Rahab

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Joshua, Women in the Bible, Women in the Old Testament

Rahab’s story is found in Joshua.
The first part of her name comes from the Egyptian god, “Ra.” Her whole name means something like “spacious or broad.”
After 40 years of wandering through the wilderness, Moses has led the people of Israel to the Promised Land.
Moses has already handed over the leadership to Joshua.
News about the Israelites precedes them as they move forward.
Townspeople are fearful upon hearing about the miraculous events that have happened.
The people of Israel are about to cross a flooded river and start the settlement process.
The city of Jericho stands at a strategic point for passing over into the new land.
Like all ancient cities, it is enclosed by thick walls intended to keep out enemies.
Scholars think the walls are made of two parallel walls with occasional perpendicular walls. People could live within these rooms, and scholars presume that Rahab and her family do so.
Scholars think Rahab’s family may have had an inn.
Rahab may have had her own home with a stairway leading up to a flat roof.
Several texts refer to Rahab as a harlot; she may have been running a brothel.
Scholars believe Rahab is adept at entertaining travelers whenever they come her way.
She is well versed in local gossip.
Meanwhile, Joshua sends two spies into the city to scope out the situation.
The spies find their way to Rahab’s house in the wall and spend the night.
Someone sees them and informs the King of Jericho.
He sends orders to Rahab: “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.”
Rahab hides the men at great risk to herself. She is committing treason against her community.
When the officers come, Rahab admits that they were there, but claims she doesn’t know where they are from.
She tells the officers that when it became dark, the men left.
She suggests that they try to follow them quickly because they already have a head start.
None of that is true, however, for she has hidden them up on the roof under the drying stalks of flax that she uses to make linen.
The officers run out, and as soon as they leave the city, the gates are closed.
Before the men fall asleep, Rahab says to them, “I know that the Lord has given you the land.”
People are terrified of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the land of the Red Sea so you could escape from Egypt.
The people know the Israelites have destroyed two Amorite kings.
“As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage in any of us because of you.”
“Your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.”
Then, Rahab makes a deal with them.
Since she has dealt kindly with them, she asks them to swear that they will in turn treat her and her family with the same kindness.
She asks that they spare the lives of her family “and deliver our lives from death.”
The men reply: “Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land.”
She then lets them down by a rope through the window, going outside the wall.
She tells them to go to the hill country and hide there for three days.
The pursuers will stop looking for them by that time.
The men tell her to mark her family’s house by tying a crimson cord out the window.
She should also gather her entire family into her house.
Anyone found outside her room will not be protected.
She agrees to everything; the men leave.
She ties the crimson cord in the window.
When Jericho falls, the spies go to Rahab’s house and bring out all her kindred and settle them outside the camp of Israel.
Her family resides in Israel forever.
Some legends claim that Rahab becomes the wife of Joshua.
The genealogy in Matthew claims she is the wife of Salmon, the father of Boaz. Boaz becomes the great grandfather to King David.
Some scholars claim Salmon is one of the spies.
Rahab is one of four women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. The other three are Tamar, Ruth, and Bathsheba.
This is rather nontraditional for biblical genealogies; however, scholars believe it is completely intentional on the part of Matthew.
By including these four women in Christ’s genealogy, Matthew is making the claim that God’s great plan of salvation includes Gentiles, even unrighteous Gentiles.
Gentiles have been part of God’s work in history from the beginning.
In the New Testament, Rahab is praised for her faith and her works. (See Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25)

Bible Characters