Rahab: The Prostitute in Jericho
Jericho was that fortified Canaanite City in the Jordan valley, renowned for its gigantic walls, weighing thousands of tons. The walls of Jericho were one of the oldest city walls discovered by archeologists. It proved a stronghold directly in the path of the advancing Israelites who had just crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 3:1-16).
The Canaanite city was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. The vilest and most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites was centered therein! Jericho was encompassed by two great walls (as seen in great cities, at that time). The city was teeming with moral and street vagabonds. There was an inner wall that houses a central compartment consisting of important edifices like the palace, temples, and important infrastructures that were inhabited by the wealthy sect, while the poor and neglected lived in the outer wall. Somewhere in the outermost parts of the outer wall overlooking the giant city gates, lived a popular prostitute called Rahab, and her extended family.
However, movements of foreigners into the outer wall of the city (through the gates) have been curtailed, even the inhabitants of the town must shut down their outlets within a time frame at dusk… as the people of Jericho feared greatly.
What could be wrong?
The dreaded Israelites were subtly advancing towards their territory. Obviously, horror was clearly written on many faces. Nevertheless, they had much faith in their gods and their giant-sized walls. Little did the townspeople of Jericho realize that there was a looming battle; one which would bring down those big walls.
Presently, we are studying the fall of the great walls of Jericho. Additionally, we are going to learn why Joshua and the spies attacked destroyed the walls of Jericho? The account of the fall of Jericho walls is found in scriptures.
Scriptures reveal several women of the bible, who exhibited great faith in the God of Israel. However, for the purpose of this study, we shall be considering four women of the bible namely; Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Rahab.
We are still considering the phenomenal woman, Rahab: A woman of pure and sure faith.
You can read the previous episode here: Rahab the harlot and the two spies
It was obvious that the Israelites were gradually advancing towards Jericho. The best trained armed military personnel in Jericho paraded the city continually, stringent defenses and security measures were already on the ground.
Military excellence was at its peak!
More still, numerous sacrifices had been made to Baal, Molech, and Ashtaroth on behalf of the City.
1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.
7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the reward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.
25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
(Joshua 6:1-25)
27 So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
Joshua curses and destroys the Jericho
Jericho was a sinful city. God’s command to Joshua as regards the destruction of the city, was like the first major assignment given him upon his appointment as the leader of Israel, upon crossing the Jordan.
More still, the fall of Jericho walls premiered the conquest of the heathen nations; The Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.
However, Jericho’s surest defense was in their walls…measuring thousands of pounds in weight, impenetrable by the most sophisticated of machinery. It would be difficult to gain entrance into the heart of the city without having to deal with those elephantine walls.
Nevertheless, one look at those big walls left so much to be desired on the part of the Israelites. However, much worry was registered on a number of faces when the people of Jericho made sport of them. Nevertheless, they camped near Jordan!
Rahab made her window a ‘favorite spot’ where she could clearly see the Israelites as they approached the city. She knew the townspeople merely feigned boldness and would soon become a sorry sight…. rubble of organic mess!
Rahab’s mindset-shift was evident to all, as she exhibited great faith and calmness. She had apparently lost interest in those wealthy merchants who patronized her petty flesh for silver coins.
Obviously, she saw them as ‘living-deads’. However, she had a hard time convincing her family to stay within the walls since Jericho would soon be finished!
The people were convinced that the Israelites lacked the necessary expertise to invade such a wall… They wondered at the absurdity behind ‘musical instruments’ as weapons of war. The King laughed them to scorn.
The Fall of the Jericho Walls
On the seventh day of what the Jericho townspeople described as ‘a frustrated march parade’ as displayed by the Israelites. They heard a deafening shout and a fall with a mighty thud!.
The fall of Jericho walls was so impactful was that it precipitated a cracking sound, within the outer walls…
The foundations of many houses shook violently,as the rapid collapse caused a ripple effect. The townspeople fled, in no particular direction!
Meanwhile, shouts of praise of melody filled the mouths of the Israelites as battle songs at the other side of Jordan. It was characteristics to hear people sing songs about the fall of Jericho walls.
Rahab’s parents and relatives were too perplexed at the recent developments, yet confused as to why she insisted they remained still in the house. Why such calmness in the face of a grave disaster?
However, she had an obvious difficulty trying to convince them to trust her judgment, and on the Living God. She adjusted the alignment of the red cord tied to her window, whilst it dangled to the rhythm of the progressively cracking wall!
The intensity of the shouts increased and this sent the walls fast crashing, with a mighty thud.
At this time, Rahab’s siblings wailed loudly. Many teeth gnashed in anguish, they had come to the end of the road!
Suddenly, the two spies appeared, Rahab’s countenance was lit.
The two spies moved the harlot and her family out of the collapsing walls, to the Israelites camp, (on the side of safety).
The townspeople were amazed, (on seeing Rahab) whilst they awaited their most terrible, but inevitable end.
How could Rahab; the prostitute, and a proud epitome of harlotry, be saved, alongside her entire family. What mystery was this?
Thanks for reading!
God bless you!
To be continued…
Lessons from the Fall of Jericho Walls
- Jericho’s surest defence was in the largeness of their ancient walls. Walls which have scared their enemies away in the past. However, their ignorance of the potency of the God of Israel was their fatal first blow!
- We serve an All-Powerful God, who does not necessarily require physical ammunition to do battle.
- Rahab was unshaken, having insured her faith in the God of Israel. Our reactions to storms is a revelation of where our hopes lie.
- The fall of the Jericho walls is an epic encounter of God coming through for His people. Trust is vital!
- However, there are certain walls that needs to be pulled down, if we must access our inheritance in Christ. The strength, tact, and provision comes from the Lord.
- She was able to save her family alive. Is your faith in God evidential to those around you
- Finally, praise is a wonderful weapon of warfare!
SIGNIFICANT TRUTHS
- Jericho was a city renowned for its walls. One look at the great city leaves one in so much awe at the much celebrated gigantic walls, which became a physical source of pride to its inhabitants.
- There are ‘walls” in our lives, existing before our birth, or that we have built around our lives, which have become strong, so strong that we fail to embrace changes. These walls, could be patterns, lifestyles and behavioral tendencies which often beclouds our mindsets, preventing adjustment to Kingdom patterns. Rahab, a woman born into the depraved system is the subject of study for the next episodes following. A woman with great prospects, but a prostitute!
- It is not enough to be indifferent about happenings in our immediate environment. Although, she had no solutions, she was not lackadaisical nor insensitive about the depravity of city, in spite of its renowned walls. We should seek for solutions, as Kingdom Ambassadors.
I truly appreciate this… May God be praised!