1And Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent from Shittim (Acacia) two men to spy, saying, “Go view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went, and came into a house of a harlot, named Rahab, and stayed there. 2And the king of Jericho was told, “Some men of the Israelites came in here tonight to search out the country.” 3And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, and said, “Bring out those men who have come and have entered your house; for they have come to spy out all the country.” 4And the woman had hidden the two men, and she replied, “The men came to me, but I did not know where they were from; 5And about the time that the gate was shut, when it was dark, they went out; I do not know where. Pursue them quickly; for you shall overtake them.” 6But she had brought them up to the roof of her house, and hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid in order upon the roof. 7And so the men went in pursuit of the spies along the road toward the fords of the Jordan; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, they shut the gate. 8And before the two men lay down for the night, she came up to them on the roof, 9And said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that your fear has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt because of you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, that were on the other side of the Jordan, that you utterly destroyed. 11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts melted, nor did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and on earth below. 12Now, then, please swear to me by the LORD, that, since I have shown you kindness, you will also show kindness to my father's house, and give me a sure sign; 13That you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all that they have, from death.” 14And the two men answered her, “Our life for yours, if you do not tell what we are doing, when the LORD has given us the land, we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15Then she let them down by a rope through the window; for her house was part of the city wall. 16And she told them, “Get to the mountain, so that the pursuers don’t run into you; and hide there for three days, until the pursuers have returned. Then, afterward, you may go your way.” 17And the men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath which you have made us swear, 18Unless, when we come into the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down; and you bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's household, to your home. 19And anyone that goes out from your house into the street, their blood shall be upon their own head, and we will be blameless; but whoever is with you here in the house, their blood shall be on our head, if any hand is laid on them. 20And if you tell of our business, then we will be free of your oath which you have made us swear.” 21And she said, “Be it according to your words.” And so, she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22And they went to the mountain, and hid there for three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers had looked for them all along the road, but did not find them.

23So the two men left the mountain and started back, crossed over the Jordan, and reported to Joshua all that they saw and did. 24And they said to Joshua, “Truly, the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are fearful because of us.”