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Essay on Rahab the Harlot
One of the best-known stories in the Old Testament concerns the unusual manner in which the Israelites conquered the city of Jericho while they were in the process of inhabiting the land of Canaan (which God had promised to give them as an inheritance after their escape from Egypt). A woman named Rahab not only provided sanctuary in her house for two Israelite spies but, when asked by the king’s men about the matter, lied in order to protect them. Later, the lives of Rahab and her household were spared when Jericho was destroyed—a fact that has provided grist for the mill of Bible critics who suggest that this account establishes God’s approval of “situation ethics.” Their argument is as follows. Rahab lied. But the situation required that she do so for good reason—to protect the spies. Rahab was blessed, and her household was spared certain death.
Rahab was a young Canaanite prostitute and as such not a very likely candidate for heroine of the faith. She was sharp. Rahab identified the spies for what they were and had hidden them before the King of Jericho's agents arrived. She had a plausible story ready with which to deceive the King's agent. It is a clever story. Rahab didn't deny that she had entertained the men. She says that they left at dusk when it would be difficult for anyone to be sure of clearly seeing anything. The agents daren't risk stopping to search Rahab's house.
It is possible that if they did the spies would get clean away. Finally the youthful, Canaanite, prostitute gives the two Israelites excellent advice. She tells them to hide in the hills for three days before attempting the fords of the Jordan. I think the spies needed her advice. They were thoroughly incompetent......
