Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 14:1 (Apr 1964)
Article: Rahab Of Jericho
Author: Donald J. Wiseman

TynBul 14:1 (1964) p. 8

Rahab Of Jericho

D. J. Wiseman

THE TWO HEBREW spies sent by Joshua from Shittim to gain information of the military, political and economic potential of the Jericho area1 came to that city and entered ‘the house of a harlot’ (bêt ‘iššâ zônâ) whose name was Rahab and stayed there temporarily.2 It is evident that the ruler of Jericho had been informed of their arrival and was able to send direct to her house with a demand that they be brought out. Rahab freely admitted that the men had entered but protested affirming that they had left the city by the main gate before sundown. This explanation was accepted as if her word was customarily trusted, as indeed it was by the spies themselves.3

Rahab lived in a house on the city wall, perhaps near the main gate. She was also a recognized member of her family group,4 a status not normally granted to a prostitute.5 She is depicted as a member of an industrious household6 having a knowledge of affairs beyond the city and national borders.

A parallel may be found in the inn-keeper of Old Babylonian times. The inn (bît sābî (ti)) was kept by a man or woman who was required to notify the palace of any stranger, especially one engaged in hostile activity, who might come to it.7 The laws of Eshnunna (§41) required the inn-keeper, who engaged in the conversion of commodities into local currency, to sell drink received from any foreigner,8 guest9 or temporary visitor,10 at the current

TynBul 14:1 (1964) p. 9

market rate. In her rôle as a female small broker, she was prohibited, as was the merchant-banker, from receiving for trading silver, wool, barley or oil from any slave.11 Such transactions in basic commodities were controlled by the palace since the ‘inn’ was at this time the town’s link with the economy of other tribes or peoples. Since, by its nature, the inn as a place for trading in liquor, could be the meeting-place for dissident elements, failure to report their presence was punishable by the death of the inn-keeper.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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