Rahab, a courageous woman (Joshua chapter 2)

6 min readDec 14, 2024

Entering the Promised Land, Joshua, the successor of Moses, sent two spies to the city of Jericho. While they were spotted by the soldiers of the city, they went to the home of Rahab. Here is what it is written in biblical book of Joshua chapter 2:

“Then Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out from Shittim as spies. He told them: “Go and inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and they stayed there. 2 The king of Jerʹi·cho was told: “Look! Israelite men have come in here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 At that the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came and are staying in your house, for they have come to spy out the entire land.”

4 But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said: “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And at dark when the city gate was about to be closed, the men went out. I do not know where the men went, but if you quickly chase after them, you will catch up with them.” 6 (However, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among stalks of flax laid in rows on the roof.) 7 So the men chased after them in the direction of the Jordan at the fords, and the city gate was shut once the pursuers had gone out.

8 Before the men lay down to sleep, she came up to them on the roof. 9 She said to the men: “I do know that Jehovah will give you the land and that the fear of you has fallen upon us. All the inhabitants of the land are disheartened because of you, 10 for we heard how Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction on the other side of the Jordan. 11 When we heard about it, we lost heart, and no one has any courage because of you, for Jehovah your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now, please, swear to me by Jehovah that, because I showed loyal love to you, you will also show loyal love to my father’s household; and you must give me a sign of good faith. 13 You must spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and you must save us from death.”

14 At that the men said to her: “We will give our lives for yours! If you do not tell about our mission, then we will show loyal love and faithfulness toward you when Jehovah gives us the land.” 15 After that she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on a side of the city wall. In fact, she was dwelling on the wall. 16 Then she said to them: “Go to the mountainous region and hide there for three days, so that those pursuing you may not find you. Then, after your pursuers have come back, you can go on your way.”

17 The men said to her: “We will be free from guilt respecting this oath that you made us swear 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window by which you let us down. You should gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household with you into the house. 19 Then if anyone goes out the doors of your house into the open, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be free from guilt. But if harm comes to anyone who remains with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads. 20 But if you report our mission, we will be free from guilt respecting your oath that you made us swear.” 21 She replied: “Let it be according to your words.”

With that she sent them off, and they went their way. Afterward, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 So they left and went to the mountainous region and stayed there for three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had been looking for them on every road but did not find them. 23 The two men then descended from the mountainous region and crossed the river and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They related to him all the things that had happened to them. 24 Then they said to Joshua: “Jehovah has handed over the entire land to us. In fact, all the inhabitants of the land are disheartened because of us””.

In Joshua chapter 6:22–25, it is written that Rahab and his family were saved for having been courageous by hiding the two spies: “Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land: “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who belong to her, just as you swore to her.” So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her; yes, they brought out her whole family, and they brought them safely to a place outside the camp of Israel. Then they burned the city and everything in it with fire. But the silver, the gold, and the articles of copper and iron, they gave to the treasury of Jehovah’s house. Only Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her were spared by Joshua; and she lives in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent out to spy on Jericho”.

The apostle Paul wrote about de faith of Rahab, in the letter to the Hebrews chapter 11: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way” (Hebrews 11:30,31). Later Rahab, will be the mother of Boaz, who will marry with Ruth (whose biblical book bears his name, the Book of Ruth; Matthew 1:5).

The disciple James gave the example of Rahab to illustrate the idea that the faith must have works if someone wants to be declared righteous by God: “You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. In the same manner, was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:24–26).

Why did God allow suffering and wickedness?

To read the whole article of “Why did God allow suffering and wickedness?”, please choose your preferred language, below:

English: http://www.yomelyah.com/435935499

French: http://www.yomelijah.com/435880452

Spanish: http://www.yomeliah.com/436031438

Portuguese: http://www.yomelias.com/436040683

Russian: http://www.yomelyah.com/436819936

Chinese : http://www.yomelyah.com/437854651

Hindi: http://www.yomelyah.com/438570076

Indonesian: http://www.yomelyah.com/449036039

AFRICAN LANGUAGES http://www.yomelijah.com/449360157

ASIATIC LANGUAGES http://www.yomelyah.com/437854651