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5]
Now when he had pitched his camp, the spies came to him immediately,
well acquainted with the whole state of the Canaanites; for at first, before
they were at all discovered, they took a full view of the city of Jericho
without disturbance, and saw which parts of the walls were strong, and
which parts were otherwise, and indeed insecure, and which of the gates
were so weak as might afford an entrance to their army. Now those that
met them took no notice of them when they saw them, and supposed they were
only strangers, who used to be very curious in observing everything in
the city, and did not take them for enemies; but at even they retired to
a certain inn that was near to the wall, whither they went to eat their
supper; which supper when they had done, and were considering how to get
away, information was given to the king as he was at supper, that there
were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp to view the city as spies,
and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab, and were very solicitous that
they might not be discovered. So he sent immediately some to them, and
commanded to catch them, and bring them to him, that he might examine them
by torture, and learn what their business was there. As soon as Rahab understood
that these messengers were coming, she hid the spies under stalks of flax,
which were laid to dry on the top of her house; and said to the messengers
that were sent by the king, that certain unknown strangers had supped with
her a little before sun-setting, and were gone away, who might easily be
taken, if they were any terror to the city, or likely to bring any danger
to the king. So these messengers being thus deluded by the woman,
1
and suspecting no imposition, went their ways, without so much as searching
the inn; but they immediately pursued them along those roads which they
most probably supposed them to have gone, and those particularly which
led to the river, but could hear no tidings of them; so they left off the
pains of any further pursuit. But when the tumult was over, Rahab brought
the men down, and desired them as soon as they should have obtained possession
of the land of Canaan, when it would be in their power to make her amends
for her preservation of them, to remember what danger she had undergone
for their sakes; for that if she had been caught concealing them, she could
not have escaped a terrible destruction, she and all her family with her,
and so bid them go home; and desired them to swear to her to preserve her
and her family when they should take the city, and destroy all its inhabitants,
as they had decreed to do; for so far she said she had been assured by
those Divine miracles of which she had been informed. So these spies acknowledged
that they owed her thanks for what she had done already, and withal swore
to requite her kindness, not only in words, but in deeds. But they gave
her this advice, That when she should perceive that the city was about
to be taken, she should put her goods, and all her family, by way of security,
in her inn, and to hang out scarlet threads before her doors, [or windows,]
that the commander of the Hebrews might know her house, and take care to
do her no harm; for, said they, we will inform him of this matter, because
of the concern thou hast had to preserve us: but if any one of thy family
fall in the battle, do not thou blame us; and we beseech that God, by whom
we have sworn, not then to be displeased with us, as though we had broken
our oaths. So these men, when they had made this agreement, went away,
letting themselves down by a rope from the wall, and escaped, and came
and told their own people whatsoever they had done in their journey to
this city. Joshua also told Eleazar the high priest, and the senate, what
the spies had sworn to Rahab, who continued what had been sworn.