Rahab

How Nave’s arranged it

• 1. Also called RACHAB
• (A woman of Jericho)
• Assists the spies of the IsraelitesJoshua 2
• Is spared when the Israelites captured JerichoJoshua 6:17–25
• An ancestor of Joseph of NazarethMatthew 1:5
• The faith of, commendedHebrews 11:31James 2:25
• 2. A symbolic name applied to EgyptPsalms 87:4Psalms 89:10Isaiah 30:7Isaiah 51:9

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Joshua 2:1

   Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 2:12 voices

   “Rahab; what is the force of her name? We have been following the historical sense; let us now reflect upon the anagogic significance of the name. Rahab thus admits of two interpretations: the name may imply either a "broad space" or, better, "pride." Consider, therefore, its impact. She who formerly walked the broad, spacious road to death, she whose pride was driving her to destruction, was later converted unto humility.

   “An harlot’s house - In the face of the parallel passages (e. g. Lev 21:7: Jer 5:7) the rendering advocated for obvious reasons, namely, “the house of a woman, an innkeeper,” cannot be maintained. Rahab must remain an example under the Law similar to that Luk 7:37 under the Gospel, of “a woman that was a sinner,” yet, because of her faith, not only pardoned, but exalted to the highest honor.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 2:1→

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2. Joshua 6:17–25

   Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 6:17–251 voice

   “Accursed - Better as in margin, (“devoted” (Lev 27:28 note). In other cases the inhabitants only of the towns were slain; their cattle and property became the booty of the victors. But Jericho, as the first Canaanite city that was captured, was devoted by Israel as first-fruits to God, as a token that Israel received all the land from Him. Every living thing was put to death (Rahab and her household excepted) as a sacrifice to God, and the indestructible goods were Jos 6:19 brought into the treasury of the sanctuary.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 6:17–25→

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3. Psalms 87:4

   “I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me— along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush— when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”

   ›Commentary on Psalms 87:42 voices

   “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me. This shall be a glorious subject to speak of concerning Zion, that her old foes are new born and have become her friends, worshipping in the temple of her God. Rahab or Egypt which oppressed Israel shall become a sister nation, and Babylon in which the tribes endured their second great captivity, shall become a fellow worshipper; then shall there be mention made in familiar talk of the old enmities forgotten and the new friendships formed.

   “I will be mindful of Rahab and Babylon among those who know me. Since he said, Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God, and yet we understand that very city as the Church gathered from the nations: therefore now it is said concerning the calling of the nations, I will be mindful of Rahab and Babylon among those who know me. Whoever is a sinner, let him be secure: the Lord was mindful of Rahab. I said secure, if he returns to the Lord: for otherwise security without tears has no remedy.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 87:4→

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4. Psalms 89:10

   You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 89:101 voice

   “Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain. Egypt was crushed like a corpse beneath the chariot wheels of the destroyer: its pomp and glory were broken like the limbs of the dead in battle. Egypt was Israel's ancient foe, and its overthrow wits a theme to which devout minds constantly reverted, as to a subject fit for their most exulting songs. We, too, have seen our Rahab broken, our sins overthrown, and we cannot but unite in the ascription of praise unto the Lord. Thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 89:10→

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5. Isaiah 30:7

   Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 30:72 voices

   “(Verse 6a) The burden of the beasts of the south. In Hebrew it is called Massa Beemoth (Al. Behemoth) of the Negeb, which the Septuagint translated as 'The Vision of the Quadrupeds in the Desert'.

   “For the Egyptians shall help in vain - That is, if they enter into the alliance, they shall not be able to defend you from the invader. The other member of the sentence would seem to imply that they would make promises of aid, and would even boast of being able to deliver them, but that they would fail in their promises. Therefore have I cried - Therefore have I the prophet cried, that is, I do call her so. Concerning this - Concerning this country; that is, Egypt.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 30:7→

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6. Isaiah 51:9

   Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 51:91 voice

   “Awake, awake - This verse commences a new subject (see the analysis of the chapter). It is the solemn and impassioned entreaty of those who were in exile that God would interpose in their behalf, as he did in behalf of his people when they were suffering in cruel bondage in Egypt. The word ‘awake’ here, which is addressed to the arm of Jehovah, is a petition that it might be roused from its apparent stupor and inactivity, and its power exerted in their behalf.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 51:9→

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7. Matthew 1:5

   Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

   ›Commentary on Matthew 1:52 voices

   “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab,.... That Salmon begat Boaz, is affirmed in Rth 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.

   “(ubi sup.) But how did Ruth who was an alien marry a man that was a Jew? and wherefore in Christ's genealogy did His Evangelist so much as mention a union, which in the eye of the law was bastard? Thus the Saviour's birth of a parentage not admitted by the law appears to us monstrous, until we attend to that declaration of the Apostle, The Law was not given for the righteous, but for the unrighteous. (1 Tim. 1:9.)

   Everything gathered on Matthew 1:5→

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8. Hebrews 11:31

   By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

   ›Commentary on Hebrews 11:311 voice

   “By faith the harlot Rahab - She resided in Jericho; Jos 2:1. When Joshua crossed the Jordan, he sent two men as spies to her house, and she saved them by concealment from the enemies that would have destroyed their lives. For this act of hospitality and kindness, they assured her of safety when the city should be destroyed, and directed her to give an indication of her place of abode to the invading Israelites, that her house might be spared; Jos 2:18-19. In the destruction of the city, she was accordingly preserved; Josh.

   Everything gathered on Hebrews 11:31→

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9. James 2:25

   In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

   ›Commentary on James 2:252 voices

   “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? Lest they excuse themselves as unable to imitate the works of so great a father Abraham, especially since no one now …

   “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot,.... See Gill on Heb 11:31 justified by works; this woman was an instance of the grace of God in calling the chief of sinners, and was a true believer; and what she did, she did in faith, Heb 11:31 and her faith was shown by her works to be true and genuine; and it was manifest that she was a justified person.

   Everything gathered on James 2:25→

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