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SURVEY OF BIBLE HISTORY
Rahab the Harlot
Joshua Lesson 2; Works well with Jensen’s Chapter 1 & 2.

Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1998
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Joshua 2:1-24
Joshua 6:21-24

Following the death of Moses, and God's instructions to the new leader, Joshua, about how to succeed, spies were sent in preparation for the conquest of Jericho. Several very interesting developments came out of this spying mission including deliverance by a harlot named Rahab:

1. It should first be noted that these spies were sent to Jericho to gain intelligence information on "how" to take Jericho not to see "if" it could be done:

a. Joshua 2:1 says, "And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly. Saving, Go view the land even Jericho." The king of Jericho knew why they came. He said in v.3, 'they be come to search out all the country." It is obvious from the conversation of Rahab to the spies that she (and all the Canaanite inhabitants) knew Israel was going to attack.

b. This is in great contrast to the Israeli attitude of Num. 13 & l4, where the debate was over "whether or not" they should take the land; not "how". (It is noteworthy that even back then, they first sent spies under the pretence of finding out "how" to take Canaan; but as time soon proved, their real concern was not "how", but "if".)

c. Although, here in Joshua's early days of leadership, God had said, "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread have I given unto you", Josh.1:3 The attitude of the Jewish boys thus seemed to be, "Jericho's first, just how's the best way to go about it?" Thus, the two spies of Josh. 2:1 were sent.

2. These spies departed from Shittim (2:1), crossed the Jordan very near what is today the Allenby Bridge; and came to Jericho, which is in the Jordan valley on the west side of the river, very near the Judean hills or wilderness. Upon leaving Jericho, they went into the Judean wilderness (or mountains, sometimes called hills), where they hid 3 days before rejoining the main Israeli camp at Shittim. (trace the route on a map)

3. To understand this, and the later stories of this era of conquest, you should know a few things about Jericho: and the people who lived there:

a. Ancient Jericho was a heavily fortified Canaanite fortress, known as "the city of Palm trees", Judges 3:13. It's elevation lies 825 ft. below sea level. Whoever controlled Jericho controlled the western Jordan valley and the passes into the western mountains. It's conquest by the Israelis was essential to their advance.

b. It was a walled city, making it almost impossible to penetrate with the military capabilities of those days, especially by Israel, who lacked the military powers of most mid-eastern powers of that day. Like an old western fort, whoever passed in or out of the gates of Jericho was carefully guarded. The two spies had been there only a very short time when 2-3 records, "And it was told the king of Jericho saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saving, bring forth the men that are come, to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country."

c. There have been 3 Jerichos very near each other, a fact which has been very confusing to some:

(1) The ancient Jericho of the Old Testament. This is the Jericho destroyed by God before Joshua. Despite the curse of Joshua, efforts were made to rebuild it for years to come.

(2) New Testament Jericho was built a little north of ancient Jericho. At this place, Jesus restored the sight of Bartimaeus and his companion, Mt., 20:29-34. It was also at New Testament Jericho that Jesus called Zacchaeus from a Sycamore tree, went to his home, and saved him, Luke 19:1-9.

(3) Modern Jericho (Eriha in Hebrew) is 4 3/4 miles west of the Jordan, and l½ miles southeast of the Elisg’s Spring, a very copious spring which waters the area. Known as "AIN ES SULTAN", it is apparently the one healed by Elisha in II Kings 2:19-22 This is near the two ancient cites.

4. Upon arrival in Ancient Jericho, the two spies went to the house of a harlot named Rahab:

a. Do not jump to immoral conclusions. In a hostile environment such as this, the place in town where two strange men would be least suspected would be a harlot's house.

The fact that the men went about the business of spying rather than immoral activity is evidenced by the fact that after they were with her only a short time, she knew their mission; and was fully committed to cooperating with them in it.

c. The suggestions of immorality are without Biblical foundation, and designed only to discredit the good work of these spies.

5. It would seem improper to consider a story like this without mentioning the effect which the blessings of God upon his people had on those who watched:

a. Joshua 2:9-11 & 24, record the fact that the enemies could see what God was doing with this people, and the fear of God was on them. Believer, there's no testimony as weighty with the world as the testimony they see in you. Jesus said, in Matt. 5:16, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Listen especially to the words of even this exceedingly sinful Rahab in V, 11, "The Lord your God, he is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. " This she said because of what she saw. The general Christian testimony is exceedingly weak today because most of the world cannot see any evidence of God's handiwork in our lives.

b. Although, note the fact that in spite of what their enemies saw, they were not about to lie down and play dead. As we shall soon see, they fought Joshua and Israel tooth and nail. In spite of the promise of God for victory, and the fear of God upon their enemies, they had to fight for every foot of ground they got. Victory was never without opposition. And, it never is; then or now. Success and victory comes only to those who meet the enemies of life head-on, fight the good fight of faith, and "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ", II Tim. 2:3.

6. As to Rahab the harlot, her's is a story of faith, forgiveness, grace, and mercy:

a. When the two spies came into Jericho, she took them into her house, Josh. 2:1. Knowing God's plan to give Canaan to Israel, she realized that if she was to survive, she must align herself with them. This she did; and when the king's inspectors came to her house for the spies, she hid them in the flax roof of her house, v. 6. She also diverted the search party away upon the pretence that they had escaped from Jericho and were possibly headed toward the Israeli camp east of Jordan, vs. 4-5. As soon as the king's men were gone, she had the spies promise to spare her and her family in their coming destruction of Jericho; then she let them down over the city wall with a heavy scarlet thread, vs. 12-15. She dwelt in a house on top of the wall; in order to know which house to spare, the spies had her bind the scarlet cord in her window, Vs. 18,21. They promised, at the destruction of the city, to spare every one inside the house with the scarlet cord in the window. They also promised Rahab, no one outside would be spared vs. 17-20.

b. The faith of Rahab in believing God's word stands out. In spite of the peer pressure, and influence of her people, and her background of false religion and gods, Rahab believed God, and his word about what he was going to do. Furthermore, she had faith to do exactly as God's men told her to do. When Joshua and Israel attacked, Rahab and her family stayed in the house just as instructed. How easy if would have been to panic, disbelieve God, and run. But Rahab demonstrated her faith in God.

Rahab is used in the New Testament both as an example of justification by works and of justification by faith. James 2:25 says, "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" Her works with the spies proved her faith in God. Before man (the spies, Joshua, and all Israel) those works justified her. When it came to her justification before God, Heb.11:31 says it was her "faith" that did it. "By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." Taking the two passages together, Rahab was justified before God because she believed him; and her works proved it before men so that she became just also in their sight.

c. The results of her faith in God were grace and mercy, and salvation from the destruction of Jericho by Israel. Josh. 6:21-25 records her miraculous deliverance. Every person except Rahab, and those in her house (they were there because they, too, believed the word of the Lord) perished.

What a foreshadow of salvation to all those who believe in Jesus, and destruction for all who don't. John 3:36 says it this way, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him."

d. Only the richness of the grace of God could take a fallen woman, a harlot, and place her in the elite lineage of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 1:5-says Solomon begat Boaz of Rahab. When Jericho was taken, Rahab was incorporated with the Jews by marriage to Solomon. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer was born of that union. Boaz had a son named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of King David, Ruth 4:21-22. And, as Matthew 1 says, from David ultimately the Savior came.

Grace, pure and simple; the grace of God. A simple Gentile Rahab transformed into the Jewish lineage of Jesus. What a foreshadow of sinful Gentiles like you and me, transformed by the matchless grace of God, into the sons of God by faith. As Paul put it in Rom. 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Sinning Jews or Gentiles are made heavenly family members by the grace of God. It matters not that a person is a Jew after the flesh. As Paul put it in Rom. 2:28-29. "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. And, how does it happen? Paul said in Gal. 3:26., "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." And he said in Eph.2:8-9, for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

As Julia Johnson and Daniel Towner put it in their beautiful hymn:

"Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater - Yes grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
There is flowing a crimson tide,
Whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe
You that are longing to see his face,
Will you this moment his grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon & cleanse within;
Grace, grace God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin:

QUESTIONS ON RAHAB THE HARLOT

1. Why were two Israeli spies sent to spy on Jericho?

2. Contrast the spy mission of these two spies from Joshua with the spy mission of
the 12 spies who went in from Kedesh-barnea under Moses.

3. Locate on the map the Israeli camp at Shittum, and Jericho.

4. What significance can be gleaned from Jericho being called "the city of Palm trees"?

5. Why was the conquest of Jericho by Israel of such prime importance?

6. How was Jericho fortified?

7. Name the three primary Jerichos of the Bible.

8. Name the events that happened in Jericho involving Jesus.

9 Connect Elisha the prophet to Jericho. 10. Give a geographical description of Jericho.

11. Upon arrival in Jericho, where did the two spies go?

12. Why would a harlot's house be a proper place for two male spies?

13. What effect did the blessings of God upon Israel have on the Canaanites?

14. Explain the significance of your answer to question #13 to modern believers.

15. Explain how Rahab's hiding of the spies proved her faith in God?

16. Tell in your own words how Rahab saved the lives of the spies.

17. Explain how Rahab's staying in her house during the Israeli attack further proved
her faith in God.

18. Explain how in the New Testament, Rahab is both an example of justification by
faith, and also justification by works.

19. What does Rahab's deliverance say today to believers, and to non-believers?

20. Explain how Rahab is a foreshadow of God's grace to Gentile sinners.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"