喇合营救探子

嫩的儿子约书亚暗中从什亭派出两个探子去侦察对岸,特别是耶利哥的情况。他们来到一个名叫喇合的妓女家中,就住在那里。 有人告诉耶利哥王说:“今天晚上有以色列人来这里刺探。” 耶利哥王便派人到喇合那里,对她说:“把来到你家里的人交出来,因为他们是来刺探我们的。” 但喇合已经把二人藏起来了,她答道:“不错,他们来过,可是我不知他们是从哪里来的。 天黑要关闭城门的时候,他们就离开了,我不知道他们去了哪里。你们快去追吧,还可以追得上。” 其实喇合已经把二人带到屋顶上,藏在那里的麻秆堆里了。 搜查的人便沿着通往约旦河渡口的路追去,他们一出城,城门便关闭了。

在两个探子睡觉前,喇合上到屋顶对他们说: “我知道耶和华已经把这地方赐给你们,我们十分害怕。这里所有的居民都吓得胆战心惊。 10 因为你们离开埃及过红海的时候,耶和华怎样使红海在你们面前成为干地,你们怎样对付约旦河东的两个亚摩利王西宏和噩,怎样把他们彻底消灭,我们都听说了。 11 我们听了这些事,感到心惊胆战、勇气尽失。你们的上帝耶和华是天地万物的上帝。 12 我既然恩待了你们,现在请你们凭耶和华向我起誓,你们也照样恩待我家,并且给我一个可靠的凭据, 13 保证让我的父母、兄弟、姐妹和他们所有的亲人免于一死。” 14 二人便对她说:“如果你不泄露我们的事,我们愿意用性命担保,当耶和华把这地方赐给我们的时候,我们一定守信善待你。”

15 喇合的房子就在城墙边,她就住在城墙上,于是她用绳子把二人从窗口缒下去, 16 并对他们说:“你们往山上去,免得被追捕的人发现。你们要在那里躲三天,等追捕的人回城以后才可以走。” 17 二人对她说:“要让我们信守誓言,你必须这样做, 18 我们来攻占这座城的时候,你要把这条朱红色的绳子系在缒我们下去的窗户上,并且把你的父母、兄弟、姊妹和他们的亲人都召集到你家里。 19 倘若有人因离开这房子跑到街上而遭遇不测,我们不负任何责任。我们一定保证屋内所有人的性命安全。 20 如果你泄露我们的事,你要我们起的誓也就作废了。” 21 喇合答道:“一言为定!”于是她送走他们,把朱红色的绳子系在窗户上。

22 二人到山上躲藏了三天,等待追捕的人回去。追捕的人沿途搜索,毫无所获,便回去了。 23 二人便下山,过河回到嫩的儿子约书亚那里,向他禀告整个经过, 24 又说:“耶和华确实将那整片土地交给我们了,那里的居民听到我们的消息,都吓得胆战心惊。”

Book name not found: 约书亚记 for the version: 1550 Stephanus New Testament.

And Yehoshua ben Nun sent out of Sheetim shnayim anashim (two men) to spy secretly, saying, Go view HaAretz, even Yericho. And they went, and entered into bais isha zonah, and her name was Rachav, and they lodged there.

And it was told Melech Yericho, saying, Hinei, anashim have come here halailah of the Bnei Yisroel to spy out HaAretz.

And the Melech Yericho sent unto Rachav, saying, Bring forth the anashim that are come to thee, who entered into thine bais; for they have come to spy out kol HaAretz.

And the isha took the two anashim, and hid them, and said thus, There came anashim unto me, but I knew not where they had come from;

And it came to pass about the time of the shutting of the sha’ar, when it was choshech, that the anashim went out; where the anashim went I know not; pursue after them quickly; for ye may overtake them.

But she had brought them up to the gag (roof), and hid them with the pishtei haetz (stalks of flax), which she had laid out upon the gag.

So the anashim pursued after them the derech (road) to Yarden unto the fords; and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they closed the sha’ar.

And before they [the two spies] lay down, she went up unto them upon the gag;

And she said unto the anashim, I know that Hashem hath given you HaAretz, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of HaAretz faint because of you.

10 For we have heard how Hashem dried up the waters of the Yam Suf from before you, when ye came out of Mitzrayim; and what ye did unto the two melachim of the Emori, that were beyond the Yarden, Sichon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed [put under cherem ban].

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, levaveinu (our hearts) did melt, neither did there remain any more ruach in any ish, because of you; for Hashem Eloheichem hu Elohim baShomayim above, and on HaAretz beneath.

12 Therefore, now, swear unto me by Hashem, since I have showed you chesed, that ye will also show chesed unto Bais Avi, and give me an ot emes (sign of truth);

13 And that ye will save alive avi, and immi, and my ach and my achot, and all that they have, and deliver nafshoteinu (our lives, souls) from mavet (death).

14 And the anashim answered her, Nafsheinu (our soul) shall die for you, if ye utter not what we are doing. And it shall be, when Hashem hath given us HaAretz, that we will deal chesed v’emes with thee.

15 Then she let them down by a chevel (cord, rope) through the chalon (window); for her bais was in the city wall, and she dwelt in the chomah (wall).

16 And she said unto them, Get you to the hill country, lest the rodefim (pursuers) meet you; and hide yourselves there shloshet yamim, until the rodefim return; and afterward may ye go your way.

17 And the anashim said unto her, We will be nekiyyim (free ones) of this thine shevu’ah (oath) which thou hast made us swear,

18 Unless when we come into HaAretz, thou shalt tie this rope of scarlet cord in the chalon by which thou didst let us down; and thou shalt bring thy av, and thy em, and thy achim, and all thy bais avi, with thee inside the bais.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the delatot of thy bais into the chutzah (street, outside), his dahm shall be upon his rosh, and we will be nekiyyim (free ones); and whosoever shall be with thee in the bais, his dahm shall be on rosheinu (our head), if any yad be laid upon him.

20 And if thou utter what we are doing, then we will be nekiyyim (free ones) of thine shevu’ah (oath) which thou hast made us to swear.

21 And she said, According unto your devarim, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the chalon.

22 And they went, and came unto the hill country, and abode there shloshet yamim, until the rodefim returned; and the rodefim sought them all along the derech, but found them not.

23 So the two anashim returned, and descended from the hill country, and passed over, and came to Yehoshua ben Nun, and told him all things that befell them;

24 And they said unto Yehoshua, Truly Hashem hath delivered into yadeinu kol HaAretz; for even all the inhabitants of HaAretz do faint because of us.