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.

² The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” ³ So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab:^(F) “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

⁴ But the woman had taken the two men^(G) and hidden them.^(H) She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

⁹ and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear^(A) of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up^(B) the water of the Red Sea^[a] for you when you came out of Egypt,^(C) and what you did to Sihon and Og,^(D) the two kings of the Amorites^(E) east of the Jordan,^(F) whom you completely destroyed.^{[b](G) 11} When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear^(H) and everyone’s courage failed^(I) because of you,^(J) for the Lord your God^(K) is God in heaven above and on the earth^(L) below.

¹² “Now then, please swear to me^(M) by the Lord that you will show kindness^(N) to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign^{(O) 13} that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them^(P)—and that you will save us from death.”

¹⁴ “Our lives for your lives!”^(Q) the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully^(R) when the Lord gives us the land.”