The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 101

III. TUE REWARD OF GENEROUS TRUSTFULNESS. It is remarkable that this Canaanite woman should have had such confidence in the sanctity of a promise and oath (ver. 12). It is sigmficant of eternal principles enshrined in the lieut of man, whic!1 the mo~t degrading conditions cannot wholly obliterate. Note here, not only a Divme Providence, but a law of human nature. There is trust on both sides. The.woman meets_ the spies with generous kindness, takes their life under her pro- tect10n, and they m return keep sacred watch and guard over hers. It is a valu- able lesson for all time. "With what measure ye meet," &c.;" Blessed are the merciful," &c. The trustful soul is trusted. Love begets love. "For a good man some wc,uld even dare to die." Whatever noble quality you cherish and practically exemplify has power to awaken something similar to it in others. It propauates 0 and multiplies itself, and that is its reward. IV. IN THE DELIVERANCE OF THIS CANAANITE FAMILY FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DOOMED CITY WE SEE A TYPE OF GOSPEL SALVATION. The Fathers, as usual, have carried the principle to a fanciful extreme in their use of these incidents. But the general features of the analogy are too plain to be overlooked. The rescue of Rahab and her kindred is certainly dimly prophetic of the gathering of a redeemed Church out of the Gentile. world; and in the "scarlet cord," the sign of the cove- nant and the means of deliverance, we can scarcely help seeing a hint both of the blood of the passover and the "blood of the cross." How blessed the security of those who are under the protection of that sacred sign, that" true token!" In the "day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God," with what joy will they lift up their heads, knowing that their" redemption draweth nigh."-W. Ver. 4.-The harlot Rahab.-A peculiar interest has always attached to this woman's case. Of the doomed nations with whom Israel came into collision, she is the first to be known, and the first to escape the doom ordained for them : an early type of the calling of the Gentiles; a whisper that the faith which was a. sacred secret for Israel would yet become the heritage of the world ; a study for early theologians on the sovereign grace of God, wllich can call tllose farthest off and make them vessels of His grace and mercy. 'While theologians learnt charity and hope from her experience, the historian and the patriot looked back with hardly less of interest to he1·, as to one whose simple service and womanly hospitality were a national boon. At the moment when the difficulties and perils of their under- taking were conspicuous, when the bravest people might have shrunk from an encounter with such foes, Rahab's greeting heartened them. Like the Midianite's dream of the cake of barley bread which heartened Gideon, so this woman's ac- knowledgment of Israel's God, and prediction of their success, was itself an inspira- tion. '' A cup of cold water" given in the na,me of Jehovah, her act refreshed a nation. And so her name, cleared of the dishonour which had clung to it, was enrolled amongst those of the worthies who ha,d deserved well of Israel. And all the thoughtful, whether their interest lay in creed or country, were glad to note that " a great reward" was given her by the God under whose wings she ha,il come to trust. The deliverance of herself, of her family; a noble man-iage, a royal progeny-these were dwelt upon by the devout of Israel, as examples of what all might expect who lived for the service of the Lord. Let us consider her story. I. THE WAKING oF THE SOUL. There has been an attempt made to take off tlle stigma which, to point the marvels of grace, all the centiuies had attached to her. One of the earliest versions of the Jewish Scriptures renders the word which describes her calling-innkeeper. And one commentator (Adam Clarke) shows th~t women were the tavern-keepers in Greece and Egypt in ancient days; _ailll points out many items in the narrative which would comport with such a new. We adhere more strictly to both letter and spirit of the narrative when we ac?ept the usual rendering, and seek for mitigation of her ill-repute in other less question- able considerntions. It is ri"ht to remember that amongst her own people, pro- bal,ly, there was no stigma i~ the name ; that she was probably a priestess of the Phccnician Venus, like the priestesses of_ Bhowani, in India, to-d~y, consecrnte to the goddess; that she was hard-working, attached to her kmdred, aml ap. 8G THE I300R OF JOSHUA. [en. n. 1-12.