Rahab the What: Lesson 2

Rahab, the What!

By Patsy Norwood © 2003-2025  All Rights Reserved!

Joshua 2:1-21; 6:17-25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25

Last week we were introduced to Rahab and this week we're going to meet two important people that are going have a major impact on Rahab's life ...

Joshua 2: 1- 5

verse 1 …  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.

It would not be unusual for strange men to be at the house of a harlot and since Rahab was also an innkeeper it was common practice for ‘strangers’ to be there.    It seems that Rahab ran an inn and lived in it … this was her home and her business.

Fact #1:  Rahab’s profession was taught against in God’s Word (Leviticus 18; Leviticus 20:10), but Rahab didn’t know the Hebrew’s God or His Word.

Verse 2:  It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”

The stories of the Hebrew’s and their God (the parting of the Red Sea, etc) had reached Jericho and filled them with fear causing everyone to be on guard for anyone looking or acting like a Hebrew. 

Any number of people could have reported to the king that some of those “Hebrews” were in the city and had gone to Rahab’s inn/house.  The king likely had spies posted in and around the city as well.

Spying is a part of warfare, and the two spies played the part.  As soon as they hit town, they made a beeline to what was most likely the most popular place in town, Rahab’s house/inn, and blended in with everyone else there. 

It’s interesting to note that among the Canaanites, who had no morals, prostitution was considered honorable.  In fact, prostitutes were put in the same category as doctors, teachers, etc.  They were all simply providing a service!  Rahab was a Canaanite and had grown up in this environment.

Verse 3:  And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”

The king knows the spies are there and sends a message to Rahab that in essence said the men were spies and that she needed to hand them over to ‘the authorities’ so that they could be dealt with.

Verses 4-5:  But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.  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.  Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.

Rahab’s reply to the king’s men went something like this … “Yes, they were here, but I didn’t know where they were from and when it came time to shut the city gates they left.  I don’t know where they went but if you go after them quickly you might be able to find them.

Fact #2:  Rahab told a bold face lie which was against God’s Word (Exodus 20:16), but      Rahab didn’t know the Hebrew’s God or His Word.

Fact #3:  In telling this lie, Rahab made the choice of breaking the law (the king’s word was law) and betraying her countrymen.  If caught she could have been convicted of what we would call treason today.  Her family as well could have suffered the same fate.

This is where we're going to leave Rahab this week ... what are your thoughts on her decision to not be truthful?

Meet me back here next week and we'll see what happens next!

Until the next class …

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

Sources used for this study:

Various translations of the Holy Bible

Various commentaries

Dictionary of New Testament Background, Editors: Craig A Evans & Stanley E. Porter

Archaeological Study Bible

All the Women of the Bible by Edith Deen

Daughters of Eve by Lottie Beth Hobbs

Halley’s Bible Handbook by H. H. Halley