If they doubted her word, they could come in and search her house. Thus, the reader learns that Rahab is not selfish, thinking only of her own well-being. In this point in time, we must remember that Rahab, like any of us, is not perfect. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout … We are told that prostitution was not regarded with the same horror then, as now, but the Bible with one voice speaks of harlotry with moral revulsion and social ostracism. In conclusion, what are the lessons to be gathered from the harlot whom God used to fulfill His purpose? As that scarlet line, because of its color and sign of safety, speaks of the sacrificial work of Christ (Hebrews 9:19, 22), the ground of our assurance of salvation is not experience or feelings within, but the token without. After escaping, the spies agreed to spare Rahab and her family after conquering the city, even if there were to be a slaughter if she would designate her house by placing a red cord out the window. Follow me,” and taking them up to the flat roof of her house, bade the men cover themselves completely with a pile of flax lying there to dry. I have sinned with three things [with my eye, my thigh, and my stomach]. Then Rahab went up to the spies and pleaded for her life and for the lives of her family members. The word "harlot" is undoubtedly repeated so that you and I will know that whatever we have done God will forgive us if we come to him by faith. It was such a call that made her willing to sacrifice her own nation—an act which would have been otherwise treasonable. In turn, she became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth from whose son, Obed, Jesse the father of David came, through whose line Jesus was born (Matthew 1:5, where the asv reads, “Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab”—not Rachab). "Thriving with Chronic Illness", This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2020, Crosswalk.com. She desired all her loved ones to share in the preservation. (Read More...), Topics and verses are auto-generated from user searches. Alphabetical Exposition of Named Bible Women, class="bibleref" data-bibleref="internal:Chapter 4. As she received and hid the spies, her tribute to God’s omnipotence and sure triumph over His foes reveals a spiritual insight God grants to all who believe. [6] Raymond E. Brown, Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke (updated ed. For Rahab believed. Scholars disagree on whether it was 1406 BC or 1250 BC. Although she never lost her concern for her dear ones, perhaps she was treated as a moral leper. Seeing their hunted and dreaded look, Rahab assuredly said, “Fear not, I will not betray you nor your leader. Bible Verses About Marriage On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. She and her family were adopted by the Jews and stayed with them. She is almost always mentioned by in the Bible as “Rahab the harlot." Noth, Martin, "Israelitischer Personennamen im Rahmen der gemeinsemitischen Namengebung", Beitrage zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testaments III,10, 193. That was her “trade.” The men hid there because people would be accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night. Rahab indulged in venal wantonness as traveling merchants came her way and were housed in her illfamed abode. Rahab continues: "the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." Rahab recognized the true God and took him for her own. She heard about the God of Israel and recognized him as the true God, the One worth risking your life for. Rahab, (Heb. Joshua 2:9-13 NIV. So, high-spirited and independent she left her parents, set up her own apartment with dire consequences. A similar tradition has Rahab declaring, "Pardon me by merit of the rope, the window, and the flaxen [the stalks of flax under which she concealed the spies]. “According unto thy words, so be it,” said Rahab as she let the spies down, and making fast the scarlet rope, she awaited her own deliverance. Rahab often is mentioned alongside Jethro (Yitro) and Na'aman as "positive examples" of the converts who joined Israel, and another midrash has Rahab acting as an advocate for all nations of the world. Paul highly commends Rahab for her energetic faith and gives her a place on the illustrious roll of the Old Testament of those who triumphed by faith. Easton's Bible Dictionary. While her name came to be sanctified and ennobled, both Paul and James affix the label to her name, Rahab the harlot. Bible Verses About Love Rahab’s story is found in Joshua. Many people are intimidated by Jesus Christ. The spies stayed in Rahab's house, which was built into the city wall. Yes! Brought out of an accursed city, and from her own sins which were as scarlet, Rahab is a fitting illustration of another miracle of divine grace, namely, the calling forth of His church out of a godless, Gentile world. Rahab wanted the kindness she was showing the spies to be reciprocated, and they assured her that she would be dealt with “kindly and truly.” The spies said, “Our life for yours if ye utter not this our business.” Then the sign of the scarlet rope—their means of escape—was arranged. Those same readers are even more surprised when Rahab shows up on the list. He said, “The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:10). In the Babylonian Talmud, anyone who mentions Rahab's name immediately lusts after her, and according to one Rabbi the mere invocation of her name may even cause the person to have an orgasm (Megillah 15a). With the shadow of death and destruction over Jericho, Rahab extracted a promise from Joshua’s spies not only to spare her, but also all those bound to her by human ties. [24][25], In the New Testament, Rahab (Greek Ῥαάβ) of the Book of Joshua is mentioned as an example of a person of faith[3] and of good works. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Joshua gave orders to rescue Rahab and all in her house. The Bible clearly tells us that lying is not acceptable in the eyes of God (Proverbs 12:22; Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 6:17). ), Tikva Frymer-Kensky regards Rahab as "smart, proactive, tricky and unafraid to disobey and deceive her king". When at evening the sun goeth down, will our loved ones be as stars in our crown? Rahab is likewise a poetic and symbolic name for Egypt (Psalms 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 51:9. She trusted in him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. She is commended and mentioned in Hebrews 11 because of Rahab courageous faith and not her lying. He’s already made the first move. Then I will introduce you to the woman of the scarlet cord, the greater grandmother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All rights reserved. Rather, she covered them under bunches of flax on the roof, protecting them from being captured. By Mary Jane Chaignot. Like the Israelites, Rahab and her relatives might not have felt safe within the house, but the same promise prevailed, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). For Rahab trusted in God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth. [16], When the city of Jericho fell,[17] Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. What the Bible commends is not her deception, but the faith which was the mainspring of her conduct. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Conquest would be a difficult, time-consuming task. She was to hang a scarlet cord from her window as a sign, so the Jews could find and protect her. New International Version (NIV). Bible Verses About Heaven. by Ray Pritchard. But that’s not all. In it none of the holy women are included, only those whom the Scriptures blame, in order that He who came in behalf of sinners, Himself being born of sinners, might destroy the sins of all. When Rahab hid the spies, put those who sought them on a false trail and helped the spies to escape and melt away into the shadows of night, and lay concealed until they could reach Joshua with their report, she took her life in her own hands. Joshua 2:1 | View whole chapter | See verse in context And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. There are one or two features associated with this clever plan of Rahab which are worthy of notice. Again, Rahab’s act cannot prove justification by works as such, for she was a woman of bad character. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Of course, the Canaanites were infamous for cultic prostitution related to idolatrous worship. But there's more to the story of Rahab — so much more. Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith Rahab ...” She was a believer! Some scripture references/categories courtesy of Open Bible .info under CC BY 3.0. How could Almighty God, the holy God of heaven, use such a sinner like me?" Even though she made her living as a sex worker, she was selected for high honor in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. Three times over Rahab is referred to as “the harlot,” and the Hebrew term zoonah and the Greek word porne have at no time meant anything else but “harlot”—a woman who yields herself indiscriminately to every man approaching her. Thus shall you do for six days. Moses had died and they were now led by Joshua, a mighty warrior. Much has been said of Rahab’s deceit when confronted by the king of Jericho. Hebrews 11:31 - By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.