Read Joshua 2 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
2:1-24 {s} The two spies are hidden by Rahab
Joshua 2:1-24 Chiastic Structure:
Rahab was a Canaanite and a harlot, and it was likely that she ran a boarding house or inn in her house, besides her other work, for it is unlikely that the two spies arrived at her house if harlotry was all she did. Interestingly enough, she appears multiple times in the Bible.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse … Mat 1:5
Yes, this is the same Rahab. She repented of harlotry, and joined herself to the congregation of Israel, and to the worship of YHVH God. She was the great-grandmother of Jesse, who was the father of King David, making Rahab a foremother of Jesus the Messiah.
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Heb 11:31
Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith chapter” since it is the listing of all the heavy hitters of the faith in the Hebrew Testament. Rahab makes the list with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses! We Learn from the Narrative that it takes faith to forsake the old worldly life and come to God, aligning yourself with His ways. But as we learn from Rahab’s story, when someone does so, they enter into life instead of death. This is History that Prophesies of the new birth!
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? Jam 2:25
We haven’t read James yet in the Greek Testament, but he is discussing that works of righteousness always accompany faith, giving evidence that the faith is real, as opposed to merely lip service without a changed life.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Early Jericho – World History Encyclopedia (as with most secular history, their dates do not align with Biblical chronology)
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