Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 15a). To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The conversion of Rahab is regarded by the Rabbis as more complete than that of Jethro and Naaman; for while the latter two did not free themselves entirely from a belief in other gods, Rahab acknowledged that Yhwh was the only God both in heaven and on earth (Mek., l.c. Rahab lied to the king and told him that they had left earlier before the gates closed for the night. Yes, it is interesting that the God who knows everything still wants to be shown our faith by our actions. Besides, among the Canaanites harlotry was not a business of ill repute. Ruth's son, Boaz, was the father of Ruth's children. In the midrash, Rahab is named as one of the four most beautiful women the world has ever known, along with Sarah, Abigail, and Esther. Jericho was a mighty, fortified city in the land of Canaan. 1), which renders it by (= "innkeeper"; comp., however, David imi ad loc.). In the Talmudic literature, however, it is accepted that Rahab was a harlot. Sinners may not be unavailable in their family but at that time, they are both clean. "scroll." I Whatever God does is righteous and good. As Believers, we are to consistently, look to our Heavenly Father as our provider, of all things! I surely appreciate you being a part of my life on a daily blessings. 14b). "The Choice to Serve God and Assist His People: Rahab and Yael". Later Jewish commentators, Rashi among them, interpret , the Hebrew term for "harlot," as "one who sells food," basing their view on Targum Jonathan (to Josh. In those days Jews didnt give women their place and because she was a business person, perhaps an hotel owner or a sewing person. Yes. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah mandates(Deut. [11] Thomas Dozeman also suggests that the singularketivmay simply be a textual corruption. See also, e.g., Hartmut N. Rsel,Joshua(HCOT; Leuven: Peeters, 2011), 95, who discusses the polemics regarding the exact position of the Rahabites, as full members of the people of Israel, or merely existing beside the camp.. I became interested in this issue and decided to check the time difference between Rahab and Boaz. Also, there is a human factor of adding and deleting and changing words, phrases and stories. Assis, Elie (2004). Rabbah8:9). However, I still wonder how we ascribe Rahab the harlot as Rahab the mother of Boaz. What we cant question, though, is that the Rahab in the book of Joshua is definitely the same mentioned in the gallery of faith in Hebrews 11, therefore, I think this article adds positively to the understanding of Gods love and how He operates. Nowonder He is sovereign. Bad news indeed for modern women. cit.). Its like the sayingwaste not, want not You can read about Rahab in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 .. Its so amazing and quite interesting that the the two great grandmothers of Jesus Christ ( Rehab and Ruth) came from a condemned nations. The Spies Agree to Save Rahab's Family In preparation for the conquest of Jericho, the first city to be taken after the Israelites cross the Jordan River, Joshua sends two spies, who arrive at the house of Rahab, a harlot, in Jericho. Rahab - Wikipedia Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: and that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. In three days they can circle back to the east and safely go home. First we have to understand the role of the Shepard, as it was the Shepards responsibility to lovingly care for, provide for and look after the sheep. I also learnt to act on our faith we need to act like what we believe for it could counted as unto righteousness for us. She was a prostitute who became a believer and played a key role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Thanks for the comment. 1). You wouldn't think she would have much chance of making the list, but there she is. She also credits Rahab with being "one of Israels early saviors" due to "her allegiance to God and Israel". Have an update or correction? Spiritually, Physically, and Materially! Israel, God always identified people by their occupation. Every man, woman, child, and animal in Jericho was to be killed and burnt. I believe you kind of have it backwards or I am reading it wrong you are not justified by your works but by your faith Rahab was not justified by her action but by the faith that led her to her actions. Shemuel, in Yal., Josh. l5a; Ta'an . I am still learning how to handle my Israelite moments and fight the urges to back to Egypt. He knows how to save those that love Him and desire to serve Him. Thank You again. a prostitute; whore. What it means to me is I shall not want anything in other words you have now if you believe everything you need now. Was He More than an Exodus Hero? I read the Bible for the stories. Friedmann (Ish-Shalom)], para. Other traditions also include Ezekiel son of Buzi (Sifrei Zutaloc. cit.). Rahab symbolizes proper behavior, in contrast to the sinning Israelites. . It says in the Bible that The lord is my shepherd I shall not want. "The Rabbinic Transformations of Rahab the Harlot". But the spies were safe, for she had hid them on the roof under wet and smelly piles of rotting flax. Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. Being part of the . especially in family relations. Hebrews 10:17. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. [4], The King James Version renders the name as Rachab, after its literal spelling in Greek, which differs from the spelling for Rahab in James and Hebrews. Solomon - The wisest King of Israel, and the one who built the first temple is another descendent of Rahab. 2:25, Heb. The Israelites were still camped on the east side of the Jordan River, approximately 15 miles away from Jericho. Only God can do that. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Jesus ate with sinners, and the religious of the day did not like it. Another midrash has Rahab acting as advocate for all the nations of the world. Having arrived at Jericho, the two spies remained at Rahab's house, situated in the wall of the city and having a window on the outside (Josh. Maybe it must be presented as evidence in the Heavenly Court. When people state they are followers of Jesus and then behave like world, then you need to read up on what Paul is saying to the Church. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. God continues to increase me through each and every teaching and lesson you provide. God hates sin, but he loves people. Thats it Maam. She said: Master of the Universe! Priests; descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses, who were given the right and obligation to perform the Temple services. It is a high honor to be included in this group of believers. And if you ever read in the New Testament, youll observe that Jesus ALWAYS restored women back to a place of honor! The shall not want phrase actually means God will provide. King James Bible, Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 5:2): They are sure to be swearing falsely; it is written of Rahab(Josh. For a discussion of the Rabbinic tradition as a possible anti-Christian polemic, see Zev I. Farber,Images of Joshua in the Bible and their Reception(BZAW 457; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2016), 436-438. Will You not save me, whose forefathers brought many converts to You? Hezekiahs prayer was accepted, and God added fifteen years to his life(JTBerakhot4:4, 8b). Further information that might be interesting. If you study the cases of Bathsheba, Abigail, Ruth, etc.they were all widows by one way or another, no female is in the line of Christ who is not physically CLEAN, and Christ himself said that a divorced woman whos husband still exists commits adultery and the man who marries her. The only thing God allowed to leave was the gold, silver, bronze, iron (for Him), and, Rahab and her family. Stay there in hiding three days. The midrash adds that the Divine Presence rested upon her until the Israelites entered Jericho, for she knew that they would return after three days(Ruth Rabbah2:1). I have sinned with three things [with my eye, my thigh, and my stomach]. In many midrashim Rahab comes to symbolize the positive influence Israel exerts on the surrounding Gentile nations, as well as successful conversion. This series of comparisons, only some of which appear here, emphasizes the sins of Israel, who swear falsely, make light of their parents honor, and worship stars, while Rahab conducts herself in a proper and correct manner. This is from a commentary. Our responsibility as Believers is to Restore people not reject them, or put our hands against them in any way unless they are folded in prayers for them . You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. How can He understand the human experience if he never married or knew a woman? 22). Consider Dinah, her brothers essentially saved her purity by whacking the kid that raped her. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, THE PROPHETESSES OF ISRAEL / , Rahab: "Good girls, bad girls: the enduring lessons of twelve women of the Old Testament"By T. J. Wray, Rahab removed from Jericho on it's capture. Otto, I think if no one ever sits down with them, they cant ever get saved. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. After the danger had passed, Rahab advised the spies(Josh. Anything else is secondary. nah always has to do with an illicit relationship, either sexual or as a figure of spiritual unfaithfulness, and in each instance where it denotes a prostitute, it is so translated. Your comments on Pauls instructions in dealing with this issue. Within the list of faith champions in Hebrews Chapter Eleven, Rahab is mentioned right after Moses, and instead of Joshua! The fourth negative item refers to her as a resident of Jericho, whose people were fated to extinction, as it was said of them: You must proscribe them(Deut. 21), are considered by the Rabbis to refer to the house of Rahab (Ruth R. ii. Rabbah16:1). Some have claimed that the symbol of the red cord is related to the practice of the "red-light district". 31 December 1999. "scroll." Before Boaz and RuthSalmon and Rahab? - ArmstrongInstitute.org When she reported to the spies who came to her house: no man had any more spirit left because of you(Josh. She is one of five women mentioned in Matthews genealogy of Christ; they are Tamar the wife of Judah, Rahab the wife of Salmon, Ruth the wife of Boaz, Bathsheba the wife of King David (after being the wife of Uriah), and Mary the Mother of Jesus. This favorable disposition to converts is expressed in a dictum that converts who drew close to God merited being drawn closer by God. Perhaps He knew that she would stand up for Him and His people in courageous obedience. Read more: Rahab, a pagan prostitute; Ruth, a gentile woman;Perez , son of Judah born from his own daughter in law; Solomon, born from Bathsheba who was another man s ,Uriah, whom David killed by planing that he be put in the battle front. He loves all kinds of people, especially prostitutes. The better question is how far it can go to present truth and to clarify untruth which man continues to foster. Rahab (/rehb/;[1] Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}, Modern:Raav, Tiberian:R, "broad", "large", Arabic: , a vast space of a land) was, according to the Book of Joshua, a Gentile woman who lived in Jericho in the Promised Land and assisted the Israelites in capturing the city by hiding two men who had been sent to scout the city prior to their attack. It describes their strengths and weaknesses, their triumphs and disasters. 116b). Rahab the Harlot? - Biblical Archaeology Society And as William Smith put it, "Here the descendant of Rahab did not disdain the hospitality of Zaccaeus the publican.".