I hope you have enjoyed my perspective on Rahab’s life. Of course, there are many books written about Rahab and no two are completely alike. There is very little given to us in Scripture on her story. All we know from the Old Testament is that she was a prostitute who saved the spies of Israel and lived in Israel after Jericho was destroyed.
Some Jewish commentaries on Rahab suggest that she married Joshua. Since the Bible does not tell us about Joshua’s family (other than his father’s name and the fact that he does have a “house,” meaning family), it is a conclusion some might make. I don’t happen to agree because I see it from a Christian perspective.
In the New Testament, Rahab is mentioned in Hebrews 11 and James 2 for her faith. And she is listed in Matthew’s first chapter in the genealogy of Jesus, who is called the Christ (Messiah). In that genealogy, she is listed as married to Salmon, son of Nahshon, of the tribe of Judah, and mother of Boaz. That is why I don’t believe she married Joshua.
One interesting note on Salmon’s history. His father, Nahshon, is listed several times in Numbers as a leader and commander of his tribe—a prince in Judah (see 1 Chron. 2:10–11 ESV). That this legacy of leadership was passed down from Nahshon to Salmon seems highly plausible to me, which is why I chose to show him as one of the leaders under Joshua’s command. Salmon was in the chosen line of Judah to father Israel’s future kings—most famously, David and Solomon.
Rahab’s story was not an easy one to write, despite these interesting findings in Scripture. Part of the problem came in trying to understand the why. What led Rahab into prostitution? Was she truly a prostitute or just an innkeeper, as some have suggested? If her father had sold her into prostitution (another plausible possibility), would she have wanted so badly to save her family? I tried to imagine myself in her place. What resentments might she have carried against men? What trust issues?
And what kind of man would want to marry a prostitute? In the book of Hosea, God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. We have no record of Salmon receiving a similar commission. So was Salmon drawn to Rahab’s beauty? Her character? Or something more?
One thing the writing of this book has taught me is this: faith is a gift we can’t earn, yet obedience accompanies true belief. I believe Rahab may have struggled with some of the laws of the God of Israel, which were so different from all she had known. But even in her struggles, she pledged her allegiance to Israel and God rewarded her faith, giving her a place in His Book, a lasting legacy.
May God grant each of us faith to believe as Rahab did. Even amidst our doubts.
In His Grace,
Jill Eileen Smith