Rahab and the Spies

2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies^(A) from Shittim.^(B) “Go, look over^(C) the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.^(D)” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab^(E) and stayed there.

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.^[a](A)

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?^(A)

Moab Seduces Israel

25 While Israel was staying in Shittim,^(A) the men began to indulge in sexual immorality^(B) with Moabite^(C) women,^(D)

² So the Danites^(A) sent five of their leading men^(B) from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out^(C) the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”^(D)

So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,^(E) where they spent the night.

¹⁷ When Moses sent them to explore Canaan,^(A) he said, “Go up through the Negev^(B) and on into the hill country.^{(C) 18} See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹ What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? ²⁰ How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.^(D)” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)^(E)

²¹ So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin^(F) as far as Rehob,^(G) toward Lebo Hamath.^(H)

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^(B)

¹⁷ The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods^(A) while the priest and the six hundred armed men^(B) stood at the entrance of the gate.