Was Rahab an harlot or an inkeeper?

Question

The woman who hid the Israeli spies, was she an inkeeper or an harlot?

Perhaps they were not her people, ever think of that?

Answer 1

A prostitute of Jericho who became a worshiper of Jehovah. In the spring of 1473 B.C.E., two Israelite spies came into Jericho and took up lodging at Rahab’s home. (Jos 2:1) The duration of their stay there is not stated, but Jericho was not so big that it would take a long time to spy it out.

That Rahab really was a harlot, or prostitute, in the common sense of the word has been denied in some circles, especially among Jewish traditionalists, but this does not seem to have support in fact. The Hebrew word zoh·nah′ always has to do with an illicit relationship, either sexual or as a figure of spiritual unfaithfulness, and in each instance where it denotes a prostitute, it is so translated. It is not rendered “hostess,” “innkeeper,” or the like. Besides, among the Canaanites harlotry was not a business of ill repute.

The spies reported back to Joshua all that had happened. Then when Jericho’s wall fell down, Rahab’s house, “on a side of the wall,” was not destroyed. On Joshua’s orders that Rahab’s household be spared, the same two spies brought her out to safety. After a period of separation from Israel’s camp, Rahab and her family were permitted to dwell among the Israelites. This former prostitute then became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz in the royal ancestry of the Davidic kings; she is one of the four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. (Ru 4:20-22; Mt 1:5, 6) She is also an outstanding example of one who, though not an Israelite, by works proved her complete faith in Jehovah. “By faith,” Paul tells us, “Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way.” “Was not also Rahab the harlot declared righteous by works, after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way?” asks James

Answer 2

A harlot, or at least that's what they used to tell the kids in Sunday School when I was growing up. It was even said as part of her name: Rahab the Harlot.

Answer 3

In the Bible, it was specifically mentioned that Rahab was a harlot; yet,somehow, she knew about the God the Israelites worshipped, and when that whole city was annihilated and torn down for the Jews to enter, it was only Rahab and her family that survived the onslaught;

Answer 4

Bill has given a superb answer, the best answer in fact.

It is sometimes said, half-humorously, that when Joshua's spies entered Jerico, their call on Rahab was not a missionary call, but an exercise in Rahab's professional missionary position.

The moral of this story is that even a prostitute can be accounted righteous.

Answer 5

Harlot.

Answer 6

She was likely both. An innkeeper would have female "company" for travelers, and put them up for the night, and provide companionship for a fee as well.

The word translated "harlot" is the Hebrew word "qdeshah"
(Pronounced ked-ay-shaw') which is Strong's Ref. # 6948. It is the feminine of "qadesh;" Strong's Ref. # 6945 (which was a male shrine prostitute). So in this case, she is a female devotee (i.e. prostitute).

Answer 7

I'm not sure but in my opinion Rahab was a traitor, abandoning her people to be slauthered by Joshua's troops.

Answer 8

harlot

Answer 9

Both. God can use whom he will -- where in the end, everything works out for the good.