TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 2
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Yehoshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, reconnoiter the region of Yericho.” So they set out, and they came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there.
vai-YISH-lakh y'-ho-SHU-a ben-NUUN min ha-shi-TEEM sh'-NA-yim a-na-SHEEM m'-ra-g'-LEEM khe-RESH lay-MOR: l'-KHU r'-U et ha-A-retz v'-et y'-ri-KHO, va-YEL-khu va-ya-BO-u bayt i-SHAH zo-NAH u-sh'-MAH ra-KHAV va-yish-KE-vu-sha-MAH.
אוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ־בִּן־נ֠וּן מִֽן־הַשִּׁטִּ֞ים שְׁנַֽיִם־אֲנָשִׁ֤ים מְרַגְּלִים֙ חֶ֣רֶשׁ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְכ֛וּ רְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְאֶת־יְרִיח֑וֹ וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ וַ֠יָּבֹ֠אוּ בֵּית־אִשָּׁ֥ה זוֹנָ֛ה וּשְׁמָ֥הּ רָחָ֖ב וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ־שָֽׁמָּה׃
2The king of Yericho was told, “Some men have come here tonight, Israelites, to spy out the country.”
vai-YAY-mar l'-ME-lekh y'-ri-KHO lay-MOR: hi-NEH a-NA-sheem BA-u he-NAY ha-la-YE-lah mi-b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL lakh-POHR et ha-A-retz
בוַיֵּ֣אָמַ֔ר לְמֶ֥לֶךְ יְרִיח֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה אֲ֠נָשִׁ֠ים בָּ֣אוּ הֵ֧נָּה הַלַּ֛יְלָה מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַחְפֹּ֥ר אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
3The king of Yericho thereupon sent orders to Rahab: “Produce the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole country.”
vai-yish-LAKH me-LEKH y'-ri-KHO el ra-KHAV lay-MOR: ho-tzi-I ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-ba-EEM e-la-YIKH a-SHER ba-U le-VEI-tekh, KEE lakh-POHR et-KOL ha-A-retz ba-U
גוַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְרִיח֔וֹ אֶל־רָחָ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר ה֠וֹצִ֠יאִי הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים הַבָּאִ֤ים אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י לַחְפֹּ֥ר אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּֽאוּ׃
4The woman, however, had taken the two men and hidden them. “It is true,” she said, “the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from.
va-ti-KAKH ha-i-SHA et-sh'-NAY ha-a-na-SHEEM va-titz-PE-no va-to-MER: KEIN ba-U e-LAI ha-a-na-SHEEM v'-lo ya-DA-ti may-EIN he-MAH
דוַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַֽתִּצְפְּנ֑וֹ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ כֵּ֗ן בָּ֤אוּ אֵלַי֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מֵאַ֥יִן הֵֽמָּה׃
5And at dark, when the gate was about to be closed, the men left; and I don't know where the men went. Quick, go after them, for you can overtake them.”
vai-HI ha-SHA-ar lis-GOR ba-KHO-shekh v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM ya-TZA-u, lo ya-DA-ti a-NAH ha-LE-khu ha-a-na-SHEEM, rid-PU ma-HER a-cha-RE-hem, ki ta-si-GUM
הוַיְהִ֨י הַשַּׁ֜עַר לִסְגּ֗וֹר בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים יָצָ֔אוּ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי אָ֥נָה הָלְכ֖וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים רִדְפ֥וּ מַהֵ֛ר אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם כִּ֥י תַשִּׂיגֽוּם׃
6Now she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax which she had lying on the roof.
v'-HEE he-e-LA-tam ha-GA-gah va-tit-m'-NEM b'-fish-TAY ha-Etz ha-a-ru-KHOT la-H al ha-GAG
ווְהִ֖יא הֶעֱלָ֣תַם הַגָּ֑גָה וַֽתִּטְמְנֵם֙ בְּפִשְׁתֵּ֣י הָעֵ֔ץ הָעֲרֻכ֥וֹת לָ֖הּ עַל־הַגָּֽג׃
7So the men pursued them in the direction of the Yarden down to the fords; and no sooner had the pursuers gone out than the gate was shut behind them.
v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM ra-D'-FU a-kha-RAY-hem DE-rekh ha-YAR-den al ha-ma-b'-ROT v'-ha-SHA-ar sa-GA-ru a-kha-RAY ka-a-SHER ya-t'-ZU ha-ro-d'-FEEM a-kha-RAY-hem
זוְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים רָדְפ֤וּ אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן עַ֖ל הַֽמַּעְבְּר֑וֹת וְהַשַּׁ֣עַר סָגָ֔רוּ אַחֲרֵ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָצְא֥וּ הָרֹדְפִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
8The spies had not yet gone to sleep when she came up to them on the roof.
v'-HEM-t'-REM yish-KA-vun, v'-HEE al-TAH a-LE-hem al ha-GAG
חוְהֵ֖מָּה טֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן וְהִ֛יא עָלְתָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽג׃
9She said to the men, “I know that Hashem has given the country to you, because dread of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before you.
va-TO-mer el ha-a-na-SHEEM ya-DA-tee kee na-TAN a-do-NAI la-KHEM et ha-A-retz v'-khee na-f'-LAH ay-mat-KHEM a-LAY-nu v'-KHEE na-MO-gu kol yo-sh'-VAY ha-A-retz mi-p'-nay-KHEM
טוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכִֽי־נָפְלָ֤ה אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְכִ֥י נָמֹ֛גוּ כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
2:9 I know that Hashem has given the country to you
When Rahab speaks to the spies, she reports that the Canaanites are afraid of the Children of Israel. They are well aware of the miracles Hashem has done for the Israelites — both forty years earlier during the time of the exodus, and more recently in the battles against the Amorite kings Sihon and Og (Numbers 21). They know that God has given the land to the Children of Israel and therefore, they are afraid. Not only does Rahab report this to the spies, but she even casts her lot with the Israelites. Rahab is a prime example of a righteous gentile. Understanding that these men are representatives of Hashem’s chosen people who will receive the chosen land, she singlehandedly undertakes to protect the spies. The Children of Israel are not the only ones who understand that God is giving them the Promised Land; the righteous among the nations also recognize that this is the will of Hashem. God gave the Children of Israel the Land of Israel then, and He gives it to them now as well.
10For we have heard how Hashem dried up the waters of the Sea of Reeds for you when you left Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings across the Yarden, whom you doomed.
KI sha-MA-nu ET a-SHER ho-VISH a-do-NAI ET mei yam-SUF mi-p'-NE-khem b'-tzei-t'-KHEM mi-mitz-RA-yim va-a-SHER a-SEE-tem lish-NAY mal-KHEI ha-e-MO-ree a-SHER b'-E-ver ha-YAR-den l'-SI-khon u-l'-OG a-SHER he-khe-ram-TEM o-TAM
יכִּ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִ֨ישׁ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־מֵ֤י יַם־סוּף֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם בְּצֵאתְכֶ֖ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֡ם לִשְׁנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י הָאֱמֹרִ֜י אֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לְסִיחֹ֣ן וּלְע֔וֹג אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃
11When we heard about it, we lost heart, and no man had any more spirit left because of you; for Hashem your God is the only Hashem in heaven above and on earth below.
va-nish-MA va-yi-MAS l'-va-VE-nu v'-lo-ka-MA oD ru-ACH b'-ISH mi-p'-NE-khem, KEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem HU e-lo-HEEM ba-sha-MA-yim mi-ma-AL v'-al ha-A-retz mi-ta-KHAT
יאוַנִּשְׁמַע֙ וַיִּמַּ֣ס לְבָבֵ֔נוּ וְלֹא־קָ֨מָה ע֥וֹד ר֛וּחַ בְּאִ֖ישׁ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּֽחַת׃
12Now, since I have shown loyalty to you, swear to me by Hashem that you in turn will show loyalty to my family. Provide me with a reliable sign
v'-a-TAH hi-sha-VE-u-NA lee ba-do-NAI, kee-a-see-TEE i-ma-KHEM kha-SED, va-a-SEE-tem gam a-TEM im bayt a-VEE khe-SED, u-ne-ta-TEM lee ot e-MET.
יבוְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־נָ֥א לִי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשִׂ֥יתִי עִמָּכֶ֖ם חָ֑סֶד וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם גַּם־אַתֶּ֜ם עִם־בֵּ֤ית אָבִי֙ חֶ֔סֶד וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לִ֖י א֥וֹת אֱמֶֽת׃
13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
v'-ha-cha-YI-tem et a-VEE v'-et i-MEE v'-et a-KHAI v'-et a-KHAYO-tai v'-ET kol a-SHER la-HEM v'-hi-TZAL-tem et naf-sho-TAI-nu mi-ma-VET
יגוְהַחֲיִתֶ֞ם אֶת־אָבִ֣י וְאֶת־אִמִּ֗י וְאֶת־אַחַי֙ וְאֶת־[אַחְיוֹתַ֔י] (אחותי) וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וְהִצַּלְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ מִמָּֽוֶת׃
14The men answered her, “Our persons are pledged for yours, even to death! If you do not disclose this mission of ours, we will show you true loyalty when Hashem gives us the land.”
va-YO-m'-ru LAH ha-a-na-SHEEM naf-SHAY-nu takh-tay-KHEM la-MUT IM LO ta-GEE-du et d'-va-RAY-nu ZEH v'-ha-YAH b'-tayt a-do-NAI LA-nu et ha-A-retz v'-a-SEE-nu i-MAKH KHE-sed ve-e-MET
ידוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ לָ֣הּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים נַפְשֵׁ֤נוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ לָמ֔וּת אִ֚ם לֹ֣א תַגִּ֔ידוּ אֶת־דְּבָרֵ֖נוּ זֶ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה בְּתֵת־יְהֹוָ֥ה לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃
2:14 We will show you true loyalty
The spies promise that they will repay Rahab with ‘true loyalty,’ chesed v’emet (חסד ואמת). Rabbi Benjamin Blech, in his book The Secrets of Hebrew Words, teaches that emet (אמת), the Hebrew word for ‘truth,’ contains a deep lesson. The word is comprised of three letters and “requires for its essence the first letter alef (א), the “One” standing for the Almighty. Remove the initial letter alef and all that remains is met (מת), meaning death. Without Hashem there can be no truth. In its place only death and destruction remain.”
15She let them down by a rope through the window—for her dwelling was at the outer side of the city wall and she lived in the actual wall.
va-to-RI-dem ba-KHE-vel b'-AD ha-KHA-lon, KEE vei-TAH b'-KIR ha-KHO-mah, u-va-KHO-mah HEE yo-SHA-vet.
טווַתּוֹרִדֵ֥ם בַּחֶ֖בֶל בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֑וֹן כִּ֤י בֵיתָהּ֙ בְּקִ֣יר הַחוֹמָ֔ה וּבַֽחוֹמָ֖ה הִ֥יא יוֹשָֽׁבֶת׃
16She said to them, “Make for the hills, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Stay there in hiding three days, until the pursuers return; then go your way.”
va-TOM-er la-HEM ha-HA-RAH LE-khu PEIN yif-GE-u va-KHEM ha-ro-D'-feem v'-nakh-BE-tem SHA-mah sh'-LO-shet ya-MEEM ad SHOV ha-ro-D'-feem v'-a-KHAR tayl-KHU l'-dar-K'-KHEM
טזוַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הָהָ֣רָה לֵּ֔כוּ פֶּֽן־יִפְגְּע֥וּ בָכֶ֖ם הָרֹֽדְפִ֑ים וְנַחְבֵּתֶ֨ם שָׁ֜מָּה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים עַ֚ד שׁ֣וֹב הָרֹֽדְפִ֔ים וְאַחַ֖ר תֵּלְכ֥וּ לְדַרְכְּכֶֽם׃
17But the men warned her, “We will be released from this oath which you have made us take
va-yo-M'ru e-LE-ha ha-a-na-SHEEM ne-ki-YIM a-na-KH'nu mi-she-bu-a-TEKH ha-ZE a-SHER his-ba-a-TA-nu
יזוַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יהָ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים נְקִיִּ֣ם אֲנַ֔חְנוּ מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֥ךְ הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃
18[unless,] when we invade the country, you tie this length of crimson cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your family together in your house;
hi-NEH a-na-KH'-nu ba-EEM ba-A-retz et-tik-VAT khoot ha-sha-NEE ha-ZEH tik-sh'-REE ba-kha-LON a-SHER ho-ra-D'-TE-nu BO v'-et a-VEEKH v'-et i-MEKH v'-et a-KHA-yikh v'-ET kol-BAYT a-VEEKH ta-a-S'-FI e-la-YIKH ha-ba-YE-ta
יחהִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ בָאִ֖ים בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֶת־תִּקְוַ֡ת חוּט֩ הַשָּׁנִ֨י הַזֶּ֜ה תִּקְשְׁרִ֗י בַּֽחַלּוֹן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹרַדְתֵּ֣נוּ ב֔וֹ וְאֶת־אָבִ֨יךְ וְאֶת־אִמֵּ֜ךְ וְאֶת־אַחַ֗יִךְ וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךְ תַּאַסְפִ֥י אֵלַ֖יִךְ הַבָּֽיְתָה׃
19and if anyone ventures outside the doors of your house, his blood will be on his head, and we shall be clear. But if a hand is laid on anyone who remains in the house with you, his blood shall be on our heads.
v'-ha-YA kol a-SHER ye-TZE mi-dal-TEY vei-TEKH ha-KHU-tza da-MO ve-ro-SHO va-a-NAKH-nu ne-ki-YIM ve-KOL a-SHER yi-HE-yeh i-TAKH ba-ba-YIT da-MO ve-ro-SHE-nu im ya-D ti-HE-yeh-BO
יטוְהָיָ֡ה כֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא֩ מִדַּלְתֵ֨י בֵיתֵ֧ךְ ׀ הַח֛וּצָה דָּמ֥וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ נְקִיִּ֑ם וְ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְיֶ֤ה אִתָּךְ֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת דָּמ֣וֹ בְרֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ אִם־יָ֖ד תִּֽהְיֶה־בּֽוֹ׃
20And if you disclose this mission of ours, we shall likewise be released from the oath which you made us take.”
v'-im-ta-GI-di et-d'-va-RE-nu ZEH v'-ha-YI-nu n'-ki-YIM mi-she-bu-a-TEKH a-SHER his-ba-a-TA-nu
כוְאִם־תַּגִּ֖ידִי אֶת־דְּבָרֵ֣נוּ זֶ֑ה וְהָיִ֣ינוּ נְקִיִּ֔ם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃
21She replied, “Let it be as you say.” She sent them on their way, and they left; and she tied the crimson cord to the window.
va-to-MER ke-di-v'-RAY-khem ken-HU va-t'-sha-l'-KHEM va-y'-LE-khu va-tik-SHOR et tik-VAT ha-sha-NEE ba-cha-LOAN
כאוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֣ם כֶּן־ה֔וּא וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַתִּקְשֹׁ֛ר אֶת־תִּקְוַ֥ת הַשָּׁנִ֖י בַּחַלּֽוֹן׃
22They went straight to the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers turned back. And so the pursuers, searching all along the road, did not find them.
vai-YEL-khu vai-ya-VO-u ha-ha-RAH vai-YESH-vu SHAM she-LO-shet ya-MEEM ad sha-VO ha-ro-d'-FEEM vai-va-K'-shu ha-ro-d'-FEEM b'-kol ha-DE-rekh v'-LO ma-TZA-u
כבוַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הָהָ֔רָה וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים עַד־שָׁ֖בוּ הָרֹֽדְפִ֑ים וַיְבַקְשׁ֧וּ הָרֹדְפִ֛ים בְּכׇל־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽאוּ׃
23Then the two men came down again from the hills and crossed over. They came to Yehoshua son of Nun and reported to him all that had happened to them.
vai-YA-shu-VU sh'-NAY ha-a-na-SHEEM va-YER-du me-ha-HAR va-ya-a-VU va-ya-BO-u el y'-ho-SHU-a ben-NU-n va-y'-sa-p'-RU-lo AYT kol ha-mo-t'-Z'O-t o-TAM
כגוַיָּשֻׁ֜בוּ שְׁנֵ֤י הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ וַיֵּרְד֣וּ מֵֽהָהָ֔ר וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וַ֨יְסַפְּרוּ־ל֔וֹ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַמֹּצְא֖וֹת אוֹתָֽם׃
24They said to Yehoshua, “Hashem has delivered the whole land into our power; in fact, all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before us.”
vai-YO-mer-U el y'-ho-SHU-a, kee-na-TAN a-do-NAI b'-ya-DAY-nu et kol ha-A-retz, v'-GAM-na-MO-gu kol yo-sh'-VAY ha-A-retz mi-PA-nay-NU. (SELAH)
כדוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיָדֵ֖נוּ אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְגַם־נָמֹ֛גוּ כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפָּנֵֽינוּ׃
