Posted on 06/24/2024 9:26:57 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
I don’t believe she was a hooker like today’s street prostitute. But she was a harlot like many women are in today’s society. She was caught up in the pagan system.
“Many Bible commentators, eager to remove the stigma of the designation “harlot” from one included in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5), have described Rahab as a hostess or tavern keeper. But scriptural usage of the Hebrew word zanah (Leviticus 21:7-14; Deuteronomy 23:18; Judges 11:1; 1 Kings 3:16) and the authority of the apostles (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25), establish the credibility for use of the word “harlot.”
https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Rahab.html
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3700192/jewish/Rahab-the-Harlot-and-the-Spies.htm
...The spies came to the city and went to the home of a certain “Rahab the zonah.”
The commentaries differ as to the meaning of this word, which usually means “a prostitute.” Rashi, following Targum, sees this word as rooted in the Hebrew word mezonot, meaning “sustenance” or “food.” According to this approach, Rahab had an eatery that people would frequent.
The Talmud, however, understands this word in its more usual sense...
No, I don’t think she had a brothel either. To me it seems she was a woman of the pagan world, with harlot ways— much like the women of the world today.
Thank you for that information jjotto.
Not only that. There are 5 women in the Lord’s DNA: Two Canaanites, a Moabite, a Hittite, and a Jew.
All had sexual smudges regarding community standards. Tamar, incest with Judah; Tamar, a prostitute; Ruth, slept “with” a single man; Bathsheba, adultery with David (more correctly understood as being raped by David); and Mary, pregnant before marriage.
Thus, we see the shadow of the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham, “In your seed, all the nations will be blessed.” It’s already happening in the Lord’s genealogy.
Five women, four of whom are Gentiles, all of whom are tainted and the downcast of society, receive the *high honor* to be named in the Lord’s genealogy.
A beautiful picture of the Lord’s care for all people.
My bad. I guess I was wrong.
Not sure really but it would amaze me if there wasn’t shenanigans going on all over? Most the kings of Israel never stopped the sexual proclivities imported from other cultures which in turn destroyed the morality of Israel.
Yes, I have been educated and I thank you for it.
Sorry if I went overboard. I just finished a bible study and I go all nerd sometimes.:>)
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