1And Joshua, the son of Nun, sent out of Shittim (Acacia) two men to spy secretly, saying, “Go view the land, especially Jericho”. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2And it was told the king of Jericho, “Some men of the children of Israel came in here tonight to search out the country”.
3And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, and said, “Bring out the men who have come and have entered your house; for they have come to spy out all the country”.
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, “The men came to me, but I knew not where they were from;
5And about the time that the gate was shut, when it was dark, the men went out; I do not know where. Pursue them quickly; for you shall overtake them”.
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hidden them among stalks of flax which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7And the men pursued along the way toward the fords of the Jordan; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, they shut the gate.
8And before they lay down for the night, she came up to them on the roof,
9And she said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that your fear has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt because of you.
10For 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, Sihon and Og, that were on the other side of the Jordan, that you utterly destroyed.
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts melted, nor did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12Now, then, 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 true sign;
13That you will save my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all that they have alive, and spare our lives from death”.
14And the two men answered her, “Our life for yours, if you do not tell what we are doing. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
15Then she let them down by a rope through the window; for her house was part of the city wall.
16And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, so that the pursuers don’t meet you; and hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned: and afterward you may go your way”.
17And the men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath which you have made us swear.
18Unless, when we come into the land, you tie this line of scarlet cord in the window by which you let us down; and you bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's household, to your home.
19And anyone that goes out of the doors of your house into the street, their blood shall be upon their own head, and we will be blameless; but whoever is with you in the house, their blood shall be on our head, if any hand is laid on them.
20And if you tell of our business, then we will be free of your oath which you have made us swear”.
21And she said, “Be it according to your words”. And so she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22And they went to the mountain, and hid there three days, until the pursuers had returned; and the pursuers looked for them all along the way, but did not find them.
23So the two men started back, and out of the mountain, and crossed over, and reported to Joshua all that they saw and did.
24And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are fearful because of us”. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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