13. Tell me that you will allow my family to live—my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all their families. Promise me that you will save us from death.”
14. The men agreed and said, “We will trade our lives for yours. Don’t tell anyone what we are doing. Then, when the Lord gives us the land, we will be kind to you. You can trust us.”
15. Rahab’s house was built into the city wall, so she used a rope to let the men down through a window.
16. Then she said to them, “Go into the hills so that the king’s men will not accidentally find you. Hide there for three days. After the king’s men come back, you can go on your way.”
17. The men said to her, “We made a promise to you. But you must do one thing, or we will not be responsible for our promise.
18. When we come back to this land, you must tie in your window this red rope you are using to help us escape. You must bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your family into your house with you.
19. We will protect everyone who stays in this house. If anyone in your house is hurt, we will be responsible. But if they go out of your house and are killed, we will not be responsible. It will be their own fault.
20. We are making this agreement with you. But if you tell anyone about what we are doing, we will be free from this agreement.”
21. Rahab answered, “I will do just what you said.” She said goodbye, and the men left her house. Then she tied the red rope in the window.
22. The men left her house and went into the hills. They stayed there for three days. The king’s men looked all along the road. After three days, they stopped looking and went back to the city.
23. Then the two men went back to Joshua. They left the hills and crossed the river. They went to Joshua and told him everything that they had learned.
24. They said to him, “The Lord really has given us all the land. All the people in that country are afraid of us.”