Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:31

"By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace." — Hebrews 11:31 (ASV)

Rahab the prostitute seems at first sight an unlikely example of faith. But she was highly regarded among both Jews and Christians. According to Jewish tradition, she married Joshua and became the ancestress of eight priests. Among Christians, she is mentioned favorably in Jas 2:25 and is listed in the genealogy of the Lord as the wife of Salmon (Matthew 1:5). She came from outside Israel and was one who might not be expected to believe in the Lord, but she acted decisively out of her deep convictions. She put her life at risk, for she would undoubtedly have been destroyed by her countrymen had they known what she was doing. So Rahab did exercise a faith that might have been very costly (Joshua 2:1–21). She is contrasted to the “disobedient” (GK 578), which appears to be a general term for those who do not walk in God’s ways. Rahab “welcomed” the spies; she did not act in the spirit of a combatant but looked after the Lord’s men. It is significant that a woman from an immoral background could become an example of faith.