Rahab
A woman of Jericho who sheltered Israel's spies and was spared; by tradition an ancestor of David and of Jesus.
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
JoshuaMatthewHebrewsJamesJoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
Joshua 2:1 — Hides the spies
Jericho’s king sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to spy out all the land.”
Joshua 2:3
The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to Yahweh. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
Joshua 6:17
The young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. They also brought out all of her relatives, and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
Joshua 6:23
But Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua 6:25
Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
Matthew 1:5 — In the line of Jesus
By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
Hebrews 11:31
In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
James 2:25
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 4 recorded sayings
“And the woman took the two men and put them in a secret place; then she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I had no idea where they came from; And when it was the time for shutting the doors at dark, they went out; I have no idea where the men went: but if you go after them quickly, you will overtake them.” — Joshua 2:4-5
“And said to them, It is clear to me that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has come on us; For we have had news of how the Lord made the Red Sea dry before you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, on the other side of Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you gave up to the curse. And because of this news, our hearts became like water, and there was no more spirit in any of us because of you; for the Lord your God is God in heaven on high and here on earth. So now, will you give me your oath by the Lord, that, because I have been kind…” — Joshua 2:9-13
“And she said to them, Get away into the hill-country, or the men who have gone after you will overtake you; keep yourselves safe there for three days, till the searchers have come back, and then go on your way.” — Joshua 2:16
“And she said, Let it be as you say. Then she sent them away, and they went; and she put the bright red cord in the window.” — Joshua 2:21
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
Places in their life
Photo: Fullo88 at Italian Wikipedia — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
