Rahab: The Courageous Woman of Jericho Who Welcomed Israel’s Spies

Rahab: The Courageous Woman of Jericho Who Welcomed Israel’s Spies

Rahab, a Canaanite woman in Jericho, risked everything to protect two Israelite spies. Her bold faith not only saved her household but secured her place in the lineage of Jesus, showing that God’s grace reaches beyond every boundary.

Name & Etymology

Rahab (רָחָב, Rāḥāḇ, pronounced rah-hahv) means “broad” or “spacious.”

In the Septuagint (LXX) her name is rendered as Ρααβ (Raab), preserving the same meaning.

Biblical Narrative (The Story)

Rahab’s story begins in Joshua 2 and is celebrated in Joshua 6.

• Sheltering the Spies: “Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, ‘Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.’ So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night” (Joshua 2:1, NLT).

• Confessing Faith in Israel’s God: Rahab told the spies, “I know the Lord has given you this land… For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below” (2:9–11, NLT).

• The Scarlet Cord: She let them down by a rope through her window and tied a scarlet cord as the sign for her household’s deliverance (2:15, 18–21).

• Rescue and Legacy: When Jericho fell, “Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies” (Joshua 6:25, NLT).

Historical & Cultural Context

Jericho was a powerful walled city guarding Canaan’s interior. Rahab’s profession placed her at society’s margins, yet her house was ideally located on the city wall for both business and clandestine operations.

Character & Themes

Rahab embodies courage, faith, and decisive action. She turned from the gods of Canaan to trust Israel’s God, risking death to side with His people.

Connection to Christ

Rahab’s faith gained her a place in the Messianic lineage: “Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab)” (Matthew 1:5, NLT). Hebrews 11:31 commends her faith, and James 2:25 praises her works. Her scarlet cord foreshadows the blood of Christ, which secures salvation for all who trust in Him.

Theological Significance

Rahab shows that God’s grace welcomes outsiders. Her inclusion in Israel and in Jesus’ genealogy demonstrates that salvation is by faith, not heritage.

Myths & Misconceptions

• Myth: Rahab’s lie to protect the spies was an act of sinful deceit.

  
  

  Truth: Scripture commends her faith and her decision to protect God’s people, highlighting the higher call of allegiance to God.

• Myth: Her past disqualified her.

  
  

  Truth: Her faith and actions became a testimony of redemption.

Application

Rahab’s story urges believers to trust God boldly and act courageously, no matter their past, believing that God can write a new future.

Conclusion

Rahab’s faith turned a harlot of Jericho into a heroine of redemption. Her life shows that God delights to rescue and include all who believe in Him.