Rahab's occupation can also be translated as "Innkeeper," so this is by no means certain.
*****Rahab’s occupation can also be translated as “Innkeeper,” so this is by no means certain.*****
Jos 2:1 -
An harlot’s house - In the face of the parallel passages (e. g. Lev_21:7 : Jer_5:7) the rendering advocated for obvious reasons, namely, “the house of a woman, an innkeeper,” cannot be maintained. Rahab must remain an example under the Law similar to that Luk_7:37 under the Gospel, of “a woman that was a sinner,” yet, because of her faith, not only pardoned, but exalted to the highest honor. Rahab was admitted among the people of God; she intermarried into a chief family of a chief tribe, and found a place among the best remembered ancestors of King David and of Christ; thus receiving the temporal blessings of the covenant in largest measure. The spies would of course betake themselves to such a house in Jericho as they could visit without exciting suspicion; and the situation of Rahab’s, upon the wall Jos_2:15, rendered it especially suitable. It appears from Jos_2:4 that Rahab hid them before the King’s messengers reached her house, and probably as soon as the spies had come to her house. It is therefore most likely that they met with Rahab outside of Jericho (compare Gen_38:14), and ascertained where in the city she dwelt, and that they might entrust themselves to her care. Rahab (i. e. “spacious,” “wide.” Compare the name “Japheth” and Gen_9:27, note) is regarded by the fathers as a type of the Christian Church, which was gathered out of converts from the whole vast circle of pagan nations.
Alfred Barnes’ Commentary
they . . . came into an harlot’s house—Many expositors, desirous of removing the stigma of this name from an ancestress of the Saviour (Mat_1:5), have called her a hostess or tavern keeper. But Scriptural usage (Lev_21:7-14; Deu_23:18; Jdg_11:1; 1Ki_3:16), the authority of the Septuagint, followed by the apostles (Heb_11:31; Jam_2:25), and the immemorial style of Eastern khans, which are never kept by women, establish the propriety of the term employed in our version. Her house was probably recommended to the spies by the convenience of its situation, without any knowledge of the character of the inmates. But a divine influence directed them in the choice of that lodging-place.
Jamison Faucett & Brown Commentary