּ (Go), רְא֥וּ (see) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land), וְאֶת־ (and especially) יְרִיח֑וֹ (Jericho). וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ (And they went), וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ (and came to) בֵּית־ (the house) אִשָּׁ֥ה (of a woman) זוֹנָ֛ה (a prostitute), וּשְׁמָ֥הּ (and her name) רָחָ֖ב (was Rahab), וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ־ (and they lay down) שָֽׁמָּה׃ (there).

2  וַיֵּ֣אָמַ֔ר (And it was said) לְמֶ֥לֶךְ (to the king) יְרִיח֖וֹ (of Jericho), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), אֲ֠נָשִׁים (men) בָּ֣אוּ (have come) הֵ֧נָּה (here) הַלַּ֛יְלָה (tonight) מִבְּנֵ֥י (from the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לַחְפֹּ֥ר (to search out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land).

3  וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ (And sent) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יְרִיח֔וֹ (of Jericho) אֶל־ (to) רָחָ֖ב (Rahab), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), ה֠וֹצִיאִי (Bring out) הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים (the men) הַבָּאִ֤ים (who are coming in) אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ (to you), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֣אוּ (have entered) לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ (your house), כִּ֛י (for) לַחְפֹּ֥ר (to search out) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) בָּֽאוּ׃ (they have come in).

4  וַתִּקַּ֧ח (And took) הָֽאִשָּׁ֛ה (the woman) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֥י (the two) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (men) וַֽתִּצְפְּנ֑וֹ (and hid them), וַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and she said) כֵּ֗ן (Indeed), בָּ֤אוּ (came) אֵלַי֙ (to me) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), וְלֹ֥א (not) יָדַ֖עְתִּי (I did know) מֵאַ֥יִן (from where) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they were). 5  וַיְהִ֨י (And it came to pass)— הַשַּׁ֜עַר (when the gate) לִסְגּ֗וֹר (was about to be shut)— בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ (in the darkness), וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (that the men) יָצָ֔אוּ (went out); לֹ֣א (not) יָדַ֔עְתִּי (I do know) אָ֥נָה (where) הָלְכ֖וּ (went) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים (the men). רִדְפ֥וּ (Pursue) מַהֵ֛ר (quickly) אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם (them), כִּ֥י (for) תַשִּׂיגֽוּם׃ (you⁺ may overtake them). 6  וְהִ֖יא (And she) הֶעֱלָ֣תַם (had brought them up) הַגָּ֑גָה (to the roof) וַֽתִּטְמְנֵם֙ (and hidden them) בְּפִשְׁתֵּ֣י (with flax) הָעֵ֔ץ (the stalks), הָעֲרֻכ֥וֹת (which had arranged) לָ֖הּ (she) עַל־ (on) הַגָּֽג׃ (the roof).

7  וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (And the men) רָדְפ֤וּ (pursued) אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ (them) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (by the road) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (to the Jordan) עַ֖ל (to) הַֽמַּעְבְּר֑וֹת (the fords), וְהַשַּׁ֣עַר (and the gate) סָגָ֔רוּ (they shut) אַחֲרֵ֕י (afterward), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (when) יָצְא֥וּ (had gone out) הָרֹדְפִ֖ים (those who pursued) אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (them).

The Promise to Rahab

8  וְהֵ֖מָּה (And they), טֶ֣רֶם (before) יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן (lay down), וְהִ֛יא (and she) עָלְתָ֥ה (came up) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) עַל־ (on) הַגָּֽג׃ (the roof). 9  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), יָדַ֕עְתִּי (I know) כִּֽי־ (that) נָתַ֧ן (has given) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), וְכִֽי־ (and that) נָפְלָ֤ה (has fallen) אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙ (the terror of you⁺) עָלֵ֔ינוּ (on us), וְכִ֥י (so that) נָמֹ֛גוּ (have melted) כָּל־ (all) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃ (because of you⁺). 10  כִּ֣י (For) שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ (we have heard) אֵ֠ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (how) הוֹבִ֨ישׁ (dried up) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֵ֤י (the waters) יַם־ (of the Sea) סוּף֙ (Red) מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם (before your⁺ faces) בְּצֵאתְכֶ֖ם (in your⁺ going out) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר (and what) עֲשִׂיתֶ֡ם (you⁺ did) לִשְׁנֵי֩ (to the two) מַלְכֵ֨י (kings) הָאֱמֹרִ֜י (of the Amorite) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who were) בְּעֵ֤בֶר (beyond) הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (the Jordan), לְסִיחֹ֣ן (Sihon) וּלְע֔וֹג (and Og), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ devoted to destruction) אוֹתָֽם׃ (them). 11  וַנִּשְׁמַע֙ (And we heard), וַיִּמַּ֣ס (and melted) לְבָבֵ֔נוּ (our hearts), וְלֹא־ (and not) קָ֨מָה (stand) ע֥וֹד (anymore) ר֛וּחַ (the spirit) בְּאִ֖ישׁ (in anyone) מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם (before your⁺ faces), כִּ֚י (for) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God), ה֤וּא (He is) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם (in the heavens) מִמַּ֔עַל (above) וְעַל־ (and on) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the earth) מִתָּֽחַת׃ (beneath).

12  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־ (swear), נָ֥א (please), לִי֙ (to me) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH), כִּי־ (since) עָשִׂ֥יתִי (I have shown) עִמָּכֶ֖ם (you⁺) חָ֑סֶד (kindness), וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם (that will show) גַּם־ (also) אַתֶּ֜ם (you⁺) עִם־ (to) בֵּ֤ית (house) אָבִי֙ (of my father) חֶ֔סֶד (kindness), וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם (and give) לִ֖י (to me) א֥וֹת (a token) אֱמֶֽת׃ (true), 13  וְהַחֲיִתֶ֞ם (and spare) אֶת־ (-) אָבִ֣י (my father), וְאֶת־ (and) אִמִּ֗י (my mother), וְאֶת־ (and) אַחַי֙ (my brothers), וְאֶת־ (and) אַחוֹתַי (my sisters), וְאֵ֖ת (and) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לָהֶ֑ם (is unto them), וְהִצַּלְתֶּ֥ם (and deliver) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ (our lives) מִמָּֽוֶת׃ (from death).

14  וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ (And answered) לָ֣הּ (her) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) נַפְשֵׁ֤נוּ (Our lives) תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ (for yours⁺) לָמ֔וּת (to die). אִ֚ם (If) לֹ֣א (not) תַגִּ֔ידוּ (you⁺ do tell) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרֵ֖נוּ (matter of ours) זֶ֑ה (this), וְהָיָ֗ה (then it shall come to pass), בְּתֵת־ (when has given) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לָ֙נוּ֙ (us) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land), וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ (that we will deal) עִמָּ֖ךְ (with you) חֶ֥סֶד (with kindness) וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ (and faithfulness).

15  וַתּוֹרִדֵ֥ם (And she let them down) בַּחֶ֖בֶל (by a rope) בְּעַ֣ד (through) הַֽחַלּ֑וֹן (the window), כִּ֤י (for) בֵיתָהּ֙ (her house was) בְּקִ֣יר (was in the side) הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה (of the wall), וּבַֽחוֹמָ֖ה (and in the wall) הִ֥יא (she) יוֹשָֽׁבֶת׃ (was dwelling). 16  וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And she said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) הָהָ֣רָה (To the mountain) לֵּ֔כוּ (go), פֶּֽן־ (lest) יִפְגְּע֥וּ (meet) בָכֶ֖ם (you⁺) הָרֹדְפִ֑ים (the pursuers) וְנַחְבֵּתֶ֨ם (and hide yourselves) שָׁ֜מָּה (there) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) יָמִ֗ים (days), עַ֚ד (until) שׁ֣וֹב (have returned) הָרֹֽדְפִ֔ים (the pursuers). וְאַחַ֖ר (And afterward) תֵּלְכ֥וּ (you⁺ may go) לְדַרְכְּכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ way).

17  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And said) אֵלֶ֖יהָ (to her) הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים (the men), נְקִיִּ֣ם (Blameless) אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (we will be) מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֥ךְ (of oath of yours) הַזֶּ֖ה (this), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃ (you have made us swear). 18  הִנֵּ֛ה (Unless), אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (we) בָאִ֖ים (come) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (into the land), אֶת־ (-) תִּקְוַ֡ת (the line) חוּט֩ (of cord) הַשָּׁנִ֨י (scarlet) הַזֶּ֜ה (this) תִּקְשְׁרִ֗י (you have tied) בַּֽחַלּוֹן֙ (in the window), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (through which) הוֹרַדְתֵּ֣נוּ (you let us down) ב֔וֹ (in it), וְאֶת־ (and unless) אָבִ֨יךְ (your father), וְאֶת־ (and) אִמֵּ֜ךְ (your mother), וְאֶת־ (and) אַחַ֗יִךְ (your brothers), וְאֵת֙ (and) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֣ית (house) אָבִ֔יךְ (of your father) תַּאַסְפִ֥י (you have gathered) אֵלַ֖יִךְ (to your own) הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ (house). 19  וְהָיָ֡ה (And it shall come to pass), כֹּ֣ל (that anyone) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יֵצֵא֩ (goes out) מִדַּלְתֵ֨י (from the doors) בֵיתֵ֧ךְ׀ (of your house) הַח֛וּצָה (to the outside), דָּמ֥וֹ (his blood will be) בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ (on his own head), וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (and we will be) נְקִיִּ֑ם (guiltless). וְ֠כֹל (And anyone) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) יִֽהְיֶ֤ה (is) אִתָּךְ֙ (with you) בַּבַּ֔יִת (in the house), דָּמ֣וֹ (his blood will be) בְרֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ (on our head), אִם־ (if) יָ֖ד (a hand) תִּֽהְיֶה־ (is laid) בּֽוֹ׃ (on him). 20  וְאִם־ (And if) תַּגִּ֖ידִי (you tell) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרֵ֣נוּ (matter of ours) זֶ֑ה (this), וְהָיִ֣ינוּ (and we will be) נְקִיִּ֔ם (free) מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֖ךְ (from your oath) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃ (you have made us swear).

21  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said), כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֣ם (According to your⁺ words), כֶּן־ (so) ה֔וּא (be it). וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵ֖ם (And she sent them away), וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ (and they departed), וַתִּקְשֹׁ֛ר (and she tied) אֶת־ (-) תִּקְוַ֥ת (cord) הַשָּׁנִ֖י (the scarlet) בַּחַלּֽוֹן׃ (in the window).

22  וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ (And they departed) וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (and went) הָהָ֔רָה (to the mountain) וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ (and stayed) שָׁם֙ (there) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) יָמִ֔ים (days), עַד־ (until) שָׁ֖בוּ (returned) הָרֹדְפִ֑ים (the pursuers). וַיְבַקְשׁ֧וּ (And sought them) הָרֹדְפִ֛ים (the pursuers) בְּכָל־ (all along) הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way), וְלֹ֥א (not) מָצָֽאוּ׃ (did they find them). 23  וַיָּשֻׁ֜בוּ (And returned) שְׁנֵ֤י (two) הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (the men), וַיֵּרְד֣וּ (and descended) מֵֽהָהָ֔ר (from the mountain), וַיַּעַבְרוּ֙ (and passed over), וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ (and they came) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua) בִּן־ (son) נ֑וּן (of Nun) וַיְסַ֨פְּרוּ־ (and told) ל֔וֹ (him) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַמֹּצְא֖וֹת (that had found) אוֹתָֽם׃ (them).

24  וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ (And they said) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua), כִּֽי־ (Truly) נָתַ֧ן (has delivered) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) בְּיָדֵ֖נוּ (into our hands) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land). וְגַם־ (For indeed) נָמֹ֛גוּ (are fainthearted) כָּל־ (all) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) מִפָּנֵֽינוּ׃ס (at our presence).