The Old Testament book of Joshua tells how the city of Jericho was destroyed after the Israelites first entered the land of Canaan. All of the city's inhabitants died except for a woman named Rahab and her family. Rahab had earlier sheltered and protected two Israelite spies so her life was spared.
Rahab settled with the Israelites and eventually married Salmon, gave birth to Boaz, and was not only the great-great-grandmother of King David but also an ancestor of Jesus the Christ. She is one of the few women named in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus and in Paul's list of faithful people in Hebrews.
Where Rahab is Identified in the Bible
The word found in Joshua 2:1 and 6:22,25 which identifies Rahab as a prostitute comes from the Hebrew word zanah. According to Strong's Hebrew Lexicon, zanah means "to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot" or "to cause to commit adultery." The term is used 94 times in the Old Testament and generally refers to a prostitute or prostitution in either a physical or spiritual sense.
When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, known as the Septuagint, zanah was translated to porne which is the root word for pornography and fornication. In the New Testament Paul used porne to identify Rahab (Hebrews 11:31) and Jesus' brother James also used porne to describe Rahab's occupation in James 2:25.
Why Scholars Believe Rahab Was an Innkeeper
There are some scholars who maintain that Rahab was not a prostitute but was an innkeeper instead.
Flavius Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, identified Rahab as an innkeeper. In The Antiquities of the Jews 5.1.2, Josephus wrote that the Israelite spies were housed "in the inn kept by Rahab" and reiterates that in other passages. The Targum Jonathan, an Aramaic translation of Old Testament scriptures, also recognized Rahab as being a hostess or innkeeper.
Some modern theologians also support the theory that Rahab was an innkeeper. Thomas McDaniel, Professor Emeritus at Palmer Theological Seminary, writes in Clarifying Baffling Biblical Passages that, while zanah does indicate a prostitute in some Old Testament verses, that definition is inconsistent and ambiguous. He suggests that the word could likely describe Rahab as short, hyper-emotional, or beautiful but that the Hebrew term zanah fits best with the idea of a "bed and breakfast" which supports the theory that she ran an inn.
Why Scholars Believe Rahab was a Prostitute
John MacArthur, President of The Master's Seminary, writes in Twelve Extraordinary Women that the use of zanah to define a prostitute or prostitution is consistent throughout the Old Testament. In addition, the term porne was understood to mean harlot or prostitute, a fact which Thomas McDaniel acknowledges in his writing. The use of porne to translate zanah in the Septuagint indicates that those early writers identified Rahab as a prostitute.
Rahab's identification as a prostitute was not challenged for centuries according to MacArthur. It was only in the years prior to Jesus' birth that scholastic rabbis became embarrassed that a pagan prostitute was spared from Jericho's destruction and became a proselyte in Israel. Noting that zanah was similar to the word which meant "to feed," the rabbis reasoned that Rahab was probably just an innkeeper.
In "The Real and Ideal Josephus" Ben C. Smith offers the same analysis of Josephus' opinion that Rahab was an innkeeper. Smith notes that Josephus wrote that God had a lowly view of prostitutes and found it unpalatable for a prostitute to be honored in such a prominent way among the Jews.
Conclusion - Was Rahab a Prostitute or Innkeeper?
MacArthur suggests that those who view Rahab as an innkeeper may wish to sanitize her occupation to be something more reputable and pleasant; after all, having a prostitute serve as an ancestor of Jesus could be uncomfortable to many people. However, he believes that view is irreconcilable with the clear meaning of the Hebrew term zanah and the Greek word porne.
Instead, her life as a Gentile prostitute shows that God extends his grace to all humans regardless of the circumstances of their lives or the sins they have committed. Remove the sin of prostitution and the need for grace is also removed. As MacArthur concludes, "The disturbing fact about what [Rahab] once was simply magnifies the glory of divine grace, which is what made her the extraordinary woman she became."
Related Articles on Rahab
Rahab was saved from death during the destruction of Jericho because she saved two Israelite spies but she lied to authorities in the process. Read Rahab the Prostitute - Saved by Faith or Lies? to find out more.
Sources:
- MacArthur, John. "Rahab: A Horrible Life Redeemed." Twelve Extraordinary Women. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005).
- McDaniel, Thomas F. Clarifying Baffling Biblical Passages. (Palmer Theological Seminary, Wynnewood, Pennslyvania) 2007. (February 22, 2010).
- Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for zanah (Strong's 2181)." Blue Letter Bible 1996-2010. February 22, 2010.
- Smith, Ben C. "The Real and the Ideal in Josephus." TextExcavation.com. (September, 5, 2006). February 22, 2010.
Ronald G Falconberry - Ron Falconberry is an IT professional and freelance writer who enjoys researching and writing articles on Bible topics, history, and ...
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