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APRIL 6
she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them,
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“Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet
you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers
2:1 two men...to spy. These scouts would have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
inform Joshua on various features of the 17 So the men said to her: “We will be blame-
topography,food,drinking water,and defenses less of this oath of yours which you have made
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to be overcome in the invasion. house of a us swear, unless, when we come into the
harlot. Their purpose was not impure; rather, land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the
the spies sought a place where they would window through which you let us down, and
not be conspicuous.Resorting to such a house unless you bring your father, your mother,
would be a good cover, from where they your brothers, and all your father’s household
might learn something of Jericho. Also, a to your own home. So it shall be that whoev-
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house on the city wall (v. 15) would allow a er goes outside the doors of your house into
quick getaway.In spite of this precaution,their the street, his blood shall be on his own head,
presence became known (vv. 2,3). God, in His
sovereign providence, wanted them there for and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with
the salvation of the harlot. She would provide you in the house, his blood shall be on our
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an example of His saving by faith a woman at head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell
the bottom of social strata, as He saved this business of ours, then we will be free from
Abraham at the top (see James 2:18–25).Most your oath which you made us swear.”
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importantly, by God’s grace she was in the Then she said, “According to your words,
messianic line (Matt. 1:5). so be it.” And she sent them away, and they
departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in
the window.
for you may overtake them.” (But she had 22 They departed and went to the mountain,
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brought them up to the roof and hidden them and stayed there three days until the pursuers
with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in returned. The pursuers sought them all along
order on the roof.) Then the men pursued the way, but did not find them. So the two men
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them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. returned, descended from the mountain, and
And as soon as those who pursued them had crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son
gone out, they shut the gate. of Nun, and told him all that had befallen
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8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the
them on the roof, and said to the men: “I LORD has delivered all the land into our hands,
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know that the LORD has given you the land, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are
that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that fainthearted because of us.”
all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted Psalm 41:1–13
because of you. For we have heard how the
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LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
when you came out of Egypt, and what you did lessed is he who considers
to the two kings of the Amorites who were on B the poor;
the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, The LORD will deliver him in time of
whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as trouble.
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we heard these things, our hearts melted; nei- 2 The LORD will preserve him and keep
ther did there remain any more courage in him alive,
anyone because of you, for the LORD your And he will be blessed on the earth;
God, He is God in heaven above and on earth You will not deliver him to the will
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beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to of his enemies.
me by the LORD, since I have shown you kind- 3 The LORD will strengthen him on his
ness, that you also will show kindness to my bed of illness;
father’s house, and give me a true token, and You will sustain him on his sickbed.
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spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my
sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our 4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me;
lives from death.” Heal my soul, for I have sinned
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for against You.”
yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. 5 My enemies speak evil of me:
And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the “When will he die, and his name perish?”
land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 6 And if he comes to see me,
15 Then she let them down by a rope through he speaks lies;
the window, for her house was on the city wall; His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
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