Hebrews 11:31 (HCSB)
By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.
Rahab was an interesting woman. She is described in the Hebrew text as a zonah, which can be translated as innkeeper, tavern keeper, or prostitute. Many have chosen to read it as “prostitute” because that is how the Greek word used for it in the Septuagint is frequently translated, and that has become the tradition. But it is just as likely, perhaps even more likely, that the spies sent into the city by Joshua tried to blend in with the other travelers visiting the city by staying at an inn, not in a brothel.
However Rahab’s occupation is characterized, she understood from the beginning that God had given the city over to the Israelites, so she hid the spies from the king’s agents (Joshua 2:2-6). She felt that this action entitled her to ask a benefit from the spies: that she and her family be spared when the city was taken, as she knew that it would be (Joshua 2:8-13).
Even though the spies had no idea what the conquest would actually look like, they agreed to spare Rahab and her family. But they had three stipulations. The first was that Rahab tie a piece of red cord which they provided to her window so that her house could be quickly identified by the Israelite army. The second was that every member of her household had to remain in her home until they were delivered by the army – anyone outside could not be identified, and therefore would not be protected. And the third was that she had to keep their presence and their plans secret (Joshua 2:17-20).
Rahab’s house/inn was built into the wall of the city with a window looking outward. She let the spies down through that window and immediately tied the cord to the window – her first act of faith. Then, as soon as the troops began to march around the city, she gathered her family into her home and kept them there – her next act of faith.
When the horns sounded and 600,000 voices shouted on the seventh day, the walls of the city collapsed, and the army rushed into the city to destroy it and its inhabitants completely. But Joshua sent the two spies to Rahab’s house to bring her and her family members out safely (Joshua 6:20-25). Because they were gentiles, and therefore unclean, they were given tents to live in outside the camp.
Later, however, Matthew records that Rahab married Salmon from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the righteous man who married Ruth the Moabitess. And her great grandson was David, who became the king of Israel (Matthew 1:5-6).
Father, what an amazing legacy for someone who, had she not received Your grace, would have been destroyed along with her whole family. At the time she begged for mercy, Rahab had no greater goal in mind than simple survival. But You had greater things in store for her than that! Lord, thank you for your amazing grace that has operated in and through your people from the very beginning. Amen.