1. Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two spies from Shittim. He sent them in secret. He said to them, "Go. Look the land over. Most of all, check out Jericho." So they went to Jericho. They stayed at the house of a prostitute. Her name was Rahab.
2. The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the people of Israel have come here tonight. They've come to check out the land."
3. So the king sent a message to Rahab. It said, "Bring out the men who came into your house. They've come to check out the whole land."
4. But the woman had hidden the two men. She said, "It's true that the men came here. But I didn't know where they had come from.
5. They left at sunset, when it was time to close the city gate. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You might catch up with them."
6. But in fact she had taken them up on the roof. There she had hidden them under some flax she had piled up.
7. The king's men left to hunt down the spies. They took the road that leads to where the Jordan River can be crossed. As soon as they had gone out of the city, the gate was shut.
8. Rahab went up on the roof before the spies settled down for the night.
9. She said to them, "I know that the Lord has given this land to you. We are very much afraid of you. Everyone who lives in this country is weak with fear because of you.
10. "We've heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. We've heard what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings. They ruled east of the Jordan River. You completely destroyed them.
11. "When we heard about it, our hearts melted away in fear. Because of you, we aren't brave anymore. The Lord your God is the God who rules over heaven above and earth below.
12. "Now then, please take an oath. Promise me in the name of the Lord that you will be kind to my family. I've been kind to you. Promise me