Teaching about Rahab

Categories: Joshua

Joan Koelle Snipes, author of That Ye May Teach the Children, shares how she would teach about Rahab.

In the past, I've never put much emphasis on teaching the story of Rahab in Sunday School. I plan to rectify this because her role in helping the early Hebrews conquer Canaan was clearly revered by the biblical authors of Matthew, Hebrews, and James.

When I teach the story, I will follow my usual pattern of briefly telling the children the story in my own words. Then, we'll read parts of the story from the Bible. Next, I'll ask the children questions about Rahab. Finally, I'll follow up with a Bible Study Worksheet to be completed at home along with regular review questions.

Below are some of the questions about Rahab that I'll be using both in class and on the worksheet.

• During the time of Joshua, Rahab protected two Israelite spies. Where was her house located? (Joshua 2:1, 15)
• Just before the battle of Jericho, who sent "two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho?" (Joshua 2:1)
• Rahab and her family lived in a house on the wall of Jericho. Why were they spared when the city walls fell and the city was destroyed in the time of Joshua? (Joshua 2:1-24)
• Rahab's agreement with the spies was that they save the lives of her father, her mother, her brothers, and her sisters. How and where did Rahab hide the two spies? (Joshua 2:1-24)
• Rahab hid the Hebrew spies on the roof of her house under stalks of flax. What was flax and how was it used? (Please see a Bible dictionary.)
• How did the two spies escape from Rahab's house in Jericho? (Joshua 2:15)
• Most scholars identify Rachab, mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, and Rahab as the same person. Please tell the story of Rahab. (Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25; Matthew 1:5)
• Rahab is one of four Old Testament women listed in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. Who are the other three? (Matthew 1:1-16)
• The author of Hebrews notes that Rahab "perished not with them that believed not" when her city was destroyed. She gained fame by hiding some Israelite spies from the king. Please name Rahab's city. (Hebrews 11:31; Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25)
• Was Rahab Jewish when she hid the two spies?
• Why do you suppose Rahab decided to cooperate with the Hebrew spies?