Rahab

Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt in Ps. 87:4; 89:10; Isa. 51:9, as “the proud one.” Rahab, (Heb. Rahab; i.e., “broad,” “large”). When the Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, in the “Arabah” or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to “spy the land.” After five days they returned, having swum across the river, which at this season, the month Abib, overflowed its banks from the melting of the snow on Lebanon. The spies reported how it had fared with them (Josh. 2:1-7). They had been exposed to danger in Jericho, and had been saved by the fidelity of Rahab the harlot, to whose house they had gone for protection. When the city of Jericho fell (6:17-25), Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. She afterwards became the wife of Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah (Ruth 4:21; 1 Chr. 2:11; Matt. 1:5). “Rahab’s being asked to bring out the spies to the soldiers (Josh. 2:3) sent for them, is in strict keeping with Eastern manners, which would not permit any man to enter a woman’s house without her permission. The fact of her covering the spies with bundles of flax which lay on her house-roof (2:6) is an ‘undesigned coincidence’ which strictly corroborates the narrative. It was the time of the barley harvest, and flax and barley are ripe at the same time in the Jordan valley, so that the bundles of flax stalks might have been expected to be drying just then” (Geikie’s Hours, etc., ii., 390).

a poetical name of Egypt, (Psalms 89:10; Isaiah 51:9) signifying “fierceness, insolence, pride.” Rahab, as a name of Egypt, occurs once only without reference to the exodus: this is in (Psalms 87:4) In (Isaiah 30:7) the name is alluded to.

(wide), a celebrated woman of Jericho who received the spies sent by Joshua to spy out the land, hid them in her house from the pursuit of her countrymen, was saved with all her family when the Israelites sacked the city, and became the wife of Salmon and the ancestress of the Messiah. (Joshua 2:1; Matthew 1:5) (B.C. 1450.) She was a “harlot”, and probably combined the trade of lodging-keeper for wayfaring men. Her reception of the spies, the artifice by which she concealed them from the king: their escape, and the saving of Rahab and her family at the capture of the city in accordance with their promise, are fold in the narrative of (Joshua 2:1) ... As regards Rahab herself, she probably repented, and we learn from (Matthew 1:5) that she became the wife of Salmon the son of Naasson, and the mother of Boaz, Jesse’s grandfather. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that “by faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace,” (Hebrews 11:31) and St. James fortifies his doctrine of justification by works by asking, “Was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:25)

large; extended (name of a woman)

RA'HAB (violence), a symbolical term for Egypt. Isa 51:9-10, 2 Sam 20:15. It may also apply to its king. Eze 29:3; Eze 32:2. In Job 26:12 the same word is translated "the proud," and there is a similar reference in Isa 30:7, translated "strength," but rendered by Gesenius "violence."

RA'HAB, a woman of Jericho who kept a public-house, and, as most suppose, was of depraved character. She had heard of the Israelites and of the favor of God toward them. Josh 2:8-11; and when the two spies sent out by Joshua came to Jericho to explore the land of promise, she concealed them from the officers who were sent in search of them, and at a convenient time let them down by a cord upon the outside of the city wall, to which her house joined. It was agreed between her and the spies that she should take a scarlet thread and fasten it in the window or aperture through which they had escaped, and when the city was destroyed her house and all that were in it should be protected. Josh 2:17-23. When the city was taken and burnt, Rahab and her family were preserved. Josh 6:17-25, and it is supposed she married into a noble family of the tribe of Judah. She is called Rachab, Matt 1:5, and her faith is commended among the worthies in Heb 11:31.