1 Then Joshua the son of Nunsenttwomen as spiessecretly from 1Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especiallyJericho." So they went and came into the house of 2a harlot* whose name was Rahab, and [a]lodgedthere.
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It was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have comeheretonight to search out the land."
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And the king of Jerichosent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."
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But the 3woman had taken the twomen and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the mencame to me, but I did not knowwhere they were from.
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"It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the menwent out; I do not knowwhere the menwent. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."
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But 4she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
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So the menpursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
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Now before they laydown, [b]she came up to them on the roof,
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and said to the men, "5I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the 6terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have [c]meltedawaybefore* you.
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"7For we have heardhow the LORDdried up the water of the Red*Seabefore* you when you came out of Egypt, and 8what you did to the twokings of the Amoriteswho were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterlydestroyed.
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"When we heard it, 9our heartsmelted and nocourageremained in anymananylongerbecause* of you; for the 10LORD your God, He is God in heavenabove* and on earthbeneath*.
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"Now therefore, pleaseswear to me by the LORD, since I have dealtkindly with you, that you also will dealkindly with my father'shousehold, and give me a 11pledge of truth,
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and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with allwho belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
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So the mensaid to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tellthisbusiness of ours; and it shall come about when the LORDgives us the land that we will 12dealkindly and faithfully with you."