The Promise to Rahab
Rahab meets the spies on the roof and speaks plainly about the terror in the land. Israel's past deliverances have already reached Jericho, and her words confess the LORD's rule over heaven and earth.
B8efore the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof 9and 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. 10For 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. 11When 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.
Because she has shown kindness, Rahab asks for a sworn promise that her whole family will be spared from death. The spies answer with a pledge of mutual life, provided she keeps their mission secret.
12Now 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 13that 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“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.”
Rahab lowers the spies through her window and directs their escape into the hill country. The spies clarify the oath: her family must gather in her house, remain there, and mark the window with a scarlet cord; Rahab accepts and sets the sign in place.
15Then 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“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.” 17The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear 18unless, 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. 19If 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. 20And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21“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.
The spies hide for three days, then return across the river to Joshua and report all that has happened. Their final word is not about danger but about the LORD's gift of the land and the fear already spreading through it.
22So 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. 23Then 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“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.”