The Harlot's House

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

The King James translation of Joshua 2:1 gives us a couple clues that reveal the kind of place the spies Joshua sent into the Promised Land ended up in. The use of the term “lodged” creates an image of a place that is not the dwelling of an individual or a family. It’s easy to misinterpret the references to a “harlot’s house” as meaning the house in which a particular woman who happens to be a harlot lives. That apparently wasn’t the kind of place in which these two men ended up. My Life Application Study Bible refers to Rahab’s dwelling as an “inn…providing both lodging and favors to travelers.”

With a clearer picture of what type of place Rahab’s house was, we also get a clearer picture of how the king of Jericho found out about the spies. Most likely a “traveler” spotted the Israelites and ran to the king with the news. One might think at this point that the spies were as good as caught. But God’s purposes were at work, even as the king went out with the intention of ending the threat to his town that these two men posed. For God knew that Rahab’s heart was for Him and through her faith He worked his providence so that the spies could complete their mission. And Rahab was rewarded in the end.

It’s worth noting that Rahab’s house existed upon the town wall; she was physically set apart from the rest of the society in which she lived, at the very edge, “one stop short of rejection” because of her profession, according to the Life Application Study Bible. In addition, apparently there was a window of the house which looked out over the wall. Rahab, who was involved in a very ugly side of society daily, could look out upon the land that was Promised to the Israelites, the land which would eventually swallow up Jericho, something which all of Jericho feared except Rahab. Is it possible Rahab turned her back on her situation, looked out that window and trusted in the goodness of the God who could do exactly what everyone else in town feared? God knew to lead Joshua’s spies to Rahab’s house because He knew her heart was open to Him. Rahab was physically set apart from the rest of the town by the location of her house; she was spiritually set apart from them by God to be used to accomplish His purposes because of her faith.

The location and orientation of Rahab the harlot’s house was representative of her spiritual condition. How many of us feel like we are “one step short of rejection” by society, family, friends, colleagues, etc.? I think that through Rahab God has proven that regardless of our situation, if it is His will to draw us to Him, He will. It is such good news that He has drawn us out of our sinful conditions through Christ. May His purposes be accomplished through us by the Holy Spirit. May our hearts be open to Him the way the heart of Rahab was.