1   Therfore Iosue the sonne of Nun sent from Setim two men, to spie in secrete: and said to them: Goe, and view the Land, and the citie of Iericho. Who going entred into the house of a woman a harlot, named Rahab, and rested with her.

2   And it was told the king of Iericho, and said: Behold there are men come in hither by night of the children

Discouerers sent into Iericho of Israel, to spie the Land.

3   And the king of Iericho sent to Rahab, saying: Bring forth the men, that came to thee, and are entred into thy house: for they be spies, and are come to view al the Land.

4   And the woman taking the men, hid them, and said: I confesse they came to me, but ^note I knew not whence they were:

5   and when the gate was a shutting in the darke, and they withal went out, I know not whither they be gone: pursew quickly, and you shal ouertake them.

6   But she made the men to goe vp into the roofe of her house, and couered them with the stalke of flaxe, which was there.

7   And they that were sent, folowed them, the way that leadeth to the ford of Iordan: and they being gone out the gate forwith was shutte.

8   Neither were they yet a sleepe that lay hidde, and behold the woman went vp to them, and said:

9   I know that the Lord hath geuen this Land to you: for your terrour is fallen vpon vs, and al the inhabitantes of the Land are become fainte.

10   We haue heard that the Lord dried vp the water of the Red sea at your entring, when you came out of Ægypt: and what thinges you did to the two kinges of the Amorrheites, that were beyond Iordan: Sehon and Og, whom you slew.

11   And hearing these thinges we greatly feared, and our hart fainted, neither did there remaine spirite in vs at your entring in: for the Lord your God he is God in heauen aboue, & in the earth beneth.

12   Now therfore sweare to me by the Lord, that as I haue done mercie with you, so you also doe with my fathers house: and you geue me a true signe,

13   that you saue my father and mother, my brethren and sisters, and al thinges that be theirs, and deliuer our soules from death.

14   Who answered her: Be our liues for you vnto death, only if thou betray vs not. And when our Lord shal haue deliuered vs the land, we wil doe in thee mercie and truth

15   She therfore did let them downe by a corde out of a window: for her house ioyned fast to the wall.

16   And she said to them: Goe vp to the mountaines, lest perhaps they meete you returning: and there lie hid three daies, til they returne, and so you shal goe on your way.

17   Who said to her: We shal be quitte from this oath, wherwith thou hast sworne vs:

18   if we entring the Land, there be this purple corde a signe, and thou tie it in the window, by the which thou hast let vs downe: and gather thy father and mother, and brethren and al thy kindred into thy house.

19   He that shal goe forth

Discouerers sent into Iericho of the doore of thy house, his bloud shal be vpon his head, and we shal be quitte. But the bloud of al, that shal be with thee in the house, shal redound vpon our head, if any man touch them.

20   But if thou wilt betray vs, and vtter this talke abroade, we shal be quitte from this oath, wherwith thou hast adiured vs.

21   And she answered: As you haue spoken, so be it done, and dismissing them to goe, she hong the purple corde in the window.

22   But they walking came to the mountaines, and taried there three dayes, til they returned that pursewed them: for seeking euerie way, they found them not.

23   Who being entred into the citie, the discouerers returned, and came downe from the mountaine: and passing ouer Iordan, they came to Iosue the sonne of Nun, and told him al thinges that had chanced to them,

24   and said: Our Lord hath deliuered al this land into our handes, and al the inhabitantes therof are ouerthrowen with feare.

Previous section

Next section