IS RAHAB THE HARLOT IN THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST?

By
Joseph B Fagoyinbo

INTRODUCTION
The relationship of Rahab is not an issue in salvation, but it is essential to have our historical facts straightened
out. Unbelievers sometimes use historical misinterpretations for excuses. Some “prayer warriors” have
incorporated this deduction into prayers.
“And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat
David the king, and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias” (Mat 1: 5-6 KJV).
Other versions of the Holy Bible refer to Rachab as Rahab. Spelling changes might have occurred since it is
clear that Booz is the same as Boaz (Ruth 3:2) and Urias is the same as Uriah (2 Sam 11:3)
Unfortunately, three notable commentaries: i. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Copyright
© 1992 by Chariot Victor Publishing; ii. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible
Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc; and iii. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc fall in line with this
error. However, a proper study of the history between the fall of Jericho through the occupation of the land and
the period of inter-tribal wars reveal that Rahab could not have given birth to Boaz
Some have incorporated this erroneous belief in prayers. The family reference edition of the Holy Bible (KJV),
in A Concise And Practical Dictionary Of The Bible distinguishes and describes Rahab thus:
Rahab (Heb “wide, broad’)
i. In the OT, the name of the woman who sheltered Joshua’s men sent out as spies to Jericho (Jos 2:1,
6:22 references included by authors of this article)
ii. A mythological dragon conquered by Yahweh, as mentioned in several poetic passages of the OT.
The dragon Rahab was used figuratively to designate Egypt (Ps 87:4, Ps 89:10 , Is 51:9 references
included by authors)
iii. In the NT a woman in the genealogy of Jesus (Mat1:5 ref included by authors)

BIBLICAL PRACTICES
References to women in the Bible are rare. Those mentioned were significantly involved in some notable events
e.g. Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Deborah, Ruth and Bathsheba.

The oldest recorded birth in the scriptures is that of Isaac by Sarah. The following passages illustrate how old
and hopeless the situation was
i. “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall
her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a
mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and
said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is
ninety years old, bear? Gen 17:15-17, KJV);
ii. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will
establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” (Gen 17:19,
KJV); and
iii. “And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will
certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And
Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well
stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed
within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Gen 18:9-
12, KJV)
Tamar: Pharez was born to Judah by Tamar (Gen 38:29). Tamar was not mentioned in the line of Jesus
(Mat 1:3) but her story is significant to the illustration of the grace that God bestows on mankind.
Tamar had virtue; notwithstanding that she deceived her father-in-law to perform the duty her
brother-in-law should have performed. Judah denied her right of betrothal to her brother-in-law
out of fear. In Gen 42:37,38 Jacob could not trust Benjamin to Reuben, his firstborn, even with
Reuben’s two sons at stake; but he could trust him to Judah on Judah’s honour (Gen 43:8-11).
Because of his deeds Jacob offered Judah, the fourth son, the blessings due to the first (Gen 49:1-
12) thus, “…thou art him whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down
before thee…The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet…
and unto him shall the gathering of the people be…” (Gen 49:8-12). From him that was so
blessed came forth, “She had been more righteous than I” (Gen 38:26).

Rachab: Unknown, uncertain. Reference to her accomplishments may be available in other Hebrew
historical records. The Bible did not declare that Rahab, the harlot, was married but that “…she
dwelleth in Israel unto this day…” (Jos 6:26).
Ruth: Ruth was a Moabitess (Ru. 1:4). Moabites are descendants of Lot by his first daughter (Gen
19:37). Ruth (Ru 1:6 - 4:22) was an epitome of loyalty who stood by her mother-in-law in period
of need. She forsook her fetish idolatry for salvation.”…thy people shall be my people, and thy
God my God” (Ru 1:16). She stood for the expectation of God from widows to the surviving
parents of their husbands. The Bible declared her marriage to Boaz (Ru. 4:13). Elimelech’s
departure from the land of Judah to the country of Moab led to Ruth’s marriage with his son and
her consequent widowhood.
Bathsheba: There was a marriage to David declared by the Bible (2Sam. 11:27). Bathsheba must have
looked well after the affairs of the household of King David for him to prefer her son Solomon to
other males born before Solomon (1Ki.1:28-31). Payment of due respect and honour unto her
husband is reflected in her response “let my lord king David live for ever” (1Ki. 1:31). She was a
victim of David’s lust.

RAHAB THE HARLOT

Rahab came into focus during the first major assignment of Joshua (Jos 2:1) when she hid and took adequate
precautions for the safety of the spies (Jos 2:4-24) but with a demand for the safety of her father’s household
under oath (Jas 2:8-21).
To own a house by the city gate, Rahab must have been an accomplished harlot and would not b younger than
35 years of age and would most likely be about 40 years old, then.

Rahab’s father’s household was saved (Jos 6:21-25) “…and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because
she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy Jericho” (Jos 6:25b). There is no record of Rahab being
married. References to Rahab in the NT states “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace (Heb 11: 31; read also Jas 2:25)

HISTORICAL RECORD
Rahab the harlot was a matured lady in the early part of Joshua’s leadership of Israel. Joshua executed a lot of
the responsibilities pertaining to settlement in the Promised Land:
i. Lead the people to cross over the River Jordan (Jos 4:4-13)
ii. Defeat of Jericho (Jos 6:1-27)
iii. Defeat of Ai (Jos 8:1-29)
iv. Setback caused by Achan on the besiege of Ai (Jos 7:1-26)
v. Conquest of Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, eglon, Hebron, Debir, the country of the hills (Jos 10: 29-43)
vi. Defeat of Makkedah (Jos 10:28)
vii. Conquest of cities of Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, the country of the hills (Jos
10:1 – 27)
 viii. Defeat of the union of the Northern Kings Hazor, King of Shimron and King of Achshaph, Kings of
the north of the mountain and of plains of Chinneroth and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on
the west and to the Canaanites on the east and on the west and to the Amonite and the Hittite and the
Derizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh at
the waters of Meron (Jos 11:1-9)
ix. The siege and occupation of Hazor and other cities that stood against Joshua (Jos11:10-23)
x. Defeat and occupation of lands east of Jordan, about R. Arnon, Gilead, Jabok, the coast of Og King
of Bashan, Sihon King of Hashbon (Jos 12:1-6)
xi. Defeat and occupation of lands west of Jordan; Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon unto mount Halak,
the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites (Jos 12:7-8)
xii. Proportioning of the land to the various tribes (Jos13: 8-21:45)

After Joshua was a “space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet” (Acts 13:20). Rahab the
harlot could not have given birth to Boaz who begat Obed, the father of Jesse. Jesse would be in the generation
of Samuel and Obed in the generation of Elkanah, Samuel’s father and possibly Eli. Knowing that St Paul was a
Pharisee of great learning his record is consistent with the Biblical record when we realise that five number of
judges’ tenure were not accounted for. Paul would also have declared it had Rahab been married and had
children but rather he declared “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she
had received the spies with peace.” (Heb 11:31, KJV)

CONCLUSION
i. God specifically declared renewal for Sarah for specific purpose;
ii. The Bible specifically declared the marriages and remarriages of Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba but
that of Rahab was not. They were all victims of circumstances;
iii. Rahab, an idolatress and a harlot recognised the hands of God.”…I know that the LORD hath given
thee the land…”(Jos. 2:8 – 11);
iv. She had concern for her father’s household “…Now…I pray thee, swear unto me by the LORD…ye
will also shew kindness unto my father’s house” (Jos. 2: 12,13);
v. She forsook idolatry and moved into salvation. “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her
father’s household, and all that she had, and she dwelleth in Israel unto this day” (Jas 6:25);
vi. God’s abundant grace could cause Rahab to marry and have children, one of who could be in the line
of Jesus but that would have been in the generation following that of Othniel: Caleb’s younger
brother’s son (Judg 3:11); possibly would have been a contemporary of Ehud (Judg 3:12-20) in age;
vii. There is need to carefully consider the prayer points in use.

This study was privately carried out by Joseph Babatunde Fagoyinbo of St Christopher’s Anglican Church,
Kaduna, Nigeria.
 APPENDIX: PERIOD OF JUDGES

S/No RULERSHIP REF: Judges Years

END OF JOSHUA’S ADMINISTRATION
1 Chusan-rishatham of Mesopotamia Overruled Israel 2:8 8
2 Othniel: Caleb’s younger brother’s son 3:11 40
3 Ehud 3:12 - 30
i Israel in bondage under Eglon, king of Moab 3:14 18
ii Years of rest 3:30 80
4 Shamgar 3:31 NA
5 Deborah and Barak 4:1 – 5:31
i Servitude under Jabin, king of Canaan 4:3 20
ii Victory Through Deborah and Barak 4:4 – 5:31 NA
6 Gideon 6:11 – 8:25
i Israel Subdued by Midianites 6:3 7
ii Gideon’s victory 6:11 - 28
iii Gideon: lived a good old age 6:38 NA
7 Abimelek 9:1 - 57 NA
8 Tola 10:2 23
9 Jair 10:4 22
10 Jephthah 11:1 – 12:7 6
11 Ibzar of Bethlehem 12:8 – 12: 10 7
12 Elon: a Zebulonite 12:11 – 12 10
13 Abdon the son of Hillel 12:13 – 15 8
14 Samson 13:1 – 16:31
i Israel Subdued by the Philistines 13:1 40
ii Samson ruled 16:31 20
15 Inter tribal wars 17:1 – 21:25 NA
16 Eli 1Sam 4:18 40
OBED WAS IN THE GENERATION OF ELI
TOTAL : 349years + 5No Unaccounted-for periods of judges

KNOWING JESUS (John 14:6-7)