Joshua 2:18-24

2:18 When we invade the land ¹ , tie this red rope ²  in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father’s house. ³  2:19 Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death – we are innocent in that case! ⁴  But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible. ⁵  2:20 If you should report what we’ve been up to, ⁶  we are not bound by this oath you made us swear.” 2:21 She said, “I agree to these conditions.” ⁷  She sent them on their way ⁸  and then tied the red rope in the window. 2:22 They went ⁹  to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing them ¹⁰  to return. Their pursuers ¹¹  looked all along the way but did not find them. ¹²  2:23 Then the two men returned – they came down from the hills, crossed the river, ¹³  came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered. 2:24 They told Joshua, “Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us! ¹⁴  All who live in the land are cringing before us!” ¹⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “Look! We are about to enter the land.”

² tn Heb “the cord of this red thread.”

³ tn Heb “and your father and your mother and your brothers and all the house of your father gather to yourself to the house.”

⁴ tn Heb “Anyone who goes out from the doors of your house to the outside, his blood is on his head. We are innocent.”

⁵ tn Heb “But anyone who is with you in the house, his blood is on our head if a hand should be on him.”

⁶ tn Heb “and if you report this matter of ours.”

⁷ tn Heb “According to your words, so it [will be].”

⁸ tn Heb “she sent them away and they went.”

⁹ tn Heb “they went and came.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “the pursuers.” The object (“them”) is added for clarification.

¹¹ tn Heb “the ones chasing them.” This has been rendered as “their pursuers” in the translation to avoid redundancy with the preceding clause.

¹² tn Heb “The pursuers looked in all the way and did not find [them].”

¹³ tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, are added for clarification.

¹⁴ tn Heb “Surely the Lord has given into our hand all the land.” The report by the spies uses the Hebrew perfect, suggesting certitude.

¹⁵ tn Heb “are melting away because of us.”