And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

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

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:

24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

Rahab Hides the Spies(A)

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men (B)from [a]Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

So they went, and (C)came to the house of a harlot named (D)Rahab, and [b]lodged there. And (E)it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”

So the king of Jericho sent 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 country.”

(F)Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” (But (G)she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: (H)“I know that the Lord has given you the land, that (I)the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land (J)are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord (K)dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and (L)what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you (M)utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we (N)heard these things, (O)our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for (P)the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, (Q)swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to (R)my father’s house, and (S)give me [c]a true token, 13 and (T)spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that (U)we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15 Then she (V)let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

17 So the men said to her: “We will be (W)blameless[d] of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 (X)unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, (Y)and unless you [e]bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be [f]guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, (Z)his [g]blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be [h]free from your oath which you made us swear.”

21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly (AA)the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 2:1 Heb. Shittim
  2. Joshua 2:1 Lit. lay down
  3. Joshua 2:12 a pledge of truth
  4. Joshua 2:17 free from obligation to this oath
  5. Joshua 2:18 Lit. gather
  6. Joshua 2:19 free from obligation
  7. Joshua 2:19 guilt of bloodshed
  8. Joshua 2:20 free from obligation to

喇合營救探子

嫩的兒子約書亞暗中從什亭派出兩個探子去偵察對岸,特別是耶利哥的情況。他們來到一個名叫喇合的妓女家中,就住在那裡。 有人告訴耶利哥王說:「今天晚上有以色列人來這裡刺探。」 耶利哥王便派人到喇合那裡,對她說:「把來到你家裡的人交出來,因為他們是來刺探我們的。」 但喇合已經把二人藏起來了,她答道:「不錯,他們來過,可是我不知他們是從哪裡來的。 天黑要關閉城門的時候,他們就離開了,我不知道他們去了哪裡。你們快去追吧,還可以追得上。」 其實喇合已經把二人帶到屋頂上,藏在那裡的麻稈堆裡了。 搜查的人便沿著通往約旦河渡口的路追去,他們一出城,城門便關閉了。

在兩個探子睡覺前,喇合上到屋頂對他們說: 「我知道耶和華已經把這地方賜給你們,我們十分害怕。這裡所有的居民都嚇得膽戰心驚。 10 因為你們離開埃及過紅海的時候,耶和華怎樣使紅海在你們面前成為乾地,你們怎樣對付約旦河東的兩個亞摩利王西宏和噩,怎樣把他們徹底消滅,我們都聽說了。 11 我們聽了這些事,感到心驚膽戰、勇氣盡失。你們的上帝耶和華是天地萬物的上帝。 12 我既然恩待了你們,現在請你們憑耶和華向我起誓,你們也照樣恩待我家,並且給我一個可靠的憑據, 13 保證讓我的父母、兄弟、姐妹和他們所有的親人免於一死。」 14 二人便對她說:「如果你不洩露我們的事,我們願意用性命擔保,當耶和華把這地方賜給我們的時候,我們一定守信善待你。」

15 喇合的房子就在城牆邊,她就住在城牆上,於是她用繩子把二人從窗口縋下去, 16 並對他們說:「你們往山上去,免得被追捕的人發現。你們要在那裡躲三天,等追捕的人回城以後才可以走。」 17 二人對她說:「要讓我們信守誓言,你必須這樣做, 18 我們來攻佔這座城的時候,你要把這條朱紅色的繩子繫在縋我們下去的窗戶上,並且把你的父母、兄弟、姊妹和他們的親人都召集到你家裡。 19 倘若有人因離開這房子跑到街上而遭遇不測,我們不負任何責任。我們一定保證屋內所有人的性命安全。 20 如果你洩露我們的事,你要我們起的誓也就作廢了。」 21 喇合答道:「一言為定!」於是她送走他們,把朱紅色的繩子繫在窗戶上。

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,毫無所獲,便回去了。 23 二人便下山,過河回到嫩的兒子約書亞那裡,向他稟告整個經過, 24 又說:「耶和華確實將那整片土地交給我們了,那裡的居民聽到我們的消息,都嚇得膽戰心驚。」

Spies View the Land

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men from Acacia Grove[a] as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night[b] there. The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some men from the Israelites[c] have come here tonight to search out the land.” And the king of Jericho sent for Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who came to you, the ones who have entered your house, for they have come to search out the whole land.” But the woman took the two men and hid them. And she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when it was time to shut the gate for the night,[d] the men left, and I do not know where they went. Chase after them quickly, for you may catch up to them.” (But she had taken them to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax[e] that she had spread out[f] on the roof.) So the men chased after them on the way to the Jordan[g] at the fords; and they shut the gate behind the pursuers that had gone out after them.

Before they went to sleep,[h] she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away in fear because of your presence. 10 For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the waters of the Red Sea[i] before you when you went out from Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 We heard this, and our hearts[j] melted, and no courage was left in anyone[k] because of your presence. For Yahweh your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below. 12 So then please swear to me by Yahweh, because I have shown loyalty to you,[l] and you will also show loyalty[m] to my family.[n] You must give me a sign of good faith,[o] 13 and you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all that belongs to them; you will deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our lives for yours.[p] If you do not report this business of ours, we will show you loyalty and faithfulness[q] when Yahweh gives us the land.”

15 Then she lowered them with a rope through the window, as her house was on the outer side of the wall, and she was residing in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go to the mountain, so that the pursuers will not find you, and hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers return, and afterward you may go on your way.”[r] 17 The men said to her, “We will be released from this oath of yours that you made us swear. 18 When we come to the land, you must tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you must gather your father and mother, and your brothers, and your whole family to your house. 19 If anyone goes outside the doors of your house, they will be responsible for their own death,[s] and we will be innocent. Anyone who will be with you in the house, we will be responsible for their death[t] if a hand is laid on them.[u] 20 But if you report this business of ours, we will be released from your oath that you made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your word it will be.” Then she sent them away, and they went, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 They departed and came to the mountain, and they stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers searched all along the way[v] but did not find them. 23 The two men returned and went down from the mountain, and they crossed over and came to Joshua son of Nun, and they told him everything that happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely Yahweh has given all the land into our hand; also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away in fear because of our presence.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 2:1 Hebrew “Shittim”
  2. Joshua 2:1 Literally “lay down”
  3. Joshua 2:2 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  4. Joshua 2:5 Literally “in the darkness” or “at dark”
  5. Joshua 2:6 Literally “in the flaxes of the plant stalk”
  6. Joshua 2:6 Literally “had been arranged”
  7. Joshua 2:7 Literally “the road of the Jordan”
  8. Joshua 2:8 Literally “they lay down”
  9. Joshua 2:10 Literally “sea of reeds”
  10. Joshua 2:11 Hebrew “heart”
  11. Joshua 2:11 Literally “a spirit no longer stood in anyone”
  12. Joshua 2:12 Literally “I have done with you a loyal love”
  13. Joshua 2:12 Literally “you will do … loyal love”
  14. Joshua 2:12 Literally “with the house of my father”
  15. Joshua 2:12 Or “faithfulness”
  16. Joshua 2:14 Literally “Our lives in place of yours to die”
  17. Joshua 2:14 Literally “we will do with you loyal love and faithfulness”
  18. Joshua 2:16 Literally “to your way”
  19. Joshua 2:19 Literally “his blood will be on his head”
  20. Joshua 2:19 Literally “his blood will be on our head”
  21. Joshua 2:19 Literally “if a hand will be against him”
  22. Joshua 2:22 Literally “on all of the road”