How Is Rahab Related To Jesus

3 Lessons from Rahab in the Lineage of Jesus

What is it that your past is whispering to you? Let me offer a few examples from my own inner monologue: guilt, remorse, judgment, and disqualification. Perhaps these voices are haunting you because of decisions you made years ago. Perhaps such options were available yesterday. Today, we’ll take a look at Rahab, the second lady in the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew 1. The first two devotions in the series may be found here and here. Rahab was a Canaanite lady who worked as a prostitute. The fact that Matthew included Rahab in Jesus’ family tree raises a lot of eyebrows in my opinion.

Rahab’s narrative begins in the book of Joshua.

Joshua dispatched two spies into Jericho, one of whom went into the house of Rahab, a prostitute whose home was within the city’s walls, to gather information.

When Jericho’s king requested that Rahab give over the spies, Rahab heroically concealed them in heaps of flax on her roof, telling the king’s troops that they’d already departed the city.

We know that the LORD has given you this country, she explained, and Jericho is completely helpless and hopeless in the face of this.
One who represents hope.
She pleaded with the spies to spare her life and the deaths of her family when Israel attacked Jericho, just as she had spared the lives of the two spies before.
Rahab was given a red rope to hang from her window by the spies as a guarantee that they would protect her.
Tension and terror were apparent in Jericho as the city prepared for an invasion.
Keeping the scarlet cord in her house, Rahab watched as the army marched around Jericho’s fortified walls seven times on the seventh day, and then on the eighth day, the army marched around the city seven times more.
With the exception of Rahab and her family, the whole city, its structures, and its population were completely annihilated.
They escorted the entire family out of the camp and provided them with a location outside of Israel.” (See also Joshua 6:23.) God, on the other hand, did not abandon Rahab outside the camp.

Listed below is Jesus the Messiah’s family tree, which includes his father, David, and grandfather, Abraham: The patriarch Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac was the father of Jacob, Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Ammindadab, Amminadab was the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz, whose mother was Ra Matthew 1:5 – 5:20 Okay, so Rahab has been rescued and taken to the land of Israel.

But why would God specifically single Rahab out in Matthew’s history as a possible ancestor of Jesus?

3 Lessons from Rahab in Lineage of Jesus

It doesn’t matter what our history says to us or what our past carries; our past is the reason that Jesus was born. As a businesswoman, Rahab is depicted in the Bible as someone who selected her career in order to make a comfortable livelihood. It’s possible, though, that she was more like the ladies that my beloved buddy ministered to in the adult entertainment industry. Possibly, Rahab comes from a position of deep brokenness or adolescent traumatic experience. Perhaps her background has been a source of grief or abuse, and she has become entrapped by feelings of disdain and humiliation.

Night after night, desperate decision after desperate choice had led her to a life she had never imagined for herself.
Condemnation?
Shame?
Are there too many errors, too much remorse, and it’s too late to make a difference?
No matter how wonderful or bad our history has been, it will never be good enough to deserve God’s salvation or shocking enough to prohibit us from receiving it.

2. God uses those with a past.

Perhaps you can nod your head in agreement that God can save anybody who has a criminal record, but here’s where you get stuck: believing that God can also utilize everyone who has a criminal record. Allow Rahab’s narrative to persuade you. Rahab’s background was not a hindrance to God’s use of her. The first fight to win the Promised Land was won by God via Rahab, who not only saved the spies, but also saved her family in the process. God, on the other hand, had something much better in store for Rahab.

I’m curious as to what whispers you’re hearing that are blocking you from allowing God to utilize you powerfully?

Don’t give the adversary any more territory that Jesus has already won for them.

3. God redefines those with a past.

When Rahab is mentioned in the Bible, she is nearly always referred to as Rahab the harlot, with the exception of Matthew’s genealogy. Rahab, the mother of Boaz, is what Matthew refers to her as. Rahab was redefined by God, who transformed her from a fallen woman to a chosen woman, from a bad girl to a bride, from a mess to a mother, and from a prostitute to the progenitor of the Messiah. God redefines not only you, but also me. What is our embarrassment? There is now no longer any condemnation for those who believe in Jesus.

In the event that we confess our transgressions, He is trustworthy and righteous in forgiving us our sins and purifying us from all unrighteousness in our lives.
All honor and glory to the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
1 Peter 1:3 (New International Version) What are our shackles?
A slave no longer has a permanent place in the family, while a son remains in the family for the rest of his life.
(See also John 8:34-36.) What is the source of our self-loathing?
According to 1 John 3:16, What is our apprehension?
Perfect love, on the other hand, chases away fear.
However, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s unique possession, and you have been called out of darkness into his amazing light so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
.and giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to participate in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light, with thanksgiving and gratitude.
You are no longer strangers and outsiders, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of his household as a result.”.
(Eph 2:19).

God makes use of those of us who have a history. God redefines the lives of those of us who have a history. READ Day 4 of the Christmas HOPE Countdown. Ruth: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told is a novel about a woman named Ruth.

Rahab – The Harlot in the Genealogy of Christ

Submitted by Rex Rouis Individuals in the Bible, particularly those who are featured in Christ’s genealogy, are something I like learning about. The majority of them were regular individuals, just like you and I were. One of the most wonderful things about the Bible is that it gives the whole truth about everyone and everything. It explains their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their victories and failures. After all, the Bible is considered to be a book of truth. Rahab, the harlot (prostitute) of Jericho, is one of my favorite characters in the Bible.

Obed’s parents were Boaz and Ruth, who were his father and mother, respectively.
Matthew 1:5 (KJV) In Matthew’s genealogy of Christ, she is one of five women mentioned: Tamar the wife of Judah, Rahab the wife of Salmon, Ruth the wife of Boaz, Bathsheba the wife of King David (after having been the wife of Uriah), and Mary the Mother of Jesus.
Rahab is the only other person who is referenced again in the New Testament, aside from Mary.
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds rather than by his faith alone.
James 2:24, 25 (NASB) The highest compliment you could ever receive from a God who is solely delighted by faith’s actions is this (Hebrews 11:6).
That type of religion is ineffective and non-functional.
James 2:17 (KJV) The New Testament of Weymouth Rahab is featured just after Moses and instead of Joshua in Hebrews Chapter Eleven, where she is listed as a faith champion.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac, is the only other woman named in the book of Genesis.

Rahab the prostitute was spared destruction along with the rest of the inhabitants in her city because she had confidence in God’s promises.

11:31 (Hebrews 11:31) In addition, she is the final individual to be named in any depth.

Hebrews 11:32 is a verse that says These spies did not come upon her home by accident, as she later discovered.

God sent them to her in order for her to assist them and, as a result, receive righteousness from God in the process.

Perhaps He foresaw that she would courageously stand up for Him and His people in the face of opposition.

Let’s have a peek at her life story: Then Joshua the son of Nun secretly dispatched two men from Shittim to spy on the region, instructing them to “see the land, especially Jericho.” As a result, they traveled to the home of a harlot by the name of Rahab, where they took up residence.

However, everyone in the vicinity was aware of their presence and what they were going to accomplish.

Unfortunately for them, this would be an inconvenient location to seek refuge.

She was well aware of what was going to take place and desired to be on the Israelite side.

His failure to break into her home and ransack her belongings is a mystery.

The lady, on the other hand, had taken the two guys and concealed them, and she admitted that the men had come to her, but that she had no idea where they had come from.

Pursue them as swiftly as you can, since you will overcome them.” The stalks of flax that she had lined out in a neat row on the roof, however, were used to conceal them when she carried them up to the top.

Joshua 2:4 – 7 is a biblical passage about a man named Joshua.

The king’s soldiers were persuaded by Rahab, and they set off in pursuit of the women.

Once you make a decision, you cannot go back.

As a result, we have heard about how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you were expelled from Egypt, as well as about what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan River, Sihon and Og, whom you completely defeated.

Now, in light of the fact that I have dealt kindly with you, please swear to me by the Lord that you will also deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother, as well as my brothers and sisters, as well as everyone who is related to them, and deliver our lives from death.” In response, the men told her, “Our lives are on the line for yours if you don’t tell anybody about this business of ours; and it will come to pass when the Lord grants us the land that we will deal with you tenderly and truthfully.” Joshua 2:8 – 14 (NASB) Her wandering clients had undoubtedly come to her with stories about the Israelites and their magnificent God, which she was sure she had heard about from them.

When she said, “.the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath,” she had heard enough to know that she needed to place her confidence in the real God, and she made a life-changing profession of faith that changed her life forever.

Then she tied a rope around their necks and lowered them through the window, because her house was on the city wall, and she was effectively living on the wall.

After that, you are free to continue your journey.” 15 and 16 in Joshua 2:15-16 She is prudent in advising them to leave the city and remain in an area west of it, in the opposite direction of their camp, so that they might take refuge in the hill country.

“We will be free from this oath to you that you have forced us to swear unless, when we arrive in the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread to the window through which you let us down and gather to yourself your father and your mother, your brothers, and the rest of your father’s household,” the men explained to the woman.

But if you inform anybody about this business of ours, then we will be released from the pledge that you have forced us to take.
As a result, she sent them away, and they were gone before she could tie the crimson rope in the window.
This cord appears to be a resemblance to the Passover blood that was spread over the doorways of Israelite homes in Egypt when the death angel passed over them during the time of the Exodus.
The pursuers had been looking for them all along the route, but they had not been able to locate them.
In response to Joshua, they declared, “Surely the Lord has placed all of the country in our hands; furthermore, all of the people of the land have melted away before us.” Joshua 2:22 – Joshua 2:24 The spies make it back to camp and tell Joshua about their ordeal in the wilderness.
“Go inside the harlot’s home and fetch the lady and all she possesses out of there, as you have vowed to her,” Joshua instructed the two men who had searched out the area.
They set fire to the city and everything in it, saving only the silver and gold, as well as pieces of bronze and iron, which they placed in the treasury of the house of the Lord as a memorial.

Joshua 6:22 – Joshua 6:25 After reading the first five books of the Bible, the last thing you would have anticipated was for God to go out of His way to save a heathen prostitute in a city that was on the verge of being destroyed as a result of sin.

Every man, woman, kid, and animal in the city of Jericho was to be slaughtered and burned to death.

Everything else was destroyed.

One unfortunate soul made the decision to keep a few items for himself.

The last thing you would have expected was for God to go out of His way to save a pagan prostitute in a city that was on the verge of being completely destroyed as a result of sin.

When Rahab was finally accepted into Israeli society, she was able to marry into the royal family of Judah, which was a significant step forward for her.

Nahshon was the tribe of Judah’s leader and commander in chief, and he was also the tribe’s military commander.

Rahab’s life is a Cinderella story for the ages, and her story is told here.

Her ability to change her ways has inspired countless generations to seek divine mercy and pardon for their deeds and actions throughout their lives.

He has a soft spot for all kinds of people, but his favorite is prostitutes.

He is the author of salvation.

Aside from that, he knows how to hold immoral people accountable for their actions on the day of judgment.

Make a point of loving everyone and refraining from passing judgment. What is going on in the hearts of individuals is something you have no way of knowing. And you have no way of knowing how far each of them has already progressed or how far they are still capable of progressing in God.

“He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Rahab, the ex-harlot

The Harlot of Jericho and the Two Spies, a novel by James Tissot, has Rahab (center) as the main character. The Book of Joshua describes Rahab as an Israelite who lived in Jericho in the Promised Land and assisted the Israelites in capturing the city by concealing two men who had been sent to scout the city prior to their attack. Rahab’s name means “broad”, “large,” and “a vast space of land” in Hebrew and Tiberian, and “broad” in Arabic. In the New Testament, she is hailed as a saint who lived by faith, as well as someone who is “considered righteous” because of her deeds, both of which are praised.

The majority of recent editions render it asRahab, completely ignoring the difference.

Rahab’s profession

The Hebrew word ishah zonah (prostitute lady), which is used to characterize Rahab in Joshua 2:1, literally translates as “a prostitute woman.” In rabbinic sources, on the other hand, she is described as a “innkeeper,” which is based on the Aramaic Targum:. It’s likely that Rahab’s given name is a contraction of the sentence name rb-N, which means “the godNhas opened/widened (the womb?).” Hebrewznâmay refer to either secular or cultic prostitution, with the latter being thought to having been an invariable feature of Canaanites’ religiosity, but new study has cast doubt on this interpretation.

Rahab had an inn, and Joseph acknowledges that, but he doesn’t say if renting out rooms was her sole source of income or not.

Indeed, as Robert Boling points out, a place like this may have been a perfect spot for spies to gather information in the past.

Rahab is described as a harlot or a prostitute in the Christian New Testament, particularly in theEpistle of James and theEpistle to the Hebrews, which follow the tradition established by the translators of theSeptuagintin using the Greek word “v” (pórn), which is usually translated as “harlot” or “prostitute” in English.

Lyons noticed that biblical interpreters have considered her as an example of hospitality, kindness, faith, patience, and repentance in her relationship with the spies.

In the Hebrew Bible

Joshua, according to the book of Joshua, while the Hebrews were encamped atShittim, in the “Arabah” or Jordanvalley oppositeJericho, preparing to cross the river, sent out two spies to evaluate the military might of Jericho as a final preparation before crossing the river. Rahab’s dwelling, which was constructed within the city wall, served as a base for the spies. Rahab was requested to bring the spies out by the troops who had been dispatched to catch them. As a substitute, she buried them inside bunches of leaves offlaxon the roof.

It was Rahab who informed the spies, “I know that the L ORDhas given you the country, and that your horror has descended upon us, and that everyone in the land has fainted because of you.” Rahab was speaking about how the L ORDhad given you the land, and how your terror had descended upon us.
Because of you, as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted, and no one had any more bravery than we did: for the L ORDyour God is God in heaven above and God in the world beneath.
After departing, the spies assured Rahab that they would spare her and her family after seizing the city, even if there was a massacre, provided she would designate her home by hanging a red string out the window.
There has been speculation that the emblem of the red cord has anything to do with the “red-light district.” When the city of Jericho was destroyed, Rahab and her whole family were preserved, as promised by the spies, and were accepted as members of the Jewish people.
Rahab is seen as “clever, proactive, crafty, and unafraid to defy and betray her lord,” according to Tikva Frymer-Kensky.
Although Rahab was the first non-Israelite individual, and in particular the first Canaanite woman, to declare allegiance to Israel, she was driven by her convictions to defend the men sent by Joshua despite her origins.

It is possible that the narrative of Rahab will give an explanation for how an indigenous Canaanite tribe became a member of Israel in spite of the Deuteronomistic commandment to slay all Canaanites and not to intermarry with them (Deuteronomy 18:15).

In rabbinic literature

Rahab, along with Sarah, Abigail, and Esther, is referred to as one of the world’s most beautiful women in the midrash, which also mentions Sarah, Abigail, and Esther. Rahab, according to the Babylonian Talmud, was so attractive that the mere mention of her name might elicit sexual desire (Megillah 15a). In the Bible, Rahab is supposed to have converted at the age of 50 and repented for three misdeeds, declaring: “Master of the Universe!” Three things have gone wrong with me. Allow me to beg your forgiveness because of three things: the rope, the window, and the wall.” (Zevahim 116a-b of the Babylonian Talmud).

In the New Testament

Rahab (Greek) of the Book of Joshua is cited in the New Testament as an example of a person of faith and deeds of good deeds. At least three times in these verses, Rahab is referred to as “the harlot.” Rachab, spelled differently in the King James translation of the Greek, is listed in the Gospel of Matthewas one of Jesus’ ancestors, according to the King James translation of the Greek (Matthew 1:5). She was married to Salmonof the Tribe of Judah and was the mother of Boaz, who was born to them.

In fiction

A good spirit (in The Third Circle of Heaven) is represented in Dante’sDivine Comedy (Paradiso 9.112 and onward)
Rahab is a character in the mythos of William Blake. As a harlot, she is compared to the whore of Babylon, and she appears with Blake’s character ofTirzah, who is seen as a symbol of materialism, false religion, and fallen sexuality in Blake’s work. Rahab’s embrace of Urizen, who is loosely representative of fallen reason, is seen as the consolidation of error necessary to bring about the Final Judgment
The claim of Hugh Broughton, a controversial historian, that Rahab was already “a harlot at ten years of age” is used by Humbert Humbert to explain or perhaps justify his attraction to young girls in Nabokov’sLolita
The claim of Hugh Broughton, a controversial historian, that

Rahab’s life has been depicted in fiction.

Tessa Afshar is the author of Afshar. Burton, Anne, Pearl in the Sand(2010), ISBN 978-0-8024-5881-0
Pearl in the Sand(2010). Book 2 in Burton’s “Women of the Bible” series, Rahab’s Story (2005, ISBN 0-451-21628-8), by Carlene Havel & Sharon Faucheux (ISBN 0-451-21628-8). Hannah MacFarlane’s novel The Scarlet Cord (2014, ISBN: 9781940099692) was published in 2014. Morris, Gilbert, The Scarlet Cord (2009, ISBN 1844273709)
The Scarlet Cord (2009, ISBN 1844273709)
Daughter of Deliverance (ISBN 0-7642-2921-4) is the sixth book in the “Lions of Judah” series by Francine Rivers. Unashamed: Rahab(2000), ISBN 978-0842335966
Book 2 in Rivers’ ” A Lineage of Grace ” series
Slaughter, Frank G. Unashamed: Rahab(2000), ISBN 978-0842335966
Slaughter, Frank G. Jill Eileen Smith’s novel The Scarlet Cord: A Novel of the Woman of Jericho was published in 1956 and has the ISBN 0671774980. Smith’s “Daughters of the Promised Land” series begins with The Crimson Cord: Rahab’s Story (2015), ISBN 978 0 8007 2034 6, the first book in the series
Wolf, Joan. This Scarlet Cord: The Love Story of Rahab (2012), ISBN 1595548777
This Scarlet Cord: The Love Story of Rahab (2012), ISBN 1595548777

Observations based on television depictions

Rahab is portrayed by Myrna Fahey in the 1967 television seriesThe Time Tunnel in episode 20 entitled “The Walls of Jericho”
Rahab is portrayed by Stephanie Leonidas in the 2013 television miniseriesThe Bible
Rahab is portrayed by Myrna Fahey in the 1967 television seriesThe Time Tunnel in episode 20 entitled “The Walls of Jericho”
Rahab is portrayed by Myrna Fahey in the 1967 television seriesThe Time Tunnel in episode 20 entitled “

Rahab: Harlot, Liar. Ancestor of Jesus?

“Salmon, the father of Boaz, whose mother’s name was Rahab,” says the Bible (Matthew 1:5). Several first-time Bible readers are astonished to realize that the New Testament opens with a genealogy (Matthew 1:1-16), which is the story of Jesus’ birth and upbringing. When Rahab is included on the list, the same readers are even more astonished than they already are. The most of us are familiar with her. Rahab the harlot is the name by which she is nearly invariably referred to in the Bible. But that’s not all there is to it.

Her most excellent conduct was to utter a falsehood in front of everyone.
A harlot, a Canaanite, and a liar all rolled into one.
You may learn more about Rahab by reading the books of Joshua 2 and 6.
That was her “line of work.” Due to the fact that locals are accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night, the guys took refuge in this location.
There isn’t anything positive we can say about her.
She was a woman with strong religious convictions.
“By faith Rahab,” the Bible states in Hebrews 11:31.
When it comes to Jesus Christ, many people are afraid of him.
When they take a look around at all the trappings, they find it all extremely daunting.
This ancestry is included in the Bible to inform us that he came from a background that was quite similar to yours and mine.
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to rescue that which has been lost,” he said emphatically.

In the name of Jesus, I extend an invitation to you to come and be forgiven. He’s already taken the first step in the process. It is up to you to decide what to do next. Keep Believing Ministries has granted permission for this publication.

Who was Rahab in the Bible?

QuestionAnswer In the book of Joshua, we are introduced to one of the most thought-provoking and amazing heroines of the Old Testament, and she will be with us forever. After everything has been said and done, Rahab, the prostitute from the Canaanite city of Jericho, is notable for her strong faith and for her position in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The life of this exceptional Gentile lady, however, can provide deeper insights into God’s design for His church as well as His dealings with individual believers in love and compassion if we look at her life in greater depth.

This text details the Israelites’ conquering of the fortified city of Jericho, which was a major military victory.
It was a fortress that stood squarely in the way of the approaching Israelites, who had just completed their crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3:1-17).
When the king of Jericho learned that two Israelite spies were hiding within his city, he immediately ordered that they be brought out to him for questioning.
She explained to them how the residents of Jericho had been terrified of the Israelites ever since the Israelites vanquished the Egyptians via the Red Sea miracle in the year 37 BC (some 40 years prior).

The spies consented to her request, but only on the condition that she meet three requirements: In order for the Israelites to know which home to spare, she must do three things: 1) identify her house from the others by hanging a scarlet rope out of the window; 2) keep her family inside the house throughout the conflict; and 3) refuse to turn on the spies afterwards.

The city had been entirely devastated, and every man, woman, and kid that lived there had been slaughtered.
Rahab eventually married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah, and they had a child.
Her immediate ancestor is Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, who is also her straight descendant.
Jericho was one of the most important centers of idol worship in the ancient world, with a specific devotion to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon.
Rahab has been characterized as a hostess or tavern owner by several Bible scholars, who are keen to remove the stigma associated with the name “harlot” from someone who is included in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5).
Rahab recognized the spies for what they were, took them into hiding, and prepared a plausible tale to tell the king’s emissaries in order to fool them.
It is her claim that they departed at dusk when it would have been impossible for anyone to be certain that they were seeing clearly anything.

Finally, the Canaanite prostitute provides the two Israelites with some wonderful advise that they will not forget.

Rahab was not in an ideal situation spiritually to come to believe in the one true God, the God of Israel, because she was living in a foreign land.

Rahab was a member of a wicked, sinful, and pagan society.

Rahab, on the other hand, has one advantage: she had learned through the various men with whom she had come into touch that the Israelites were to be dreaded.

It took her a long time to understand enough to come to the accurate and saving conclusion: “For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the ground beneath” (Joshua 2:11).

The biblical character Rahab is frequently referred to as a “type” of the church and Gentile Christians, despite the fact that she was a real historical figure in her own right.

It is possible to see the church in many different ways in Rahab.

The church is regarded the bride of Christ in the same way as Israel was the original chosen people of God, but they were temporarily pushed aside so that the Gentiles may be brought into God’s kingdom, and Israel is now considered the wife of Christ (Romans 11; Ephesians 5:25-27).

Christians, like everyone else, are saved via trust in Jesus Christ.

The third point is that, while Rahab and Christians are rescued as a result of an act of grace via faith, real faith necessitates and is evidenced by deeds (James 2).

Christians must first acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and then they must act in a way that demonstrates the authenticity of their faith.

However, the only option for her to be saved was to follow the instructions provided to her by the Israelite spies, which she did.

“There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved,” the Bible says of Jesus Christ.

And lastly, Rahab’s faith enabled her to walk aside from her own culture, people, and religious beliefs in favor of those of God.

Finally, if we accept Christ as our Savior, our pasts become irrelevant.

Rahab was no longer seen as an impure prostitute, but rather as a woman deserving of grace to be counted among those descended from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rahab’s life serves as an example to all sinners who have been rescued by grace.

Throughout her tale, we learn about God’s great grace, which can rescue even the most heinous of sinners and lead them into an abundant life through faith in Jesus. Questions about Biblical Characters Return to: Questions about Biblical Characters Who was Rahab in the Bible, and what was her story?

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Jesus: Who Do You Think You Are? 2. Rahab, Ruth and Boaz

Only five women are named by St Matthew in his genealogy of Jesus, which we will be investigating this Advent alongsidePray as we travel through the genealogy of Jesus. Two of the five are Rahab and Ruth, who are Boaz’s mother and wife, respectively. Their participation reveals some stunning insights about faith that were previously unknown. As we continue to examine the question, Jesus: Who Do You Think You Are?, David M. Neuhaus SJ wonders what we might learn from these ladies and from the context in which their tales are delivered.

This extremely theological composition weaves the new, represented by ‘Jesus.
Several priests have been tripped up by the strange Hebrew names in the text, which is recited at Mass right before the Christmas celebration.
There are numerous surprises in the Bible, but the one that constantly catches my eye is the one concealed in the words ‘Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth’ (Matthew 1:5).
As a final surprise, while Jesus will be born of Mary, Joseph’s wife, the angel who reveals Mary’s pregnancy will declare Joseph to be a father who is not truly a parent before Joseph has taken Mary into his residence.
Each of these ladies conceals a surprise that will be revealed as the generations go.
Rahab the Canaanite is a character in the Book of Joshua, appearing in chapters 2 and 6.
Her given name, ‘broad as a road,’ alluded to her vocation as a whore, which was done with a certain amount of crass humour.
In most cases, the presence of foreign males in a prostitute’s home would not raise suspicion.
She challenges the king by safeguarding the spies, and then she surprises us even more by professing her faith: ‘The Lord your God is really God in heaven above and on earth below.’ (Deuteronomy 6:4–5) (Joshua 2:11).
Rahab’s faith will save her as well as her entire family from certain death.

Because of this, the greatest surprise in Jericho is not that Joshua orders the slaughter of every living thing – ‘The city and everything in it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction’ (Joshua 6:17), but rather that Rahab and her family are saved: ‘Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent’ (Joshua 6:18).

Is it too much to think that all of the townsfolk gathered in her home and were rescued along with her as a result of her faith, and that no one perished on the day the walls of Jericho collapsed as a result of everyone finding sanctuary in the spaciousness of her home?

Half of the tale is disclosed in Chapter 7, which relates of Achan’s betrayal by the Israelite Aaron.

Rahab’s faith was surprised, and Achan’s betrayal of faith is a tragic story that runs parallel to it.

In God’s words, it is forbidden to take any loot from Jericho: ‘stay away from the things committed to destruction, so that you do not desire and take any of the devoted items, and make the camp of Israel an object of ruin, bringing difficulty upon it.’ However, all silver and gold, as well as vessels made of bronze and iron, are considered sacred to the Lord, and they must be placed in the Lord’s treasury (Joshua 6:18-19).

Achan steals from God and conceals the loot in his tent, where he lives with his family.

The Israelites are beaten back after being abandoned by God, and Joshua (Jesus), who is crying out to God, is told of the wickedness that has infiltrated the people through Achan.

It is reflected in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, which is found in the Acts of the Apostles (chapter 5), who were the first two people to die after Pentecost as a result of their betrayal in taking from what had been entrusted to the Lord.

Instead, faith may often be found in the most unexpected locations, like the home of a Canaanite whore, which is a testament to its power.

In the Old Testament, they appear to be unconnected to one another.

A clear interpretation of the Law of Moses is provided here: ‘No Ammonite or Moabite shall be allowed to the assembly of the Lord.’ (.) You shall never support their welfare or prosperity as long as you live, not even to the tenth generation of their descendants (Deuteronomy 23:3;6).

Immediately after the depiction of the gloom that descends upon Israel in the country during the days of the Judges, Ruth’s narrative is told.

The people are characterized as descending into idolatry and civil strife, and these chapters are possibly some of the most violent in the whole Bible.

This narrative begins with the expulsion of God as King of Israel by a people who were living in sin.

Despite the fact that they had been chosen to announce the Kingdom of God via lives lived in faith, their decisions had taken them in the wrong direction.

The bereaved mother-in-law, Naomi, pledges allegiance to her Moabite husband’s Israelite husband, who has died.

The moment they set out on their journey, Ruth makes a confession of faith that has become legendary as a model of faith for Jews and Christians alike: “Wherever you lead me, I will follow; wherever you rest, I will rest; your people shall be mine, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

If we consider that Bethlehem is the epicenter of sin and darkness in the closing chapters of the Book of Judges, we can see how this admission into the assembly of the Lord, despite what the Law says, can only make sense.

How will God send light into the globe if the people God has selected to be a light to the nations have chosen darkness rather than light as their path of service?

Ruth the Moabite, who comes to Bethlehem in the dark, radiating the light of her faith, is the new Abraham whom God has found.

According to Matthew, Ruth the Moabite not only obtains a new husband to replace Chilion, Naomi’s son, but she also receives a new mother-in-law, Rahab, the Canaanite whore, who is herself a shining beacon of faith, to accompany Naomi in her new marriage.

We should be less quick to judge those who appear to be outsiders as we meditate on these two surprising women of faith during this Advent season, both of whom were unexpected radiant lights in the genealogy.

Fr David M.

He is in charge of the Catholic migrant populations in Israel, as well as the Hebrew-speaking Catholics in the country.

More information may be found at: 1.

The following are the names of the people: 4.Jechoniah5.Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John 6.Mary and Joseph are a couple. For further in-depth contemplation, consider participating in Pray as you go’s Advent retreat, ‘All the Generations.’ Listen