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約書亞派探子進耶利哥

於是,嫩的兒子約書亞從什亭祕密地差派兩個探子,對他們說:“你們去窺探那地,尤其是耶利哥。”二人去了,來到一個名叫喇合的妓女家中,就在那裡住宿。 有人向耶利哥王報告:“今夜從以色列人那裡有人進來,要窺探這地。” 耶利哥王派人到喇合那裡,說:“把那些來到你這裡,進了你家中的人帶出來,因為他們來是要窺探全地的。” 但那女人已把那兩個人藏起來,還這樣回答王:“不錯,那些人到過我這裡來,但是,我不知道他們是從哪裡來的。 天黑、城門快要關的時候,那些人出去了;我不知道他們到哪裡去。你們快去追趕,必可以追上他們。” 其實她領他們上了屋頂,把他們藏在堆放在屋頂的麻稭裡面。 那些人就沿著往約旦河的路上追趕他們,直到渡口;追趕的人一出城,城門就關上了。

探子與喇合之約

兩個探子還沒有躺下睡覺,那女人就上屋頂到他們那裡去, 對他們二人說:“我知道耶和華已經把這地賜給你們了,你們使我們十分害怕,這地所有的居民都在你們面前膽戰心驚。 10 因為我們聽見你們從埃及出來的時候,耶和華怎樣使紅海的水在你們面前乾了,以及你們怎樣對待約旦河東亞摩利人的兩個王西宏和噩,把他們完全消滅。 11 我們聽見了,就都心裡驚怕;沒有一人再有勇氣在你們面前站立;因為耶和華你們的 神是天上、也是地上的 神。 12 現在求你們指著耶和華向我起誓:我既然恩待了你們,你們也要恩待我的父家,並且給我一個確實的憑據, 13 放過我的父母、兄弟姊妹和他們所有的一切,救我們的命不致死亡。” 14 兩個探子就對她說:“如果你不洩漏我們這次行動,我們願以性命作你們的保證;耶和華把這地賜給我們的時候,我們必定以慈愛和誠實待你們。”

15 於是,那女人用繩子把二人從窗戶縋下去,因為她的房屋是在城牆上,她就住在城牆上。 16 她對他們二人說:“你們要到山上去,免得追趕的人遇上你們;你們要在那裡躲藏三天,等追趕的人回城,然後你們才可以走你們的路。” 17 他們二人對她說:“如果你不遵照我們的話行,你叫我們起的誓就與我們無關了。 18 你要留意,我們再到這地方的時候,你要把這條朱紅色線繫在你縋我們下去的窗戶上;你也要把你的父母、兄弟和你父的全家,都聚集在你的屋裡。 19 任何人走出你家門,到外面去的,他的血就必歸到他自己的頭上,與我們無關;任何人同你在屋裡的,如果有人下手加害他,他的血就歸到我們頭上。 20 如果你洩漏了我們這次的行動,那麼,你叫我們起的誓就與我們無關了。” 21 那女人回答:“照你們的話,就這樣吧。”於是打發他們二人走了。他們走了以後,她就把朱紅色線繫在窗戶上。

探子回報

22 二人離去,上到山上,在那裡住了三天,等追趕的人回城去了;追趕的人一路搜尋他們,卻找不著。 23 二人於是下山回去,過了約旦河,回到嫩的兒子約書亞那裡,把他們遭遇的一切事向他報告。 24 他們又對約書亞說:“耶和華真的把那地全交在我們手裡了;那地所有的居民都在我們面前膽戰心驚。”

Rahab Hides the Spies

Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from (A)Shittim, saying, “Go, see the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of (B)a harlot whose name was Rahab and [a]lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the (C)woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. Now it happened when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” But (D)she had brought them up to the roof and concealed them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.

Now before they lay down, [b]she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “(E)I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the (F)terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have [c]melted away before you. 10 (G)For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the [d]Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and (H)what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you [e]devoted to destruction. 11 Indeed we heard it, (I)and our hearts melted, and a courageous spirit no longer rose up in any man because of you; for (J)Yahweh your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 So now, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have shown lovingkindness to you, that you also will show lovingkindness to my father’s household and give me a (K)pledge of [f]truth, 13 and preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, with all who belong to them, and deliver our [g]lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our [h]life [i]for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it will be when Yahweh gives us the land that we will (L)show lovingkindness and truth to you.”

The Oath to Rahab

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “(M)Go to the hill country, lest the pursuers reach you. And hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 And the men said to her, “(N)We shall be free from this oath [j]to you which you have made us swear, 18 [k]unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and (O)gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 And it will be that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, (P)his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they went; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 And they went and came to the hill country and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had sought them [l]all along the road but had not found them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they recounted to him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Surely Yahweh has given all the land into our hands; moreover, (Q)all the inhabitants of the land have [m]melted away before us.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 2:1 Lit lay down
  2. Joshua 2:8 Lit then she
  3. Joshua 2:9 Or become demoralized
  4. Joshua 2:10 Lit Sea of Reeds
  5. Joshua 2:10 Or put under the ban
  6. Joshua 2:12 Or faithfulness
  7. Joshua 2:13 Lit souls
  8. Joshua 2:14 Lit soul
  9. Joshua 2:14 Lit instead of you to die
  10. Joshua 2:17 Lit of yours
  11. Joshua 2:18 Lit behold
  12. Joshua 2:22 Lit through all the road
  13. Joshua 2:24 Or become demoralized