Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city.

unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house.

“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

For the Israelites wandered in the wilderness 40 years until all the nation’s men of war who came out of Egypt had died off because they did not obey the Lord. So the Lord vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

But Joshua had commanded the people: “Do not shout or let your voice be heard. Don’t let one word come out of your mouth until the time I say, ‘Shout!’ Then you are to shout.”

So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.

This is how we will treat them: we will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

They also said, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had promised them.

But as for the rest of you, don’t stay there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Don’t let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has handed them over to you.”

“Therefore we said: Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice.