1Joshua the son of Nun sent two men out from Shittim to spy secretly. He said, "Go and look at the land, and at Jericho." So they went, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and they stayed there.
2Someone told the king of Jericho, "Look, men of the children of Israel came here tonight to search out the country."
3So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country."
4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, men came to me, but I did not know where they were from."
5"About the time the gate was shut, when it was dark, the men went out. I do not know where they went. Go after them quickly, and you will catch them."
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house. She had hidden them under stalks of flax that she had laid out in rows on the roof.
7The men chased after them along the road to the Jordan, as far as the fords. As soon as the ones who were chasing them had gone out, the gate was shut.
8Before the men lay down to sleep, she came up to them on the roof.
9She said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land. Terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is melting with fear because of you."
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea in front of you when you came out of Egypt. We have heard what you did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you completely destroyed.
11As soon as we heard this, our hearts melted. No courage was left in anyone because of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.
12So now, please swear to me by the LORD. I have shown you kindness, so promise that you will also show kindness to my father's house. Give me a sure sign,
13"that you will keep my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, and all that they have, and that you will save our lives from death."
14The men answered her, "Our life for yours, if you do not tell anyone about this business of ours. When the LORD gives us the land, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the town wall, and she lived on the wall.
16She said to them, "Go to the mountain, or those who are chasing you will meet you. Hide yourselves there for three days, until they come back. After that you may go on your way."
17The men said to her, "We will be free from the oath you made us swear,"
18unless you do this. When we come into the land, you must tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window that you let us down by. And you must gather your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household into the house with you.
19Then whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be free of blame. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.
20"And if you tell anyone about this business of ours, then we will be free from the oath you made us swear."
21She said, "Let it be as you have said." She sent them away, and they went. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22They went and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the men who were chasing them had come back. Those men searched for them all along the road, but did not find them.
23So the two men came back. They came down from the mountain, crossed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him everything that had happened to them.
24They said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. Everyone who lives in the country is melting with fear because of us."