Many say that Rahab [Raab] the Harlot, who was a Canaanite, was ancestor of our Savior Jesus Christ; however, if that is true that means that Jesus Christ is not our Savior and he did not fulfill the law. It makes a huge difference whether Jesus Christ is a pure blood descendant of Judah or part Canaanite. We will explore this issue in this document further.
Picture
source: wikimedia
Rachab, Wife of Salmon & Ancestors of Jesus Christ
The only time our bible mentions Salmon wife’s name Rachab
is in the Gospel of Matthew, where the ancestry of our Savior Jesus Christ is
stated. Notice the King James Version, the Greek transliteration and the Latin
Vulgate all three agree that Salmon’s wife name is spelt as ‘Rachab’.
“And Aram begat Aminadab; and
Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Boaz
of Rachab [G4470 Rachab]; and Boaz begat Obed of
Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse” KJV Mat 1:4-5
“Aram autem genuit Aminadab
Aminadab autem genuit Naasson Naasson autem genuit Salmon Salmon autem genuit
Booz de Rachab Booz autem genuit Obed
ex Ruth Obed autem genuit Iesse Iesse autem genuit David regem” LV Mat 1:4-5
As you will see below, Salmon’s wife name is spelt different
than that of the Harlot of Jericho.
Raab the Harlot of Jericho
Raab was living in
Jericho and she is typically referred to as Raab the Harlot. We will look at
the spelling of her name in three different versions in the Old Testament. While
reading these verses notice that only two men of Israel were sent to spy on the
land and these two men were the only ones mentioned in scripture that met Raab
of Jericho. No where does scripture
state that Salmon was one of the men that went to Jericho and met Raab.
The Greek
Septuagint spells her name Raab and theblueletterbible.org site reflects the
same Greek transliteration.
“And Joshua the son of Naue sent out of Sattin two young men to
spy the land, saying, Go up and view the land and Jericho: and the two young
men went and entered into Jericho; and they entered into the house of a harlot,
whose name was Raab [G4460 Ῥαάβ],
and lodged there.” LXX Jos 2:1
“And Joshua saved alive Raab [G4460 Ῥαάβ]
the harlot, and all the house of her father, and caused her to dwell in
Israel until this day, because she hid the spies which Joshua sent to spy out
Jericho.” LXX Jos 6:25
The Latin Vulgate
agrees with the Greek Septuagint that her name is spelt Raab.
“misit ergo Iosue
filius Nun de Setthim duos viros exploratores abscondito et dixit eis ite et
considerate terram urbemque Hiericho qui pergentes ingressi sunt domum mulieris
meretricis nomine Raab et quieverunt
apud eam” LV Jos 2:1
“Raab
vero meretricem et domum patris eius atque omnia quae habebat fecit
Iosue vivere et habitaverunt in medio Israhel usque in praesentem diem eo quod
absconderit nuntios quos miserat ut explorarent Hiericho in tempore illo
inprecatus est Iosue dicens“ LV Jos 6:25
The King
James Version uses the modern Hebrew transliteration of Rahab:
“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim
two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went,
and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab[H7343 rāḥāḇ],
and lodged there.”
KJV Jos 2:1
“And Joshua saved Rahab
[H7343 rāḥāḇ]
the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she
dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which
Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” KJV Jos 6:25
The Letter to the Hebrews mentions Raab the Harlot of
Jericho. Notice how the Latin and Greek
transliteration both use the spelling of Raab and the King James Version uses
the modern Hebrew transliteration of Rahab even though there is no modern
Hebrew version of the New Testament.
“fide Raab meretrix non periit cum incredulis excipiens
exploratores cum pace” LV Heb 11:31
“By faith the harlot Rahab [G4460 Raab]
perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with
peace.” KJV Heb
11:31
The English Hexapla of 1841
According to an English Hexapla of 1841, it shows that the Greek
text did reflect Boaz’s mother’s name in Matthew 1:5 as Rachab. This Hexapla reflects the name of the Harlot
was Raab.
This Hexapla reflects the first six New Testament translations into English with the different names spelling in each version for Salmon’s wife verses the Harlot, except the Wiclif version.
Above from The English hexapla: exhibiting the six
important English translations of the New Testament, Matthew 1:5
So, it would appear to me, based on the spelling alone, that
they did not think that Salmon’s wife and the Harlot of Jericho were the same
person.
Genealogy & Timing
Reflected below is
a genealogy diagram for the tribe of Judah and Levi that shows the generations
before Boaz. The generations and timing show that Boaz most likely was born
before the time of the Book of Joshua when two Israelite men met Raab.
“The
Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting,
on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come
out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of
the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of
names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in
Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company
by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man
being the head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the
men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Simeon,
Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon the son of
Amminadab.” ESV Num 1:1-7
“And they that encamp first toward the east
shall be the order of the camp of Juda with their host, and the prince [G758 archōn; a ruler, commander, chief,
captain] of the sons of Juda, Naasson [Nahshon]
the son of Aminadab.” LXX Num 2:3
“And he that offered his gift on the first
day, was Naasson [Nahshon] the son of Aminadab, prince [G758 archōn; a ruler, commander, chief,
captain]
of the tribe of Juda.” LXX Num 7:12
Therefore, we know that Nahshon was old enough to be the
leader of a very large group of people from the tribe Judah. Nahshon was probably
already married and his son Salmon was more than likely born in Egypt. Just as
Nahshon’s sister was already married to Aaron while they were still living in
Egypt where they had four sons shown below.
Scripture names Aaron and Elisabeth’s sons prior to leaving Egypt.
“Aaron
took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon,
and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.” ESV Exo 6:23
“And Aaron took to himself to wife
Elisabeth daughter of Aminadab sister of Naasson, and she bore to
him both Nadab and Abiud, and Eleazar and Ithamar.” LXX
Exo 6:23
Aaron and Elisheba
married before the law was given that they must marry within their own tribe
and they were all considered the tribe of Israel. It was when the land division was going to
take place that they were told to marry within their own tribes only. More on
this latter.
According to
Exodus, Phinehas was already born prior to the Israelites leaving Egypt and by
the time the book of Numbers was written he was old enough to know the law and
kill someone with a javelin (spear). Phinehas was the same generation as Salmon’s
father Nahshon (Naasson) who was Chief of the tribe of Judah.
“And Eleazar the son of Aaron took to
himself for a wife one of the daughters of Phutiel, and she bore to him
Phinees. These are the heads of the family of the Levites, according to their
generations.” ESV Exo 6:25
“Eleazar,
Aaron's son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him
Phinehas.” LXX Exo 6:25
“And
Phinees the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, and rose out
of the midst of the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand, and went in
after the Israelitish man into the chamber, and pierced them both through, both
the Israelitish man, and the woman through her womb; and the plague was stayed
from the children of Israel.” LXX Num 25:7-8
So, Salmon and
Rachab probably bore Boaz during the time of the 40 years in the wilderness
before those two Israelite men met Raab the Harlot in the book of Joshua (Jos
2:1). Salmon and Rachab raised Boaz’s generation while our Father in Heaven was
teaching the Israelites the laws and ensuring they followed them.
“And
the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness
forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of
the Lord was gone. And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a
brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord
against Israel!” ESV Num 32:13
Raab the Harlot was a Canaanite
Raab [Rahab] the harlot was
said to be a Canaanite and the law states not to marry a Canaanite. Canaan’s line was cursed in Genesis chapter
9. The verse below states that the Canaanites live by the Jordan and Raab was
living near the Jordan in Jericho.
“The Amalekites dwell in the land
of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill
country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” ESV Num 13:29
“And the children of Israel wept
for Moses in Araboth of Moab at Jordan near Jericho thirty days; and the
days of the sad mourning for Moses were completed.” LXX Deu_34:8
“And Joshua the son of Naue sent out of
Sattin two young men to spy the land, saying, Go up and view the land
and Jericho: and the two young men went and entered into Jericho; and
they entered into the house of a harlot, whose name was Raab and lodged there.” LXX Jos 2:1
Josephus, the 1st
century historian, reflects history of what happened in his fifth book and does
mention the Canaanites in relation to Raab [Rahab] the Harlot who he refers to
as an Inn Keeper.
“Now
when he had pitched his camp, the spies came to him immediately, well
acquainted with the whole state of the Canaanites; for at first, before
they were at all discovered, they took a full view of the city of Jericho
without disturbance, and saw which parts of the walls were strong, and which
parts were otherwise, and indeed insecure, and which of the gates were so weak
as might afford an entrance to their army. Now those that met them took no
notice of them when they saw them, and supposed they were only strangers, who
used to be very curious in observing everything in the city, and did not take
them for enemies; but at even they retired to a certain inn that was near to
the wall, whither they went to eat their supper; which supper when they had
done, and were considering how to get away, information was given to the king
as he was at supper, that there were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp
to view the city as spies, and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab,
and were very solicitous that they might not be discovered.” Josephus Antiquities, Book 5, Chapter 2.
Some people like to claim that Raab the Harlot or Inn Keeper
was an Israelite; however, if she was an Israelite why did spies need to be
sent there? The Israelites at Jericho
could have reported back to the Israelites at the Wilderness Camp. The bible records nothing about any
Israelites living in Jericho until after the Fall of Jericho.
The Israelites had been in bondage in Egypt for many years
and during the book of Exodus, our Father in Heaven took them from Egypt and had
them in the Wilderness for 40 years.
During these 40 years they never crossed the Jordon, into the Promised
Land. All the of the Israelite tribes
remained in camp, wondering the east side of the Jordan, until the two spies
were sent across the Jordon to Jericho to spy on the people there (Joshua
chapter 2). Then in Joshua chapter 3,
the tribes of Israel crossed the Jordan for the first time with the Ark of the Covenant. Then
in Joshua chapter 6, is when the fall of Jericho occurred and the city
officially became part of Israel’s Promised Land. Therefore, it is not possible that any
Israelite could have set up an Inn in Jericho where Raab working before the Fall
of Jericho. Salmon and Rachab were
married long before this time, just as it is documented that Salmon’s sister
Elisabeth was married to Aaron (see above) back in Egypt.
Laws of Moses Marriage Laws
The law states that the Israelites were not to marry a
Canaanite before the time Jacob Israel married and it was restated when the
Israelites spent the 40 years in the wilderness. Raab the Harlot/Inn Keeper was
living amongst the Canaanites, according to scripture and so she was a Canaanite.
“that I may make you swear by the
LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife
for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell,” Gen_24:3
“Then Isaac called Jacob and
blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite
women.” Gen_28:1
“And when the Lord thy God shall
bring thee into the land, into which thou goest to possess it, and shall remove
great nations from before thee, the Chettite, and Gergesite, and Amorite, and Chananite,
and Pherezite, and Evite, and Jebusite, seven nations more numerous and
stronger than you, and the Lord thy God shall deliver them into thy hands,
then thou shalt smite them: thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt not
make a covenant with them, neither shall ye pity them: neither shall ye
contract marriages with them: thou shalt not give thy daughter to his son,
and thou shalt not take his daughter to thy son.” Deu 7:1-3
God wanted the Canaanites and their descendants destroyed. Here is verse stating that fact. Below are two different bible versions, showing the different spellings and the ones in bold are all Canaanites since they are descendants of Canaan. The Pherezites [Perizzites] are unknown people since they are not shown as descendants of Noah in Genesis chapter 10 (see this chart) The Fall of Jericho happened in order to destroy the Canaanites living there.
“Hereby ye shall know that the
living God is among you, and will utterly destroy from before our face the Chananite,
and the Chettite and Pherezite, and the Evite, and the Amorite,
and the Gergesite, and the Jebusite.” LXX Jos
3:10
“And
Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and
that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites,
the Amorites, and the Jebusites.” ESV Jos 3:10
Jesus had to Fulfill the Laws of Moses
Rachab the wife of Salmon, is an ancestor of Jesus Christ;
therefore, it is very important to understand that Rachab had to be of the
tribe of Judah for Jesus to be who the Gospels says he is. First though we must
understand that Jesus said he came to satisfy the Law; therefore, in order to
be our legitimate anointed High Priest and King everything about Jesus had to be
done according to the laws of Moses. The
children of Jacob Israel would only recognize Jesus Christ as their King and Savior
if everything about him was done according to the laws of Moses to fulfill
prophecy. Jesus does state that he came
to fulfill or satisfy the law.
“Do not think that I have come
to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I
have not come to abolish them but to fulfill [G4137 plēroō; satisfy, execute]
them” ESV Mat
Jesus also said that everything written about him in the
Laws of Moses will be fulfilled or executed:
“Then he said to them, “These
are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything
written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled
[G4137 plēroō; satisfy,
execute].” ESV Luke 24:44
In order for Jesus to be our Passover Lamb, he was to be
without blemish:
“It shall be to you a lamb unblemished, a male of a year old: ye shall
take it of the lambs and the kids.” LXX Exo 12:5
The laws for sacrifice state that all sacrifices to the Lord
must be without blemish or anything evil. Therefore, Jesus had to be without
blemish or any thing evil to be the Passover sacrifice.
“Thou shalt not
sacrifice to the Lord thy God a calf or a sheep, in which there is a blemish, or any
evil thing; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.” LXX Deu 17:1
The tribes of Israel were to be keep separate from other
tribes and nations.
“Speak to the congregation of
the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Ye shall be holy [G39 hagion; set apart for God,
sacred]; for I the Lord your God am holy.” Sep Lev 19:2
“And ye shall be holy to me; because I the Lord your God am
holy, who separated [G873
aphorizō; I rail off, separate, place apart, to set off by boundary] you
from all nations, to be mine.” Sep Lev
If Jesus was born of a forbidden union, he was not be
qualified to enter the assembly of the Lord.
“No one born of
a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the
tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD.” ESV Deu 23:2
In order for Jesus Christ to fulfill the laws of Moses, he
must be a pure blood from the tribe of Judah.
“And whatever daughter is
heiress to a property of the tribes of the children Israel, such women shall be married each to one of her father's tribe,
that the sons of Israel may each inherit the property of his father's tribe. And the inheritance shall not go about from one tribe to
another, but the children of
Israel shall steadfastly continue each in his own inheritance.” Sep Num 36:8-9
When Jacob Israel blessed his sons, he gave each of them
unique blessings. Judah received the blessing
of being the ruling tribe. Jesus our King
and High Priest will be the fulfillment of Judah’s blessing.
“A ruler shall
not fail from Juda, nor a prince from his loins, until there come
the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of nations.” LXX Gen 49:10
When Jesus returns, Revelation shows that Jesus will fulfill
the law and Judah’s blessing. Jesus will
be the ruler and King of Kings.
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb
will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King
of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” ESV Rev 17:14
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which
to strike down the nations, and he will rule
them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath
of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Rev 19:15-16
Jesus Christ did fulfill the laws of Moses and is a pure blood
from the tribe of Judah. Salmon and Rachab
are from the tribe of Judah, we know this if we believe every word our bible
tells us. Salmon and Rachab were present when the laws of Moses were read to
the Israelites and were there when the Israelites agreed to follow the laws by
saying “Amen”.
“‘Cursed be anyone who does not
confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say,
‘Amen.”’ LXX Deu 27:26
Many from the tribes of Israel were killed for not remaining separate from the other nations while they were in the wilderness for 40 years. For more information about this, please read Ruth was from the tribe of Judah. https://ephraimamerica.blogspot.com/2022/06/ruth-was-israelite-from-tribe-of-judah.html
