Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Joshua secretly sent two spies from Shittim to view the land around Jericho. They went into the house of Rahab, a prostitute who lived in the city's wall, and lodged there.

It was reported to the king of Jericho that men from Israel had come to spy out the land. He ordered Rahab to bring them out, saying they were here to search out every corner of the land. But Rahab hid the two spies, telling the king's men she didn't know where they came from.

As the gate was about to close at nightfall, Rahab sent the spies on their way, telling the pursuers to chase after them quickly because they would soon catch up. She had actually hidden them in her house, taking them up to the roof and hiding them among stalks of flax laid out to dry.

The men pursued the spies along the Jordan River, but when the pursuers went out, Rahab's neighbors shut the city gate behind them. Before they were all settled down for the night, Rahab went back up to the rooftop and spoke with the spies.

She said to them, "I know that the Lord has given you control over this land, and it's clear that your God is feared by everyone living here. We've heard about how the Lord dried up the Red Sea when you left Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings who had been ruling over this area – you destroyed them completely.

As soon as we heard these stories, our hearts melted with fear because of you. It's clear that the Lord your God is all-powerful in heaven above and on earth below."

Rahab pleaded with the spies to swear an oath by the Lord, promising her kindness for showing them hospitality. She asked them to save her family – her parents, brothers, sisters, and all their belongings – from certain death when the Israelites conquered Jericho.

In return, Rahab offered to be innocent of any wrongdoing if they didn't reveal her involvement in helping the spies. When the Lord gives you control over the land, she said, we will treat you with kindness and fairness.

Rahab let the two men down from her window using a rope since her house was built into the city wall. She told them to go hide on the nearby mountain for three days until the pursuers returned, then they could continue their journey.

When the Israelites came into Jericho, Rahab would tie a scarlet thread in her window as a sign of loyalty, and bring her family into the house with her. Anyone who left the house during the battle would be responsible for their own death, but those inside would be under the protection of the Israelites.

If she betrayed them by revealing their business, they would release themselves from any oath sworn to her. According to Rahab's words, she sent the spies away and they departed; later, she tied the scarlet thread in her window as promised.

The two men went up into the mountain where they hid for three days until the pursuers returned without finding them. When they came back down from their hiding place, they told Joshua everything that had happened.

The people said to Joshua, "It's clear that the Lord has given us control over all this land; everyone living here is running away from us."