Rahab the harlot?

[OffGrid]

only being mentioned about 3 times in the bible (Joshua, psalms, and Hebrews) and also in Christs genealogy.
Why is Rahab so prominent of a reoccurring character? Is the Catholic Church to be compared to Rahab? Are their maybe 2 Rahabs?
What do you know about this figure?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

only being mentioned about 3 times in the bible (Joshua, psalms, and Hebrews) and also in Christs genealogy.
Why is Rahab so prominent of a reoccurring character? Is the Catholic Church to be compared to Rahab? Are their maybe 2 Rahabs?
What do you know about this figure?

She's also mentioned in James. I think the general idea is that someone who has lowered themselves to a level where they allow themselves to be dehumanized by men and/or other people and has chosen to continue to live that way apart from God's will is, like the Prodigal Son, still in a position to reach out in faith as God's judgment and/or Providence moves forth. That person can still rise up out of the cesspool of sin and enter into the family of God, which for some, is Good News.

 

[Brian Mcnamee]

She is in the genealogy in Mathew too.

 

[redleghunter]

only being mentioned about 3 times in the bible (Joshua, psalms, and Hebrews) and also in Christs genealogy.
Why is Rahab so prominent of a reoccurring character? Is the Catholic Church to be compared to Rahab? Are their maybe 2 Rahabs?
What do you know about this figure?

She exhibited great faith.

 

[Sketcher]

She was honored because she feared God and protected the Israelite spies.

 

[Niels]

God's perspective isn't our own. He sees through to the core of who we are. Rahab was apparently a good woman in an unfortunate situation. I doubt he thinks of her as "Rahab the prostitute" as much as "Rahab the kind and helpful soul".

Maybe there was a cultural dynamic that prevented her from finding legitimate work, or maybe she got caught up in sex trafficking. Either way, it seems she did what she could for herself and her family to survive. The Bible is full of underdogs and outcasts whose strength of character shines through when it matters most.

She played an important role. A role that was more important than whatever her job may have had at the time. In doing so, she demonstrated kindness, compassion, and faithfulness to God.

 

[Mark51]

This is a good question and I can see your point. The name/word “Rahab”is mentioned in two settings. Other than referenced as a person in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (David‘s great-grandmother), the other references to “Rahab” where symbolic.

“Rahab“, a “sea monster,” came to symbolize Egypt and her Pharaoh who opposed Moses and Israel. Isaiah 51:9, 10 alludes to Jehovah’s delivering Israel from Egypt: “Are you not the one that dried up the sea, the waters of the vast deep? The one that made the depths of the sea a way for the repurchased ones to go across?” At Isaiah 30:7 “Rahab” is again connected with Egypt. Psalm 87:4 mentions “Rahab” where Egypt appropriately fits, as the first in a list of Israel’s enemies, along with Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. The Targums use “the Egyptians” in this verse, and at Psalm 89:10 they paraphrase “Rahab” in such a way as to link the term with Egypt’s arrogant Pharaoh whom Jehovah humiliated.

Considering what Paul tells us at Hebrews 11:30, 31 and what James says at 2:24, 25, I am confidant that they are referring to the same “Rahab” mentioned in Joshua and Matthew as a person and one in the same.

 

[OffGrid]

Consider Paul did not write Hebrews..

 

[Mark51]

The book of Hebrews does not give its writer’s name. Although its authorship has been debated; nevertheless, is widely credited to the apostle Paul.

This Bible book was accepted by early Christians as written by this apostle. The style is consistent with his other know writings. And, it was in Rome that Paul was first imprisoned. Timothy was with Paul. (Philippians 1:1; 2:19; Colossians 1:1, 2; Philemon 1) This circumstance fits the remark at Hebrews 13:23 about Timothy’s release from prison and of Paul’s desire to visit Jerusalem soon.

 

[OffGrid]

I've heard someone give authorship to "the Essenes", granted Paul, as well as the other apostles may have in fact been Essenes.