A Canaanite woman named
Rahab helps Israelite spies in the city of Jericho.
Joshua sent 2 spies into Canaan. He
wanted them to look around and learn about Canaan. He wanted them to check the
city named Jericho. The spies went into Canaan and traveled to Jericho. They stayed at a house. It
was Rahab's house. Rahab was a prostitute. [1] 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.
The king of Jericho heard about the spies. He heard
they were in Canaan looking around. The king told Rahab to bring the spies to
him.
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
Rahab did not obey the king. She helped the spies hide. Then she lied and
told the king that she didn't know where the men went. She told the king that the men
escaped at night. She said they escaped before the city closed the gate. She told the king
that he should chase the men.
[4] 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:
[5] 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 really, Rahab took the men to the roof of her
house. She hid them under flax (a plant, like wheat).
[6] 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.
The king's soldiers left the city of Jericho. Then the city people
shut the gate. The soldiers were looking for the spies. They looked all the
way to the Jordan River.
[7] 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.
Rahab went back up to her roof. The Israelite spies
were still awake. She told the spies that she knew God gave Canaan to the
Israelites. The Canaanites are afraid of the Israelites.
[8] And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
[9] 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.
Rahab said the Canaanites heard about what happened at
the Red Sea. They knew that God made the Red Sea divide so the Israelites could
walk through on dry land. They also heard about how the Israelites defeated King Sihon and
King Og. Sihon and Og were kings of the Amorites. They lived on the east
side of the Jordan River.
[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.
Rahab said that now the Canaanites are very afraid. They
know that God is powerful. They know that the Lord God is the God of heaven and earth.
[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.
Rahab helped the Israelites. Then she asked them to
help her. She asked them to save her family--her parents, her brothers, her
sisters, and her brothers' and sisters' families. She asked them to give her a
sign--something to show they made a promise.
[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.
The Israelite men agreed. If she didn't tell anyone
about them, they would save her family. If they did not keep their promise, they
(the spies) would die.
[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.
Rahab's house was built in the wall around Jericho.
That means she had a window that was looking outside the city. She got a
rope and put the rope out the window. Then the Israelite spies climbed down the
rope.
[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.
Rahab told the spies to go hide in the mountains. They
should hide there for 3 days. After 3 days, the Canaanite soldiers would give up
looking for them. The soldiers would come back to the city. Then the spies could escape.
[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.
The Israelite spies said they would keep their promise.
Rahab's family would be safe. Rahab
should put a red rope in her window. All of her family should be in the
house with her.
[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.
The Israelite spies made a promise. Everyone in Rahab's house will be safe. They
must stay in the house, though. If someone goes outside the house, he may get
hurt. It will be his own responsibility. The Israelites are responsible only for the
people inside Rahab's house.
[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.
Rahab promised that she would not tell the
Canaanites about the spies. But if she breaks her promise, then the Israelites
will not keep their promise. Her family will not be safe.
[20] And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath
which thou hast made us to swear.
Rahab agreed. The Israelite spies went out the window
and escaped. Then she put the red rope in her window.
[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.
The Israelite spies went to the mountains. They stayed
there for 3 days. The Canaanite soldiers looked for them but did not find
them.
[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.
After the Israelite spies left the mountains, they
traveled east over the Jordan River. They talked to Joshua. They told
Joshua everything that happened to them in Canaan.
[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:
The spies told Joshua that God is giving Canaan to the
Israelites. The people in Canaan are afraid of the Israelites.
[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.