Rahab and the Spies

Joshua secretly sent two men from Shittim to look over the land, especially Jericho. They went into Rahab’s house and stayed there. But the king of Jericho was told that Israelite men had come that night to spy out the land, so he sent word to Rahab to bring them out.

Rahab had hidden the two men on her roof under stalks of flax. She told the king’s men that the strangers had come, but she did not know where they were from, and said they had gone out at dark. She urged the pursuers to hurry after them. So they went toward the Jordan crossings, and the gate was shut after them.

Before the spies lay down, Rahab went up to the roof and spoke with them. She said the people of the land were afraid, because they had heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea and how Israel defeated Sihon and Og. Rahab said their hearts had melted, because the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

Then Rahab asked the men to swear by the Lord that, since she had dealt kindly with them, they would deal kindly with her father’s house. She asked for a true sign that her father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belonged to them would be kept alive. The men agreed, as long as she did not speak about their mission.

Rahab let the spies down by a cord through her window, because her house was on the city wall. She told them to hide in the mountain for three days until the pursuers returned. The men told her to tie a scarlet line in the window when Israel came, to gather her family into the house, and to keep this matter secret. Anyone who stayed inside would be under their protection. Rahab agreed, sent them away, and tied the scarlet line in the window.

The spies stayed in the mountain for three days, and the pursuers could not find them. Then the two men returned, crossed the river, and told Joshua all that had happened. They said that the Lord had given the land into their hands, and that the people there were melting away in fear. What did Rahab believe about the Lord before Israel even entered Jericho?