The road to faith of pagan Rahab. Theological reading of Joshua 2,1–24

Abstract

The story of Rahab is reported in the first part of Joshua as the key to theological interpretation of the whole book. In its present context, this narrative is embedded in the account of the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Rahab is presented as a harlot, who hides and rescues two spies of Joshua from the king of Jericho. She acknowledges the power of the Lord and extracts from the spies the promise that she and her family will be saved when the Israelites overwhelm her city. The story contains no indication of what motivated Rahab to risk her life on behalf of spies. His action must be connected with her confession and affirmation of Yahweh’s power and fidelity. Rahab’s confession in Josh 2,9b–11 is overflowing with Deuteronomistic language and theology, and is regarded as a late element in pre-Deuteronomistic material.