וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן מִן הַשִּׁטִּים שְׁנַיִם אֲנָשִׁים מְרַגְּלִים חֶרֶשׁ לֵאמֹר לְכוּ רְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ ואֶת יְרִיחוֹ וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ בֵּית אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה וּשְׁמָהּ רָחָב וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ שָׁמָּה

Joshua son of Nun sent two men from Shitim near the Jordan, where the people were encamped, as spies, covertly, saying: Go see the land, and in particular Jericho. Joshua thereby hinted to the spies that Israel’s first objective upon entry into the land would be to conquer the city of Jericho. Several places near Jericho are referred to as the fords of the Jordan, and any one of these could have been used to cross the Jordan River. There were no fortified cities in the vicinity of these fords aside from the city of Jericho, which was exceptional in its strong fortification. They went and they came to the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahav, and they lodged there.

וַיֵּאָמַר לְמֶלֶךְ יְרִיחוֹ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה אֲנָשִׁים בָּאוּ הֵנָּה הַלַּיְלָה מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַחְפֹּר אֶת הָאָרֶץ

It was said to the king of Jericho, saying: Behold, men came here tonight from the children of Israel to spy the land. Perhaps the spies tried to dress like the locals, but even so they were recognized as foreigners. Since Jericho was not a large city, they were soon spotted, and it was even known where they were lodging.

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֶלֶךְ יְרִיחוֹ אֶל רָחָב לֵאמֹר הוֹצִיאִי הָאֲנָשִׁים הַבָּאִים אֵלַיִךְ אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ לְבֵיתֵךְ כִּי לַחְפֹּר אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ

The king of Jericho sent to Rahav, saying: Bring out to us the men who came to you, who came to your house, as they came to reconnoiter the land.

וַתִּקַּח הָאִשָּׁה אֶת שְׁנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים וַתִּצְפְּנוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר כֵּן בָּאוּ אֵלַי הָאֲנָשִׁים וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מֵאַיִן הֵמָּה

Rahav could have invited the king’s messengers inside and surrendered the spies, but she chose the opposite course of action: The woman took the two men, and hid him. The singular form indicates that she hid each spy in a different place, so that they would not be easily discovered. She said to the king’s messengers: Yes, the men whom you seek came to me, but I did not know from where they were. I am not supposed to know the identities of the men who enter this place.

וַיְהִי הַשַּׁעַר לִסְגּוֹר בַּחשֶׁךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים יָצָאוּ לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אָנָה הָלְכוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים רִדְפוּ מַהֵר אַחֲרֵיהֶם כִּי תַשִּׂיגוּם

Nevertheless, I have information regarding their whereabouts: It was when the city gate was about to close, at dark, which is not the usual time for entering and exiting the city, that the men departed. I do not know where the men went; chase quickly after them, for you will overtake them. Rahav misled the king’s messengers, convincing them to leave quickly in search of the spies outside the city.

וְהִיא הֶעֱלָתַם הַגָּגָה וַתִּטְמְנֵם בְּפִשְׁתֵּי הָעֵץ הָעֲרֻכוֹת לָהּ עַל הַגָּג

But she took them up to the roof. In many Middle Eastern lands, houses were constructed with flat roofs, which were used during part of the year for sleeping and various other needs. This episode occurred at the beginning of spring: And she hid them in the stalks of flax that were arranged for her on the roof for drying, after having been harvested.

וְהָאֲנָשִׁים רָדְפוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן עַל הַמַּעְבְּרוֹת וְהַשַּׁעַר סָגָרוּ אַחֲרֵי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ הָרֹדְפִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם

The men who were searching for the spies chased after them toward the Jordan, to the fords of the Jordan River. These men made the logical assumption that the spies were headed for the Israelite encampment beyond the Jordan River, and that the spies would therefore need to find a place where they could cross the river, which was surging at that time of year. Presumably, the two spies were traveling on foot, while the king’s men were in pursuit on horses. They therefore had high hopes of catching the spies. And they shut the city gate after them when the pursuers departed after them, to prevent the spies from leaving the city in the event that they were still inside.

וְהֵמָּה טֶרֶם יִשְׁכָּבוּן וְהִיא עָלְתָה עֲלֵיהֶם עַל הַגָּג

As for them, the spies, before they had gone to sleep, she, Rahav, went up to them on the roof to speak with them.

וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל הָאֲנָשִׁים יָדַעְתִּי כִּי נָתַן ה' לָכֶם אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְכִי נָפְלָה אֵימַתְכֶם עָלֵינוּ וְכִי נָמֹגוּ כָּל ישְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶם

She said to the men, whose identity and purpose she now knew: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted from before you. Morale in Jericho was very low.

כִּי שָׁמַעְנוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר הוֹבִישׁ ה' אֶת מֵי יַם סוּף מִפְּנֵיכֶם בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם ואֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם לִשְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן לְסִיחֹן וּלְעוֹג אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱרַמְתֶּם אוֹתָם

For we have heard how the Lord dried the waters of the Red Sea for you upon your exodus from Egypt. The splitting of the Red Sea, which had occurred some forty years earlier, was such a dramatic event that news of it had spread as far as Jericho. And we have also heard that which you did to the two kings of the Emorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Although the inhabitants of Canaan had not yet encountered the Israelites, news of the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea, along with Israel’s recent military victories against two powerful kings just east of the Jordan, were enough to strike fear in them. These reports created the impression that Israel was an exceedingly mighty nation. Moreover, the inhabitants of Jericho could see from a distance the size of the Israelite army.

וַנִּשְׁמַע וַיִּמַּס לְבָבֵנוּ וְלֹא קָמָה עוֹד רוּחַ בְּאִישׁ מִפְּנֵיכֶם כִּי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם הוּא אֱלֹקִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת

We heard and our hearts melted in fear, and a fighting spirit did not remain in any man because of you. Our courage and valor have disappeared entirely, because I am sure that the Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and on earth below.

וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁבְעוּ נָא לִי בַּה' כִּי עָשִׂיתִי עִמָּכֶם חָסֶד וַעֲשִׂיתֶם גַּם אַתֶּם עִם בֵּית אָבִי חֶסֶד וּנְתַתֶּם לִי אוֹת אֱמֶת

Rahav was aware that when the city was conquered, the lives of all its inhabitants would be endangered. She therefore asked for something in exchange for saving the spies: Now please take an oath to me by the Lord, since I have done kindness to you, you too will do kindness to my father’s house; provide me with a reliable sign that you will comply with my request,

וְהַחֲיִתֶם אֶת אָבִי וְאֶת אִמִּי וְאֶת אַחַי וְאֶת אַחְיוֹתַי וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְהִצַּלְתֶּם אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵינוּ מִמָּוֶת

that you will keep alive my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and everything that is theirs. It is possible that as a prostitute, Rahav had neither a husband nor children; she sought to rescue the other members of her family who were living in the city. And you will deliver our lives from death.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהּ הָאֲנָשִׁים נַפְשֵׁנוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם לָמוּת אִם לֹא תַגִּידוּ אֶת דְּבָרֵנוּ זֶה וְהָיָה בְּתֵת ה' לָנוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְעָשִׂינוּ עִמָּךְ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת

The men, the spies, said to her: Our lives are instead of yours to die. We will bear responsibility for the lives of all those you mentioned, if you and your family do not tell of these matters of ours; it shall be, when the Lord gives us the land, we will act with kindness and truth to you. We will ensure your safety, just as you ensured ours.

וַתּוֹרִדֵם בַּחֶבֶל בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן כִּי בֵיתָהּ בְּקִיר הַחוֹמָה וּבַחוֹמָה הִיא יוֹשָׁבֶת

Rahav did not want the men to remain in her house any longer, as she feared that the king’s messengers might return upon failing to find them outside the city. Since the city gates were locked, she lowered them with a rope through the window, as her house was at the side of the wall, and she lived in the wall.

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הָהָרָה לֵּכוּ פֶּן יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם הָרֹדְפִים וְנַחְבֵּתֶם שָׁמָּה שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים עַד שׁוֹב הָרֹדְפִים וְאַחַר תֵּלְכוּ לְדַרְכְּכֶם

She said to them, before they departed: Go to the highlands, lest the pursuers encounter you. The area near the Jordan is exposed; it is not densely wooded and lacks sufficient hiding places. If you try to move toward it now, you will likely be captured by your pursuers, who may be quite numerous. You should therefore travel in the opposite direction, to the hills west of Jericho, and hide there three days, until the pursuers’ return to the city, and then go on your way to your camp, as by that time your pursuers will have abandoned their search.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ הָאֲנָשִׁים נְקִיִּם אֲנַחְנוּ מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵךְ הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ

The men said to her: We are absolved of this oath of yours that you administered to us. We will not be required to fulfill the terms of our oath to you if you do not follow these instructions:

הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ בָאִים בָּאָרֶץ אֶת תִּקְוַת חוּט הַשָּׁנִי הַזֶּה תִּקְשְׁרִי בַּחַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר הוֹרַדְתֵּנוּ בוֹ וְאֶת אָבִיךְ וְאֶת אִמֵּךְ וְאֶת אַחַיִךְ וְאֶת כָּל בֵּית אָבִיךְ תַּאַסְפִי אֵלַיִךְ הַבָּיְתָה

Behold, when we come into the land, you will tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you have lowered us. A cord dyed bright red, with a dye extracted from scale insects, will mark your house prominently. And your father, your mother, your brothers, and your father’s entire household, only the members of your family, you will gather to you, into the house. They will be granted protection in your merit.

וְהָיָה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִדַּלְתֵי בֵיתֵךְ הַחוּצָה דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשׁוֹ וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְקִיִּם וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה אִתָּךְ בַּבַּיִת דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשֵׁנוּ אִם יָד תִּהְיֶה בּוֹ

It shall be that anyone who will exit from the doors of your house outside, his blood shall be on his head, he shall bear responsibility for causing his own death, and we will be absolved. If you wish to protect the members of your family from harm, you must insist that they remain inside the house, as that will be the only guaranteed place of refuge. Anyone who ventures outside will be exposed to the dangers of war. But anyone who will be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if a hand will be upon him to harm him. We accept upon ourselves responsibility for the safety of all your family members who remain inside your house.

וְאִם תַּגִּידִי אֶת דְּבָרֵנוּ זֶה וְהָיִינוּ נְקִיִּם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ

But if you tell of these matters of ours, that your house will be a place of refuge, we will be absolved of your oath that you administered to us.

וַתֹּאמֶר כְּדִבְרֵיכֶם כֶּן הוּא וַתְּשַׁלְּחֵם וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַתִּקְשֹׁר אֶת תִּקְוַת הַשָּׁנִי בַּחַלּוֹן

She said: In accordance with your words, so it is. I accept your terms. She sent them and they went on their way, and she immediately tied the scarlet cord in the window. She left the cord hanging in the window from that day onward, as she couldn’t know when the army of Israel would reach the gates of Jericho.

וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ הָהָרָה וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים עַד שָׁבוּ הָרֹדְפִים וַיְבַקְשׁוּ הָרֹדְפִים בְּכָל הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלֹא מָצָאוּ

They went and came to the highlands, the hilly region west of the city, as per Rahav’s advice, and they stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned; the pursuers sought them along the entire way from Jericho eastward to the Jordan, back and forth, but they did not find them.

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ שְׁנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּרְדוּ מֵהָהָר וַיַּעַבְרוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן וַיְסַפְּרוּ לוֹ אֵת כָּל הַמֹּצְאוֹת אוֹתָם

The two men sent by Joshua returned, and descended from the highlands, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Joshua son of Nun. They told him all that had befallen them, including their promise to Rahav, which obligated Joshua as well, as they had spoken in his name.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כִּי נָתַן ה' בְּיָדֵנוּ אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ וְגַם נָמֹגוּ כָּל ישְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפָּנֵינוּ

They said to Joshua: For it is clear that the Lord has given the entire land into our hands, and also, all the inhabitants of the land have melted before us.