Joshua 1:1

2: Rahab and the Spies Joshua sends two spies from Shittim to secretly scout the land, especially the city of Jericho. They enter the house of a prostitute named Rahab, which is built into the city wall. When the king of Jericho learns of the spies, he sends men to capture them, but Rahab hides them on her roof under stalks of flax. She tells the king's men that the spies have already left and sends them on a false trail. Rahab then reveals to the spies that the people of Jericho are terrified of the Israelites because they have heard of God's mighty acts, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the defeat of the Amorite kings. She professes her faith in the God of Israel and asks the spies to swear an oath to spare her and her family when they attack the city. The spies agree, telling her to hang a scarlet cord in her window as a sign and to gather her entire family inside her house. They then escape from the city by a rope let down from her window and hide in the hills for three days before returning to Joshua. They report that the Lord has indeed given the entire land into their hands and that the people are melting in fear. 3: Crossing the Jordan The Israelites break camp and move to the banks of the Jordan River. After three days, the officers instruct the people to follow the Ark of the Covenant, carried by the Levitical priests, but to keep a distance of about 2,000 cubits. Joshua tells the people to consecrate themselves, for the next day the Lord will do amazing things among them. He announces that the living God is among them and will drive out the inhabitants of the land. As soon as the feet of the priests carrying the Ark touch the water's edge, the Jordan River, which is at flood stage, stops flowing. The water from upstream piles up in a heap a great distance away, and the water flowing down to the Dead Sea is completely cut off. The priests carrying the Ark stand on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed while the entire nation of Israel crosses over on dry ground opposite Jericho.