Rahab

Joshua 2

Joshua 6.17 – 25

The scriptures treat sexuality curiously. So do we by the way. Which probably explains why scriptures do so. Consider that we refer to Mary as the Virgin Mary, this is despite that fact that she had at least four other children. Likewise, the wisewoman of this narrative, Rahab,  is perpetually termed a prostitute even though that had nothing to do with why she is in the bible. It would be like to referring to King David as Dave the Adulterer. I think we should stop calling her that and come up with a different name. 

Before Israel invaded Canaan, Joshua had sent two spies to scope out the land. The two spies took lodging from Rahab. It does not make reference to whether they paid for other services. Then things get interesting. Somone told the King of Canaan that Rahab was hiding the spies in her house. She was brought before the King and convincingly lies. Her story was that they had came to her, she didn’t know where they were from, and that they took off as night came. It is interesting the number of commentaries that stress that in the heat of the moment, she had the presence of mind to lie. But this is not why she is an important figure.

Rahab returns to her place and hides the spies upstairs. The King falls for the story and the men sent to catch the spies go running out of the city. Rahab goes up to the roof where she had hid the spies and talks to them. She tells them that everyone has heard about their God, and everyone was afraid of him because he was the meanest god around. Then, she asks that when the Israelites attack that they spare her life.

The spies agree and promise that her life and those of her family will be spared. The only condition is that they must remain in Rahab’s home. The spies sneak out the window, her house is part of the city wall, and her window provided passage out of the city.

The Israelites surround Jericho a number of days later and hold a seven-day dance party around the city. Then as the trumpets blared and the people shouted, the walls of Jericho fell. Except, Rahab’s house which had been part of the city walls remained standing. As Joshua is yelling that everyone and their pet needed to die, he remembered to spare Rahab and her family. Later, and this is not part of the narrative, Salmon marries Rahab. Salmon is a descendant of our first wisewoman; Tamar. In turn, Rahab gives birth to our next wisewoman, Ruth.

I see her story as being significant. The reason is that she is an exclusion from the commands given to Israel, and her inclusion in the people of Israel. Her story also presents a more rounded picture regarding God “the hitman’ that seems to permeate the Old Testament.

First, to be obedient to God Rahab should have been killed. Consider the instructions of God, “do not leave alive anything that breathes.” Deut 20.16.  With Rahab and her family being left alive not only do we see an exception, we begin to understand that maybe the instructions were hyperbole. There is a popular idea that Rahab had become faithful to God, but that is only inference. Scripture seems clear, “But Rahab the harlot, and her father’s household, and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” Josh 6.25 To be included was the exact opposite of what they were told to do. 

Second, the “trash talking” of the Lord. The hyperbole of conflict in the Ancient Near East was an important literary style. Especially as often wars were started to see whose deities were the strongest, biggest and meanest. It was not uncommon for people to write of the god they worshiped as being the meanest guy around. Rereading scripture with this in mind does smooth some of the edginess. (I explore this further in a later post.)

Thirdly, Deuteronomy instructs the Israelites “You shall not make marriages with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons.” Deut 7.3. Yet, Rahab who should have been killed, should not have been married by an Israelite. Furthur having the reputation as a "harlot", no self respecting man would have married her. So again, we see an exception to God’s commands and the people's tradions being made. Before you decide that obedience is not required, understand that there might be different dynamics were at play. But, also if you think that someone's past trumps their present, think again.

Rahab was not an insignificant addition to scripture. We see a woman being portrayed as being courageous in aiding Israel to it victory. Perhaps we should refer to her as Rahab “the Brave.”