What happened to Rahab in the Book of Joshua?
Jan 04, 2022 · Rahab’s story is found in Joshua 2–6. This passage describes the conquest of the fortified city of Jericho by the Israelites. In its day, Jericho was the most important Canaanite fortress city in the Jordan Valley. It was a stronghold directly in the path of the advancing Israelites, who had just crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 3:1-17).
What happened in Joshua 2 2 Chapter 2?
Rahab’s story is found in the book of Joshua, Chapter 4 and Chapter 6, 17-25. She provides shelter and support to Israelite spies, who are on an intelligence-gathering mission in her hometown of Jericho, a gated city in Canaan. Through her actions, she demonstrates faith in and allegiance to God.
What is the Gospel in Joshua Chapter 1?
Dec 01, 2020 · Joshua 2:1. Chapter two of Joshua actually begins the exciting story of how Israel conquered Canaan. The people were camped on the east side of Jordan. Across from them lay Jericho, the first city they would reach on the path of conquest, but before they set out, Joshua decided to send agents ahead to spy out the defenses of Jericho.
What did Rahab believe God would reward her for?
Bible Studies in Book of Joshua. Joshua Chapter 2: Rahab - From Harlot to Hero! by F Gordon. Introduction. Let's continue with our studies in the book of Joshua, following Israel's journey from Egypt through to Canaan. This study will look at chapter 2 about Rahab and it is a wonderful picture of God's grace shown to a gentile woman who had ...
What does Rahab symbolize?
Rahab (Hebrew: רַהַב, Modern: Rahav, Tiberian: Rahaḇ, "blusterer") is used in the Hebrew Bible to indicate pride or arrogance, a mystical sea monster, as an emblematic or poetic name for Egypt, and for the sea.
What does the story of Joshua teach us?
The book of Joshua shows us God's faithfulness to his covenant with the Israelites to bring them into the land he promised to Abraham. This book points to the importance of covenant obedience before, during, and after God fulfills his promises.
Who is Rahab and what did she do?
Rahab (/ˈreɪhæb/; Hebrew: רָחָב, Modern: Raẖav, Tiberian: Rāḥāḇ, "broad", "large", Arabic: رحاب, a vast space of a land) was, according to the Book of Joshua, a woman who lived in Jericho in the Promised Land and assisted the Israelites in capturing the city by hiding two men who had been sent to scout the city prior ...
What is the main theme in the book of Joshua?
The overarching theological theme of the Deuteronomistic history is faithfulness and God's mercy, and their opposites, faithlessness and God's wrath.
What was Joshua's anointing?
A practical primer for those preparing for the gospel ministry, The Joshua Anointing covers the process of the call to ministry, the person and the call to ministry and the practice of those called to ministry.
Who did Joshua marry?
RahabThe midrash attests that Rahab married Joshua following her conversion (BT Megillah 14b). Eight. kohanim who were also prophets were descended from her: Jeremiah, Hilkiah, Seraiah, Mahseiah, Baruch, Neriah, Hanamel and Shalom.
What did Deborah do in the Bible?
In answering the call, Deborah became a singular biblical figure: a female military leader. She recruited a man, the general Barak, to stand by her side, telling him God wanted the armies of Israel to attack the Canaanites who were persecuting the highland tribes.Jan 25, 2008
What did Joshua do to the king of Jericho?
So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate.
What did Rahab's faith enable her to do?
Fifth, Rahab’s faith enabled her to turn away from her culture, her people, and her religion and to the Lord. Commitment to a true faith in God may necessitate setting priorities that are contrary to those of the world, as we are exhorted to do in Romans 12:2. Finally, once we come to Christ, our pasts no longer matter.
Why was Rahab saved?
Second, Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was saved because of her faith in "God in heaven above and on the earth below" ( Hebrews 11:31 ). Likewise, Christians are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Why did the agents not dare to risk stopping to search Rahab's house?
The agents did not dare to risk stopping to search Rahab’s house because, if they did, the spies might get away. Finally, the Canaanite prostitute gives the two Israelites excellent advice. She tells them to hide in the hills for three days before attempting to cross the Jordan.
What did Rahab hear about the Israelites?
She heard the stories of their escape from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the wanderings in the wilderness, and their recent victory over the Amorites.
How does Rahab depict the church?
First, she was part of a pagan world system, a prostitute, who by her conversion was enabled to become a legitimate bride.
Where did the Israelites go to escape the city of Jericho?
Safely escaping the city, the two spies returned to Joshua and reported that the "whole land was melting with fear.". The Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. The city was completely destroyed, and every man, woman, and child in it was killed. Only Rahab and her family were spared.
What does the Bible say about Rahab?
Many Bible commentators, eager to remove the stigma of the designation “harlot” from one included in the genealogy of Christ ( Matthew 1:5 ), have described Rahab as a hostess or tavern keeper.
What does James say about Rahab?
I love the way the writer in James says that Rahab is credited with righteousness for her actions. Not her holiness, not her thoughts, but her actions based on a firm faith that God would prevail. Rahab offers a real-life example of how faith manifests itself in action and how action instills faith.
Why was Rahab saved?
We learn that she has been saved because of her faith and obedience to God (Hebrews 11:31) and she is considered righteous for her actions (giving lodging to the spies and sending the Canaanites in a different direction, James 2:28). Rahab is mentioned as the mother of Boaz in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
What did the spies need to negotiate with Rahab?
The spies need more help so they negotiate a deal with Rahab, each side exchanging protection of their people for reciprocal protection. When Joshua and his people take over Jericho, Rahab and those in her house are spared. She continues to live with the Israelites and becomes part of their community.
What does Rahab do strategically?
Rahab strategically plots her course , admitting to seeing the spies but not revealing where they were when the king’s messengers came to visit. She diverts the government officials away from her home and to the surrounding wilderness outside of the city’s gates.
How does Rahab experience transformation?
Rahab experiences transformation by relying on the Lord, this God who is new to her but whom she trusts. She acts out of allegiance to Him and his people, and is blessed not only by being spared from death but also by being brought into the family of God.
What is the one thing I adore about Rahab?
The one thing I adore about Rahab is how she fiercely protects her family. She risks her life for them. The deal that she makes with the spies is centered on taking care of her mother, father, brothers, sisters, and their families.
Where are the Israelites spying on Rahab?
Meanwhile, the Israelite spies are hidden on the roof of Rahab’s home. She makes a deal with them. She starts by acknowledging their Lord and His acts of power (such as the parting of the Red Sea) and tells them that the Canaanites are “melting in fear” because of the Israelites.
What is the story of Joshua chapter 2?
Chapter two of Joshua actually begins the exciting story of how Israel conquered Canaan. The people were camped on the east side of Jordan. Across from them lay Jericho, the first city they would reach on the path of conquest, but before they set out, Joshua decided to send agents ahead to spy out the defenses of Jericho.
How did Rahab declare her allegiance to God?
Rahab then declared her allegiance to Israel’s God by stating her conviction that He was the true God of heaven and earth, and she declared her allegiance to the nation of Israel by affirming that it had the right to occupy the land. She understood that this right derived from God’s sovereign act of giving it to them.
Why did the spies tie a red rope to Rahab's window?
The first was that she keep "this line of scarlet thread" tied in her window so that the army of Israel would readily recognize her house when they assaulted the city. Although "line," "thread," and "rope" are three distinct words, the men said explicitly that the line of thread was the very rope they were using to escape. Evidently, it was a red-colored rope that Rahab normally hung from her window whenever she wished to advertise her immoral business.
What did the messenger tell Rahab?
The messenger told Rahab to bring out the spies. How he expected her to do this is a bit foggy. In her response, Rahab must have been a good actress, for with a demure composure natural enough to convince him that she was sharing complete truth, she told him a complete fabrication.
How long did the spies stay in the hills?
According to Rahab’s instructions, the spies scurried away from town toward the hills, in a direction opposite to what the pursuers had expected, and they took refuge in the hills for three days before returning across the river to Joshua.
Did the Israelites spy on Rahab?
No sooner had they gone into Rahab’s than news went to the king of Jericho that two Israelites spies had entered the city. Either the guards at some distant outpost had spotted them and followed them into the city, or the guards at the gate had recognized them by some peculiarity of dress or speech. Somehow they had failed to conceal themselves. The king sent a message to Rahab, instructing her to bring out her guests.
Who was the real hero of the Jericho attack?
The only real hero of the incident is no hero at all but a heroine, Rahab. If the story of Israel's assault on Jericho were not history, but a national myth emerging centuries later with the intent of heroizing the men of Israel, the spies would not have been portrayed as miserable failures rescued by a harlot.
What did Joshua do first?
The first thing that Joshua does is to send in spies; similar to what Moses did, but on a completely different level. When Moses sent in spies, they went in and had a look at the land and came back in unbelief. From Joshua's perspective it was different.
What did Joshua say to the two men?
They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. (24) They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
What did Rahab say to the people of Israel?
The first thing Rahab said was 'I know that the Lord has given you the land and terror has fallen upon us.'. We don't know the history of her statement but the light of God has been shining upon this woman. She has come to realize things about the nation of Israel and their God.
What is the scarlet line in the Bible?
There is a scarlet line that runs through the Bible, that of sacrifice by blood and the covering that occurs. If she stayed in her home, Rahab and her family were safe under the protection of the scarlet cord. This is the same thing that happened in Egypt when the children of Israel had to kill the Passover lamb.
What was the first stumbling block to the nation inheriting the Promised Land?
In the same way that this king stood against Israel, there are lots of principalities and powers that oppose us on our walk. Jericho is the first stumbling block to the nation inheriting the Promised Land, just as Amalek was the first stumbling block to the nation coming out of Egypt.
What is Rahab's love?
What I love about Rahab is that though she is a harlot, a sinner, she marries into the line of Christ the Messiah. She is actually mentioned in Matthew 1:5-6. We read that Salmon; a man in Israel of the tribe of Judah in the lineage of Christ, married her.
Was Rahab the Harlot justified by works?
Likewise was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way.'.
What did Rahab convince her family to do to save their lives?
To save her family’s lives, Rahab managed to convince her whole family two things: that danger was imminent. to move into the home of a harlot in order to save their lives.
What does the Bible say about Rahab?
The story of Rahab is one about faith. The Bible tells us that we can’t please God without faith: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
What does the Bible say about Rahab's faith?
The Bible talks about Rahab’s faith. How did Rahab show faith? Let’s imagine it together. For years, the people of Jericho had existed behind their thick walls. None of their neighboring countries had been able to penetrate their walls and so they felt safe. Then they heard about the Israelites.
Why is Rahab called a prostitute?
The Bible calls her Rahab the prostitute because that was her defining trait. The Bible used the word harlot not only to refer to prostitutes but also to anyone who worshipped idols–those who prostituted themselves before pagan gods.
How did Rahab please God?
How Rahab Pleased God. The story of Rahab is about one woman’s courage and her actions that saved her entire family. But more than anything, Rahab’s story is about a woman whose ways pleased the Lord. The story of Rahab is one about faith. The Bible tells us that we can’t please God without faith:
Why did Rahab choose an unknown God?
She chose an unknown God because she believed He was greater than all that she had known. Rahab chose to have faith that God existed and that He was faithful to deliver the land He had promised to His people. Finally, Rahab believed that God would reward her for helping the two spies, her, Rahab the prostitute.
What did the people of Jericho hear about the Red Sea?
Still, the people of Jericho may have felt as if they could hide behind their walls. Then they heard about the kings of Sihon and Og who were obliterated in battle (Numbers 21:21-26, 32-35). Miraculous stories trickled into town about the way the Hebrew God had dried up the Red Sea.
What does the Book of Joshua say about the first movement of the Conquest?
The Book of Joshua marks the moment and describes the first movements of the Conquest: “ And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land , especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there ” ( Joshua 2:1 ).
Why was Rahab important to Israel?
The Importance of Rahab. Rehab became a central strategic figure of incomparable courage as she helped Israel to enter the promised land and subdue her own people. Whenever the Army of Israel entered Canaan, Rahab acted according to a prearranged plan and hung out a scarlet cord from the window of her establishment.
What was the pivotal moment in the story of the Ancient Near East?
But there came a pivotal moment in the story of the Ancient Near East when God’s judgment came to the unrepentant peoples of Canaan, fulfilling the covenant made with the Patriarchs . One thinks of Auden’s remarkable poem, “The Fall of Rome,” when the movement of herds on the European tundra marked the march of Goths and Visigoths:
Who was the harlot in the Bible?
The woman who had been called a harlot became a godly wife and mother in Israel . She and her husband became the parents of a boy named Boaz. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth ( Ruth 4:5, 10). Thus, as God worked all things together for the good, using the humble and the most unlikely, God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of King David. From the line of Rahab came the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no more touching story of God's glorious grace than the genealogical introduction to the birth of Jesus by faith through the line of Joseph in Matthew chapter 1. Among the many stories that are interwoven in that wonderful section of the Bible, the woman of the scarlet cord takes her honored place.
Did Rahab believe in God?
She not only believed in God but she also acted. For Rahab trusted in God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth.
Was Rahab a prostitute?
Of course, the Canaanites were infamous for cultic prostitution related to idolatrous worship. It may very well have been that Rahab was "a religious prostitute” in pagan practices. We only know what the Bible reveals.
What is the point of Joshua 2?
It also stresses the point of Joshua 2, that in judgment God was bringing salvation to Rahab and her family. As with Noah and the ark, Lot in Sodom, and the firstborn sons in the Passover, God was providing a way of salvation to those who would go through judgment.
What are the things about Joshua 5-6?
As we continue to work our way through the book of Joshua, here are ten things about Joshua 5–6. 1. The structure sets the action. In every passage, the structure of the narrative sets the direction for the action. So far in Joshua, we have observed multiple chiastic structures ("narrative…
What is God's mercy in the story of Rahab?
God’s mercy is on display in his actions towards Rahab, and this declares good news to all people. To those who take refuge in God (and in his Joshua), they will find salvation from God’s righteous judgment. 4. Irony and tension fill the story of Rahab and the spies.
What is the sexually charged expression "The men came to me"?
What is more, the sexually charged expression ‘the men came to me’ is spoken by Rahab (2:4), which can be idiom for sexual relations (e.g., Gen. 6:4). However, when ‘stayed’ means sexual contact, it includes the preposition ‘with,’ . . .. and the contact is usually explicit.”.
What does chapter 1 mean in the book?
Chapter 1 speaks of the preparation for entry ; chapter 3 records the entry itself. Chapter 2 stands in the middle of this continuous story, and thus it stands out. For the sensitive reader, the placement of the story does not mean Rahab and the spies are out of place.
When the gate shuts in verse 7?
The king is no longer in the picture and neither are his henchman. Instead, the rest of the chapter focuses on the words of Rahab and the spies— two of the longest speeches in the book.
Does Joshua have a macro structure?
As we have observed in a previous blog, Joshua has a discernible macro-structure. It also demonstrates literary arrangement in individual chapters, including the story of the spies and Rahab. That being said, I still haven’t settled on structure for text. So here are two options.
Why did Joshua spare Rahab the prostitute?
But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho-- and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (NIV) Hebrews 11:31. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
What did the King of Jericho do when he learned the men had been to Rahab's house?
When the king of Jericho learned the men had been to Rahab's house, he sent orders for her to turn them over. She lied to the king's soldiers concerning the whereabouts of the spies and sent them off in the opposite direction.
Why did Rahab hang a scarlet cord from her window?
She was to hang a scarlet cord from her window as a sign, so the Jews could find and protect her. In the miraculous battle of Jericho, the invincible city did fall.
What does the red cord on Rahab's window represent?
Some scholars believe the red cord Rahab hung from her window represents sacrificial blood, the blood of animals in the Old Testament and the blood of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Rahab had heard stories of how the Lord delivered the Jews from the hand of their enemy.
What were Rahab's accomplishments?
Rahab's Accomplishments. Rahab recognized the true God and took him for her own. She was an ancestor of both King David and Jesus Christ . She earned a mention in the Faith Hall of Fame ( Hebrews 11:31 ).
Who is Rahab in the Bible?
Rahab was one of those unexpected characters in the Bible. Even though she made her living as a sex worker , she was selected for high honor in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 . She heard about the God of Israel and recognized him as the true God, the One worth risking your life for. And she did risk her life for him.
Who led the Jews to the Promised Land?
The Jews finally entered the Promised Land of Canaan after wandering 40 years in the desert. Moses had died and they were now led by Joshua, a mighty warrior. Joshua secretly sent two spies to scout out the fortified city of Jericho. Rahab ran an inn built on the Jericho city wall where she hid the spies on her rooftop.
