Rahab and the Spies
Two Israelite spies enter Jericho and are hidden by Rahab, a prostitute who believes in their God and is promised safety.
Joshua 2:1-24
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The Story
Joshua sent two spies to view the land, especially Jericho. They entered the city and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, where they stayed.
Word reached the king of Jericho: 'Israelite spies have come!' He sent orders to Rahab: 'Bring out the men who came to you. They are spies.'
But Rahab had hidden the men on her roof under stalks of flax. 'Yes, men came to me,' she told the king's messengers, 'but I didn't know where they were from. They left at dusk, before the gate closed. Hurry after them!' The pursuers headed toward the Jordan fords.
Before the spies settled down for the night, Rahab went up to them on the roof. 'I know the Lord has given you this land,' she said. 'All who live here are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two Amorite kings. When we heard it, our hearts melted. The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
'Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters.'
'Our lives for your lives!' the men assured her. 'If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly when the Lord gives us the land.'
She let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was part of the city wall. They told her, 'Tie this scarlet cord in the window and gather your family inside. Anyone in the house with you will be safe. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath.'
'Agreed,' she said, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
The spies hid in the hills for three days until the pursuers returned, then reported to Joshua. 'The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands. All the people are melting in fear because of us.'
Rahab, a Gentile and a sinner, is later listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Her faith saved her household and inserted her into the lineage of the Messiah.
Rahab Helps the Spies
Kids Version
Joshua, the new leader after Moses, sent two spies to look at the city of Jericho. They snuck into the city and stayed at a woman's house. Her name was Rahab.
But the king found out! 'Spies are here! Find them!'
Soldiers came to Rahab's house. 'Where are the spies?'
Rahab had hidden them on her roof under big piles of plants. 'They left already!' she said. 'Quick, chase them!' The soldiers ran off in the wrong direction.
That night, Rahab climbed up to the roof. She told the spies, 'I know your God is the real God! We've heard how He dried up the Red Sea. Everyone here is scared of you!
'Please promise me something. When you take this city, save me and my family. I helped you—please help us!'
The spies promised. 'We will keep you safe. Hang this red rope from your window. Keep your family inside your house when we attack. Everyone in your house will be saved.'
Rahab's house was part of the city wall. She lowered the spies down with a rope, and they escaped!
Rahab hung the red rope in her window and waited. She believed God would keep her safe.
And He did! When the city fell, Rahab and her whole family were rescued. Rahab even became part of Jesus' family tree!
Rahab wasn't a perfect person. But she believed in God, and that faith changed everything. God welcomes anyone who trusts in Him!
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Scripture — Joshua 2:1-24 (KJV)
1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house , named Rahab, and lodged there. sent: or, had sent lodged: Heb. lay
2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. faint: Heb. melt
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. did there: Heb. rose up
12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
13And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. for: Heb. instead of you to die
15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. bring: Heb. gather
19And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
24And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us. faint: Heb. melt
Memory Verse
“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house , named Rahab, and lodged there. sent: or, had sent lodged: Heb. lay”
— Joshua 2:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Rahab and the Spies” in the Bible?
Two Israelite spies enter Jericho and are hidden by Rahab, a prostitute who believes in their God and is promised safety. This story is found in Joshua 2:1-24.
Where is “Rahab and the Spies” found in the Bible?
“Rahab and the Spies” is found in Joshua 2:1-24, in the book of Joshua.
What can children learn from “Rahab and the Spies”?
This story teaches children about Faith from unexpected places, God's grace to outsiders, Courage. Two spies went to check out the city of Jericho. A woman named Rahab hid them because she believed in God. She hung a red rope from her window, and her whole family was saved.