“Y’hoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Sheetim with these instructions: “Go, inspect the land and Yericho.” They left and came to the house of a prostitute named Rachav, where they spent the night.”-Joshua 2:1
The two spies sent out by Joshua were to investigate Jericho AND the surrounding territories.
The objective was to find a good entry route for the Israelite army and also figure out where Jericho’s defenses were weak.
In comparison to the 12 spies who were sent out about 38 years earlier, notice this time around the spies were sent out in secret.
Only Joshua, the two spies and maybe a couple of high ranking officers knew about this mission.
We’re told the spies arrived at Jericho and immediately went to the house of a Canaanite prostitute named Rahab.
Some scholars including Rashi and Josephus say that Rahab may not have been a prostitute.
They reason that the Hebrew word ZONAH being used here didn’t always indicate a “whore” or a “harlot”.
Instead, they say she was simply an “innkeeper” and some English Bible translations will refer to Rahab as such…
…but none of the major translations follow Rashi or Josephus’s lead on this point.
And personally, I don’t buy that interpretation at all.
Simply because the most common meaning and usage of the word ZONAH is that it meant a “whore” or “prostitute”.
However, I will say this.
The more we research ancient Middle Eastern cultures, the truth is Rahab could very well have been BOTH an innkeeper and a harlot.
The Scripture implies that the home she lived in was actually her property.
This would have been unusual for a simple prostitute.
The truth is the earliest inns were more than just a place to sleep overnight.
It was common to go to these places to also buy the company of women.
We’ve got to keep in mind that throughout the whole ancient world, prostitution was NOT considered immoral or wrong in any way.
It was considered a legitimate business like any other business.
In fact, whorehouses were so common that pretty much all of the pagan priesthoods ran whorehouses as a way to make money to maintain the upkeep of their temples.
This form of “religious prostitution” was one thing the God of Israel would put a stop to really quick.
However, “common prostitution” was not outlawed as evidenced by the fact it remained embedded in Hebrew society (in both the Tanach and the New Testament).
One of the more memorable examples were the two harlots who disputed over the death of one of their sons, each claiming to be the mother of the remaining son.
Solomon, the wisest of all wise men, a God-chosen, God-anointed, and God-favored ruler resolves the issue but brings no rebuke of the profession the women are engaged in.
In fact, prostitution was so common in Solomon’s day, he could look out the window of his palace and see prostitutes plying their trade “in the streets…on every corner” is what Proverbs 7:6-12 tell us.
Again, I’ve mentioned this before but a distinction needs to be made between “cultic prostitution” and “common prostitution”.
For example, when the Apostle Paul says…
…”Shall I take the members of Christ and join them to a harlot? Never! He who unites with a harlot is one flesh with her”…
…this was an outright condemnation of the pagan worship in Corinth where religious prostitution and sexual religious ceremonies was common place.
For me, one of the more mind-blowing examples is muscleman Samson having sex with a prostitute in the Gaza Strip and yet the Lord without one word of correction, still fills him with His Holy Spirit to carry off the city gates.
Again, the narrative implies that common prostitution was just a normal and unquestioned thing during this time.
I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit of Hashem never left Samson when he was bedding down with whores, but once he got a haircut, the Holy Spirit was gone.
Prostitution in Scripture only seems to be a sin…
…or to be more technically accurate a purity issue…
…only insofar as it is an aspect of pagan heathen god worship or adultery as defined by Torah.
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