Identity and Role of Rahab in Joshua

Rahab, also known as Rachab, was a woman of Jericho who played a pivotal role in the Israelite conquest of Canaan, as recorded in the book of Joshua ^{[1, 3]}. She is first introduced in Joshua 2:1 when Joshua, the successor to Moses, sent two spies from Shittim to scout the land, particularly Jericho ^{[2, 5, 6]}. The spies entered Rahab's house, which is described as the house of a "harlot" ^{[1, 5]}.

Rahab's identity as a "harlot" is consistently noted across various biblical dictionaries and commentaries ^{[1, 7, 11]}. Some interpretations suggest she might have also been a lodging-keeper for travelers ^[1]. When the king of Jericho learned of the spies' presence, he sent men to apprehend them. Rahab, however, concealed the spies on her roof under stalks of flax and misdirected the king's pursuers, claiming the men had left the city ^{[1, 9, 10]}.

Her actions were motivated by a profound faith in the God of Israel. She confessed to the spies that the inhabitants of Jericho were terrified of the Israelites because they had heard of God's mighty deeds, such as drying up the Red Sea and defeating the Amorite kings Sihon and Og ^[10]. Rahab declared, "for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11) ^[10]. Because of this faith and her act of hospitality, she made a covenant with the spies, asking them to spare her and her family when the Israelites attacked Jericho ^{[1, 9, 10]}. The spies agreed, instructing her to tie a scarlet cord in her window and gather her family inside her house for safety ^[10].

When Jericho was captured, Joshua honored the oath made by the spies. Joshua 6:25 states that "Joshua kept Rahab, the loose woman, and her father's family and all she had, from death, and so she got a living-place among the children of Israel to this day; because she kept safe the men whom Joshua had sent to make a search through the land" ^[4]. This act of preservation is seen as a demonstration of God's grace ^[8]. Initially, Rahab and her family were brought out of the city and placed "without the camp," possibly due to their former heathenism, but they were later incorporated into Israelite society after purification and circumcision ^[12].

Rahab's significance extends beyond the book of Joshua. She is commended in the New Testament for her faith and righteous deeds. Hebrews 11:31 states, "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies with peace" ^[11]. James 2:25 also highlights her as an example of faith demonstrated by works: "And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?" ^[7].

Furthermore, Rahab is included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:5, which states, "Salmon begat Booz of Rachab" ^{[1, 7, 14]}. Her inclusion in the lineage of the Messiah, despite her Gentile background and past profession, emphasizes the grace of God and the breadth of His salvation ^{[7, 8]}. This detail, though not explicitly stated in the Old Testament, was likely preserved through tradition or Jewish records ^[14]. She married Salmon, a prince in Israel, and became the mother of Boaz, who later married Ruth ^{[1, 13, 14]}. Her story thus illustrates how individuals from outside the covenant community could be brought into God's plan through faith and obedience.

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Rahab, Or Rachab — (wide), a celebrated woman of Jericho who received the spies sent by Joshua to spy out the land, hid them in her house from the pursuit of her countrymen, was saved with all her family when the Israelites sacked the city, and became the wife of Salmon and the ancestress of the Messiah. (Joshua 2:1; Matthew 1:5) (B.C. 1450.) She was a "harlot", and probably combined the trade of lodging-keeper for wayfaring men. Her reception of the spies, the artifice by which she concealed them from the king: their escape, and the saving of Rahab and her family at ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Rahab — Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt in Ps. 87:4; 89:10; Isa. 51:9, as "the proud one." Rahab, (Heb. Rahab; i.e., "broad," "large"). When the Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, in the "Arabah" or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to "spy the land." After five days they returned, having swum across the river, which at this season, the month Abib, overflowed its banks from the melting of the snow on Lebanon. The spies reported how it had fared with them (Josh. 2:1-7). They h”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Rachab — same as Rahab”
Joshua “Joshua 6:25 (BBE) — But Joshua kept Rahab, the loose woman, and her father's family and all she had, from death, and so she got a living-place among the children of Israel to this day; because she kept safe the men whom Joshua had sent to make a search through the land.”
Joshua “Joshua 2:1 (YLT) — And Joshua son of Nun sendeth from Shittim, two men, spies, silently, saying, `Go, see the land--and Jericho;' and they go and come into the house of a woman, a harlot, and her name <FI>is<Fi> Rahab, and they lie down there.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Joshua — Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua). He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16). He became Moses' minister or servant, and accompanied him p”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 1:5: 1:5 Rahab was the Gentile prostitute who risked her life to harbor Joshua’s two spies in Jericho (Josh 2:1-21). Her inclusion in the ancestry of the Messiah emphasizes the grace of God. Elsewhere she is commended for her faith in the God of Israel and for righteous deeds (Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25).”
Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 6:25: 6:25 The statement that Rahab lives among the Israelites to this day affirms the breadth and depth of God’s grace. Rahab was not only accepted into Israel; she ultimately was an ancestor of the Messiah (see Matt 1:5).”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — CHAP. XII.--THE REWARDS OF FAITH AND HOSPITALITY. RAHAB.: On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun, to Jericho, the king of the country ascertained that they were come to spy out their land, and sent men to seize them, in order that, when taken, they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab receiving them, concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax. And when the men sent by the king arrived and said, "There came men unto t”
Joshua (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Joshua 2 (introduction): In this chapter we have an account of the scouts that were employed to bring an account to Joshua of the posture of the city of Jericho. Observe here, I. How Joshua sent them (v. 1). II. How Rahab received them, and protected them, and told a lie for them (v. 2-7), so that they escaped out of the hands of the enemy. III. The account she gave them of the present posture of Jericho, and the panic-fear they were struck with upon the approach of Israel (v. 8-11). IV. The bargain she made with them for the security of herself and her relations in the ruin s”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 11:31: 11:31 Rahab the prostitute (Josh 2; 6:25) showed faith in the power of the God of Israel by protecting the spies who came to her home (cp. Jas 2:25). As a result, she and her family were not destroyed but joined the community of Israel. In fact, Rahab was an ancestor of Jesus (Matt 1:5).”
Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 6:23: Brought out Rahab, and her father, etc. - Rahab having been faithful to her vow of secrecy, the Israelites were bound by the oath of the spies, who acted as their representatives in this business, to preserve her and her family alive. And left them without the camp - They were considered as persons unclean, and consequently left without the camp; (see Lev 13:46; Num 12:14). When they had abjured heathenism, were purified, and the males had received circumcision, they were doubtless admitted into the camp, and became incorporated with Israel.”
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 6:25: And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive,.... From perishing by the sword, as the rest of the inhabitants did. Kimchi says, some interpret it of his giving her food, and an inheritance by which she might live; and Josephus (f) intimates the same: he says, he gave her fields, and had her in great honour and esteem; and it is the notion of some Jewish writers, that he took her to wife, and that this is meant by saving her alive; which sense Kimchi disapproves of, as being foreign; besides, it was not Joshua, but Salmon, a prince in Israel, that married her, Mat 1:5, an”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 1:4: And Aram begat Aminadab,.... Which, with what follows in this verse, exactly agrees with the genealogical account in Rut 4:19. . Matthew 1:5 mat 1:5 mat 1:5 mat 1:5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab,.... That Salmon begat Boaz, is affirmed in Rut 4:21 but it is not there said, nor any where else in the Old Testament, as here, that he begat him of Rahab, that is, of Rahab the harlot. This the Evangelist had from tradition, or from the Jewish records. That the Messiah was to spring from Boaz is asserted by the Jewish writers (s); and they also own that Rahab was married”

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