Rahab Welcomes the Spies (Hebrews 11:30–31)
1 CPDV And so Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men from Shittim to explore in secret. And he said to them, “Go and consider the land and the city of Jericho.” And while traveling, they entered into the house of a harlot woman named Rahab, and they rested with her. BSB BSB: Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 CPDV And it was reported to the king of Jericho, and it was said: “Behold, men have entered to this place in the night, from the sons of Israel, so that they might explore the land.” BSB BSB: And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
3 CPDV And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying: “Bring out the men who came to you, and who entered into your house. For certainly they are spies, and they have arrived to consider the entire land.” BSB BSB: So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 CPDV And the woman, taking the men, hid them. And she said: “I admit that they came to me, but I did not know where they were from. BSB BSB: But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
5 CPDV And when the gate was closed, they went out together in the darkness. I do not know where they have gone. Pursue them quickly, and you will overtake them.” BSB BSB: At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!”
6 CPDV But she caused the men to ascend to the roof of her house, and she covered them with the stalks of flax that were there. BSB BSB: (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)
7 CPDV But those who had been sent pursued after them along the way that leads to the ford of the Jordan. And as soon as they went out, the gate was closed. BSB BSB: So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.
The Promise to Rahab 8 CPDV Those who were hiding had not yet fallen asleep, and behold, the woman went up to them, and she said: BSB BSB: Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof
9 CPDV “I know that the Lord has given this land to you. For the terror of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land have languished. BSB BSB: and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
10 CPDV We have heard that the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea upon your arrival, when you were departing from Egypt, and we heard of the things that you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put to death. BSB BSB: For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.
11 CPDV And upon hearing these things, we were very afraid, and our heart languished. Neither did there remain in us any spirit at your arrival. For the Lord your God is the very God in heaven above and on earth below. BSB BSB: When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.
12 CPDV Now, therefore, swear to me by the Lord that in the same way that I have acted with mercy toward you, so also shall you act toward the house of my father. And may you give me a true sign BSB BSB: Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
13 CPDV that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all that is theirs, and that you may rescue our souls from death.” BSB BSB: that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”
14 CPDV They responded to her: “May our lives be yours unto death, if only you do not betray us. And when the Lord will have delivered the land to us, we will act toward you with mercy and truth.” BSB BSB: “Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”
15 CPDV Therefore, she sent them down from a window with a rope. For her house was joined to the wall. BSB BSB: Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
16 CPDV And she said to them: “Climb up to the mountains; otherwise, they may meet you as they are returning. And lay hidden there for three days, until they return. And then you will go on your way.” BSB BSB: “Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”
17 CPDV And they said to her: “We shall be innocent of this oath, to which you have sworn us, BSB BSB: The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
18 CPDV if, when we enter into the land, this scarlet cord has been placed as a sign, and you have tied it at the window by which you let us down. And so, gather your father, and mother, and brothers, and all your family into your house. BSB BSB: unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.
19 CPDV Whoever will have exited from the door of your house, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be uninvolved. But the blood of all who will be with you in the house shall fall back upon our own head, if anyone touches them. BSB BSB: If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.
20 CPDV But if you will have betrayed us, so that you spread this word in their midst, we will be free from this oath, to which you have sworn us.” BSB BSB: And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 CPDV And she responded, “Just as you have spoken, so let it be done.” And sending them to travel on, she hung the scarlet cord at the window. BSB BSB: “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 CPDV And truly, walking on, they arrived at the mountains, and they stayed there for three days, until those who had been pursuing them returned. For having sought them along the entire way, they did not find them. BSB BSB: So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road.
23 CPDV And when they returned and entered the city, the explorers descended from the mountain. And crossing the Jordan, they went to Joshua, the son of Nun, and they reported to him all that had happened to them. BSB BSB: Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them.
24 CPDV And they said, “The Lord has delivered this entire land into our hands, and all its inhabitants have been struck down by fear.” BSB BSB: “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.