Joshua 2:12–19

¹²“Now then, please swear to me^v by the Lord that you will show kindness^w to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign^{x 13}that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them^y—and that you will save us from death.”

¹⁴“Our lives for your lives!”^z the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully^a when the Lord gives us the land.”

¹⁵So she let them down by a rope^b through the window,^c for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. ¹⁶She said to them, “Go to the hills^d so the pursuers^e will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days^f until they return, and then go on your way.”^g

¹⁷Now the men had said to her, “This oath^h you made us swear will not be binding on us ¹⁸unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cordⁱ in the window^j through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family^k into your house. ¹⁹If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads;^l we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head^m if a hand is laid on them.