Who is Rahav? Why does she help the Israelite spies? And why is it is necessary to mention her occupation? Our assumption is that the information is necessary for the story, and that more than merely explaining military techniques, we can learn something deeper about the human interaction between Rahav and the spies. Haza”l’s comments on Rahav’s background and our close reading of chapter 2 in the book of Yehoshua help us to discover how she may have come to be who she was at the critical moment where we meet her in the Biblical text. Our analysis of Rahav’s personality and her interaction with the spies leads us to explore topics such as societal alienation, corruption and contrasting values, and other biblical female models of self-sacrifice.

Rahav and the Spies
Rahav
Moral corruption
Biblical personalities
loyalty
Role of Women in Tanakh
Self-Sacrifice
Sin of the Spies
Yemei Iyun Study Days
Yemei Iyun be-Tanakh - תשע"ב