Inspire: Joshua, Judges & Ruth 978-1-4964-7519-0 - Flipbook - Page 10
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have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For
the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.
12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since
I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you
will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and
all their families.”
14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed.
“If you don’t betray us,
we will keep our promise
and be kind to you when the
LORD gives us the land.”
Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by
a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide
there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have
returned, you can go on your way.”
17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have
taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you
must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let
us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all
your relatives—must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and
are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this
house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”
21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the
scarlet rope hanging from the window.
22 The spies went up into the hill country and stayed there three days. The men
who were chasing them searched every where along the road, but they finally
returned without success.
23 Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River,
and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them.
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“The LORD has given us the whole land,” they said,
“for all the people in the
land are terrified of us.”
The Israelites Cross the Jordan
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and
arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.
2 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.
4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half
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