Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho when Joshua sent men to spy out the land of Canaan. Two of the spies were trapped in the city when night fell but Rahab, fearing God, hid them on her roof. When the kings soldiers came, she said the men had already left the city and sent them on a wild goose chase. She then lowered the spies out of a window in the wall of the city. The spies promised to spare her and anyone hiding in her home when the Israelites came to take the land. She hung a scarlet cord out her window so the invading army could identify her house.
Rahab converted to Judaism and lived with the Israelites after the fall of Jericho. Some believe that she married Joshua and was an ancestress of the prophet Jeremiah but others say she married a man named Salmon. Besides being listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, Rahab is included in the "great cloud of witnesses" as one who was saved by faith. James, however, arguing that "faith without deeds is dead," notes that she was "considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies" (Jas 2:25-26).
Josh 2:1-23; 6:17-25; Mt 1:5; Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25
All scripture quotes are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise indicated.
Comments© 1998 by Suzetta Tucker
To cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "Jesse Tree Advent Calendar - December 12
- Rahab." ChristStory Christian Bestiary. 1998. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/12rahah.htm
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