Rahab of Jericho

Chapter 1

The sun was high in the sky, as the two men walked quickly along the dusty road towards the gate of Jericho.

“Salmon, do you think they will recognize us?” asked the first.

“Let us pray they don’t, Tobias,” said the other. “We will have to hide soon after we enter the gate, so that too many people don’t see us. Keep an eye out for a suitable place.”

“It is good you speak their language,” said Tobias. “You do the talking, I’ll just nod my head.” They walked on.

“Look, there are some houses upon the city wall,” said Salmon, as they neared the city gate. “Let us try and find a place to stay in one of those. Something near enough to the gate to make a quick escape if necessary.”

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Chapter 2

Rahab sat at her window, her chin propped in her hand. Today she had her inn to herself. There was no work; no men to deal with and no one to serve or entertain. She sighed with relief for the respite. She wished she could have more such days; in fact, she wished she had a different life altogether; a life where she had a husband, children and a secure, happy home. But such was not her fate. She had been born in a poor family in Jericho in the land of Canaan. Being a beautiful girl, she had been inducted into prostitution at the age of sixteen in one of the ritual festivals of the fertility goddess Ashteroth.

She thought about the rituals she had to participate in for the gods and goddesses of Canaan and she felt sickened. She often wished she could run away from this kind of life, but where could she go? Everywhere in Canaan, it was the same. The Baals and Ashteroths had similar customs in all the towns and once she was inducted as a prostitute, there was no escape. Besides, her family depended on her earnings. What was the use of dreaming? This was her life, and this was how it was going to be.

Her thoughts drifted to her childhood and the stories her grandparents used to tell about the various gods and goddesses. There was one god who fascinated her; he was different. He lived amongst an alien people called the Israelites. They called him Jehovah, and claimed he was the true God. She remembered stories her grandfather told of how the God Jehovah had defeated all the ten gods of Egypt by sending the ten plagues upon the Egyptians. She was fascinated by the story of how he had led the Israelites out of Egypt and parted the Red Sea to bring them out of slavery. He had given his people laws to live by and his laws were good. He was a holy God, and demanded that the people who served him be holy. He even came down hard on his own people, who did wrong. One of his laws was that his people not commit adultery. “Oh God Jehovah!” she thought. “How I wish I had been born among your people! I would never have had to live like this.” She sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek.

Rahab continued to stare out of her window, the vast desert stretched out before her, the dry hills in the distance. Two men were walking towards the city gate and she watched them as they approached. They were not men of Jericho; they were of a different race. She continued to watch them, and as they came closer, her heart began to beat faster. Somehow she felt, though she could not explain it, that something very significant was about to happen in her life.

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Chapter 3

“I see a woman at the window of that house on the wall.” Said Tobias. “She looks like a prostitute. Let us go to her house; it may be the safest place. No questions will be asked and no one will suspect us.”

They approached the city gate. The guard stood on duty and nearby a small group of men sat on the ground gambling. “Who goes there?” Barked the guard as they approached.

“Greetings,” said Salmon in the local language. “We’re traveling to another country and we have a long way to go. We need a place to rest for the night and we shall be moving on in the morning. Where can we find lodgings here?”

The men looked up from their game and stared at the two strangers curiously. One of them pointed to a road leading into the city.

“There are inns and lodgings not far down that road, on South Street.” He said.

Tobias and Salmon nodded and left in the direction they pointed. “Let us walk on a short distance and then turn around and come back to that house on the wall where we saw the woman,” whispered Tobias. “No one must see us go in there.” They walked away.

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Chapter 4

Rahab’s reverie was interrupted by a loud knocking on the door. She got up wearily and went to open it. It was Yassib.

“What do you want?” She asked sharply.

Yassib grinned, showing his yellow teeth. “What do I want?” he leered. “Why, you know very well, what I want!” He tried to step inside.

“Wait!” said Rahab. “Have you brought the money you owe me?”

“What money?” He staggered and she smelled his winey breath and recoiled, nauseated.

“You haven’t paid me for the last two times!” She said. “I’m not going to entertain you anymore. Go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He grabbed her arm and began to push her inside.

“Let me go!” She struggled. “Get your dirty hands off me!” He laughed and continued to shove.

Neither of them heard the footsteps as Salmon and Tobias came up the stairs. Suddenly, two hands descended on the man’s shoulders. Two more hands grabbed his arms and he was lifted clean off the floor and back out the door.

Salmon stepped in front of him. “You heard her. Get out.”

Stunned, Yassib looked from one to the other. Tobias and Salmon towered over him menacingly. Their faces were expressionless, but he saw the hard steel in their eyes. He opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. Then, giving Rahab a nasty, malicious look, he retreated down the stairs.

Rahab was staring wide-eyed at the two men at her door.

“Don’t be afraid,” said Salmon. “We just need a place to stay. We will pay you well.”

Rahab came out of her shock, nodded her head and let them in. She brought water to wash their feet and then showed them the rooms in the house. They chose one that overlooked the city and put down their bundles.  

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Chapter 5

The men at the gate finished their game. Suddenly, one of them looked up. “You know, those two strangers who came in a little while ago? ” He said. “I’ve been wondering where I have heard that accent before.” His face turned pale.

“Where?” asked another.

“A few weeks ago I was on the banks of the Jordan. “I was looking for some of my sheep, which had wandered off, and I saw the camp of the Israelites on the other side of the river at Shittim. A few of the men had swum across the river and were coming towards me, so I hid in the bushes. They passed me by and they spoke with the same accent.”

“What!” cried another. “The Israelites! They are the people whose God, Jehovah goes with them and fights for them. I hear they are advancing towards Canaan and destroying every city that tries to stand against them.”

“Surely these were Israelite men come to spy out our city!” Said the first. “They plan to attack us! We must send word to the king immediately!”

“I will tell my nephew – he is a guard at the king’s palace.” Said one of the men.

“Yes, go quickly!” said the others. “Tell him they were looking for lodgings and went towards South Street.” The man turned and ran.

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Chapter 6

Rahab asked the two men if they wanted something to eat.

“We carried our midday meal with us, but we will need the evening meal.” Said Salmon. “We have strict regulations to do with eating. Just make us some unleavened bread, and give us some fruit and cheese. But you must let us light the fire, otherwise we will not be able to eat your food.”

Rahab nodded, gave them water to drink and left them. She picked up her basket, covered her head with a veil and went to the market to buy provisions for the evening meal.

As she made her way back to her house, Rahab saw people standing in groups, talking agitatedly. There was an air of fear and tension around her and she stopped by a group of women chattering excitedly.

“What is going on?” She asked.

“The king’s soldiers just came by,” said one. “Two Israelites have come into our city to spy it out. The king has announced a reward to anyone who tells where they are hiding and helps to catch them. But if anyone is caught helping them, they and all their family members will be tied to horses and torn limb from limb!”

One of the women began wailing, “Oh, they will attack our city and kill us all! They will do to us what they did to Heshbon, city of King Sihon and burn Jericho to ashes! Woe to us, we will all perish!” She turned and ran towards her home and the other women also dispersed quickly.

Rahab’s heart was in her mouth. These men in her house were Israelites, the people belonging to the living God Jehovah! Soon someone would be at her house looking for them. Had anyone seen them coming to her? With dismay she remembered Yassib. She had seen the malevolence in his eyes as he left. He would be quite happy to see her torn to pieces by the king’s horses! Should she report the men immediately? Then she would get a reward instead of torture and death.

She walked on quickly, her mind racing. If the men were caught, would that prevent the Israelite army from attacking Jericho? No. The city and its people were doomed now. No one had been able to stand against Jehovah and his people. Jericho was going to be destroyed, whether the spies were discovered or not. Nothing could save the city now that the attention of Jehovah was on it. What would the king’s reward gain her? Nothing. And death was sure, whether the king found out or not, because when the Israelites attacked, then she and her family would be destroyed along with the rest of Jericho’s inhabitants. Unless......

She remembered her mute prayer to Jehovah earlier in the day and how seeing the two men through her window had made her feel something was about to change in her life. A strange sense of excitement came over her. Had Jehovah heard her unspoken prayer and sent these men to her house? Had he been mindful of a miserable, sinful, despised woman like her?

She considered her choices. She stood between life and death and it was crucial to make the right decision. Whichever way she looked at it, the only way to save herself and her family now was to align herself with these men and trust herself to their mercy. If not, she would perish along with all the people of Jericho. But what if the king found out she had helped them? Torture and death were sure if they discovered she had helped the spies.

“Oh, God Jehovah, the true God, the living God!” She whispered. “Rescue me and I will worship you all the days of my life! Take me with you and make me a part of your people!”

She reached her house and climbed the stairs quickly, wondering what to do. Salmon stood up as she appeared. He followed her to the stove and she watched him light the fire for her. Then he withdrew to his room. These men were so different from the others; so respectful, so distant. Not like the leering, grasping kind like that horrible Yassib she regularly had to deal with. She was not used to such courteous treatment. Her desire to align herself with them grew. She kept an eye on the open window overlooking the city as she prepared the food. She had a good view, as her house on the city wall was high above most of the the others in the city. Things were quiet for now, but not for long. She picked up the tray of food and knocked on their door.

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Chapter 7

Yassib came out of the Tavern where he had been drowning his sorrows in drink and walked unsteadily down the South Street. Outside an Inn, a king’s soldier hammered on the door. The Innkeeper came out.

“Two tall strangers have come into the city this afternoon. They are Israelite spies. Have they come here?” The innkeeper shook his head.

“A reward for the one who helps us find them! And death for anyone found to be hiding them!” Cried the soldier.

“Two tall strangers.” Muttered Yassib. His humiliating encounter at Rahab’s front door still rankled in his mind. His face split into a slow grin. He approached the soldier.

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Chapter 8

Rahab put the tray down and straightened up. “Forgive me for speaking,” she said, “but I know you are Israelites and you have come here to spy out our city.”

The two men sprang instantly to their feet. Salmon whipped out a knife, while Tobias stepped behind her and blocked the door. Neither of them said a word.

Rahab was trembling. “No one knows you are here yet,” she continued. “But they will soon. You must hide. I can help you.”

“And why should we trust you?” asked Salmon. “Why would you help your enemies and go against your people and your king?”

Rahab’s heart beat so loud, she was sure they could hear it. “We all know about you Israelites and your God, Jehovah.” Said Rahab. “The very mention of you or your God is enough to strike fear into the hearts of all the people around here. I know that your mighty God Jehovah has given you this land. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and how you completely destroyed Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan.”

The two men continued to look at her with narrowed eyes. They did not move.

“I know that the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no point in opposing or resisting him.” She fell to her knees. “My life for your lives!” She cried. “If you are found here, not only will you be killed, I and all my family will be torn limb from limb. So I must hide you and in turn you must promise me you will be kind to me and my family and spare our lives when you come to attack our city. I know we are doomed to destruction. But please have mercy on me. You are my only hope of salvation!”

The two men were silent. Then Salmon put away his knife and nodded at his companion.

“Quick, eat your dinner while I keep watch from the window. Then bring all your belongings and come up to the roof!”

The men ate silently and quickly. Then they picked up their meager belongings and followed her up to the roof. A large heap of flax was spread out to dry there. “Lie down and I will cover you up with the flax. When the soldiers come, I will pretend you have already left.”

She returned to the rooms and cleared up, keeping an eye out of the window. It was dark now, and she could see a group of men with torches about a mile away, moving in their direction. As she finished washing the utensils, there was a hammering on the door.

“Rahab! Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house. They are enemies come to spy out the whole land.”

Rahab opened the door and the soldiers rushed in. “Where are they?” they demanded.

“Yes, two men did come to me, but I did not know who they were or where they had come from.” She told them. “At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. If you hurry, you may catch up with them.”

The men turned and left quickly, running towards the city gate. The guard opened the gate for them and shut it behind them. Rahab looked out of the window and saw them running in pursuit of the spies down the road leading to the fords of the Jordan River. She went back to the roof.

“It is safe now, they have gone.” She said. The two men got up and shook the flax off themselves.  “Now, please swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to my family, because I have been kind to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare my life and the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them.”

 “You saved our lives; we will save yours!” the men assured her. “But not a word about this to anyone. If you keep silent about our mission, we will spare you and all your family when the Lord gives us this land. But remember, if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from this oath.” Salmon took out a red cord and gave it to her. “Tie this red cord on the window.” He said. “When we come to attack the city, bring all your family into your house. We will not be responsible for anyone who goes out into the street - their blood will be on their own heads. But not a hand will be laid on any of those who are in the house with you, or their blood will be on our heads.”

“Agreed,” she replied. “You must go now. I have packed some food for you. Here is a rope – I will let you down through this window. Go to the hills so those who are after you will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”

They waited until the moon went behind a cloud and then climbed down one after the other through the window over the wall.

After the two men had left, Rahab knelt on the floor. “Oh Lord, God of the Israelites, save me and my family from the disaster to come!”

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Chapter 9

Tobias and Salmon kept watch from a cave in the hills for three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. Then the two men started back, crossed the Jordan and returned to their camp. They reported to Joshua and told him how Rahab had saved them and the promise they had made to her.

“We should attack Jericho. The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Joshua stood up, raised his eyes to heaven and praised the Lord.  Then he went out to announce his plan to the rest of the fighting men.

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Chapter 10

Rahab looked out of the window over the city and saw a great commotion on the street below. She went out quickly. A woman was hurrying by and she stopped her.

“What is happening?” She asked.

“The Israelites are coming!” Cried the woman, trembling. “Their God dried up the Jordan and they have crossed over. Oh, what shall we do, what shall we do?” She wrung her hands and hurried on.

Rahab ran to her parent’s house and gave them the alarming news. She also told them all about the two spies and the promise they had made to her. They quickly gathered the rest of the family, got inside her house and shut the door. Then she tied the scarlet cord in the window and let it hang down so it could be seen from the outside.

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Chapter 11

It was the seventh day since the Israelites had been circling the city. The whole week, the people of Jericho had been hiding in their homes, stricken with terror, but everyday, after circling the city once, the Israelite army would silently retreat back to their camp without attacking. Today, however, they were going round the city again and again. Rahab and her family kept watch from the window. Every now and then, she would check to see that the red cord was still hanging and visible from the outside. Once or twice, she thought she saw Salmon among the soldiers. He made a sign as he caught her eye and she nodded.

The wait seemed endless, as they came round and then passed by to circle the city again, the trumpets sounding continuously, but the army marching silently. This was the seventh time they had circled the city and as they approached, Rahab had a sense of anticipation mixed with impending doom. She saw Salmon and Tobias along with a few others separate themselves from the rest of the soldiers and stop by her window. All of a sudden, the entire army gave a collective shout so deafeningly loud, that it resounded off the city walls, and then there was a roar, as the walls of the city tumbled down. The part where Rehab’s house was, however, stood firm and the people within waited in fear and anticipation as the whole Israelite army charged into the city and began slaughtering the people.

The door burst open and Salmon and Tobias entered with some other soldiers. Salmon grabbed her hand and the rest surrounded the family and ushered them all down the stairs, over the fallen wall and out of the city. Later, when it was all over, they marched away, some of the soldiers carrying the young children and supporting the old parents, leaving the smoking city behind them.

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Chapter 12

Rahab looked happily around her and gave thanks again to Jehovah for redeeming her life and giving her happiness such as she had never imagined possible. Her husband Salmon stood beside her as they celebrated the marriage of their son Boaz with Ruth the Moabitess, an alien woman like her and a widow, who had left her people to care for her mother-in-law Naomi and called upon Naomi’s God Jehovah as her God. Boaz had become her kinsman redeemer and married her. Rahab had made many enquiries about Ruth and had heard only good things about her. She praised God for redeeming the life of Ruth as he had done hers and giving her beloved son a good and faithful woman as a wife.

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Chapter 13

“And how was she related to me?” asked Mary’s son, as his mother finished the story.

“Salmon married Rahab and they had a son, Boaz. Boaz married Ruth and they had a son called Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of King David, to whose line you belong.”

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