Prophet Pearls #37 – Shlach (Joshua 2:1-24)

asafsuf = mob
erev rav = mixed multitude

Num 11:4 And the [asafsuf] in their midst lusted with great lust. And the sons of Israel also turned and wept, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

Exo 12:38 And also a [erev rav] went up with them, and flocks, and herds, very much cattle.

My grand parents farmed flax at times, they would forbid us grand children to play in the flax store houses because the flax was so slippery that if were to step on it we sink down into it and possibly die in it.

Dah-veed, Ruth was a Moabitess Ruth 4:10 / Ruth 2:6/ Ruth 1:22. Ruth was the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David. Ruth 4:17. Did YHVH bring salvation to her and thus purify the blood line?

Thank you, Renee! Excellent comment!

Numbers 11:4 Amplified Bible “And the mixed multitude among them [the rabble who followed Israel from Egypt] began to lust greatly [for familiar and dainty food]; and the Israelites wept again, and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, without cost, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” The mixed multitude started complaining and the Israelites said, ‘Hey. They’re right!’ Are both to blame here?

I like that. The scripture uses the word prostitute for Rahab but Josephus wrote that Rahab was a tavern keeper only. Has the meaning of the Hebrew word changed?

Josephus wrote that Rahab was a tavern keeper only. most of them were prostitutes.

Hi. I always enjoy your professional insights.

A comment on Rahab.
1st I have no opinion since I am a newbie at Hebrew and my 40 years of Christian teachings constantly proved wrong by the Hebrew language! I am WOWed and in AWE of how complex a word puzzle our Creator put together… and reflect on “the glory of kings (y’all) to search it out.”

This was info from someone else’s podcast:

*They said* the Hebrew tsadi nun heh could be
Zonah – prostitute or
Zanah – innkeeper.

Zoon, zon or zun = nourished.

(After listening to your podcast on vowels, I know Dr Nehemia has the answer!)

and they linked the flax as used for making linen, which would be for napkins and tablecloths needed at an inn.

They noted that Rashi, Josephus antiquities 5.12, and Adam Clarke all say she is an innkeeper.

And for the Methodist 😉 Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 both refer to her as a harlot.

Shalom & Blessings!

I think I will call you (Nehemia and Keith) the Bible detectives because you search out and uncover facts (pearls) that I wouldn’t see just reading the English and I thank the LORD and you for your work. Another possible reason Joshua sent the two men was the LORD determined to save Rahab and her family from destruction. I firmly believe Rahab was an innkeeper not a prostitute. There is more evidence to support this position than the other. She was very likely an Israelite The bloodline to Messiah must be pure.
Thank you

flax can also be a death trap. on the farm, our grandparents warned against playing in its storage building. it is very slippery like quick sand.

I’ve studied this so many times and after listening to this again, I realized a point that is very interesting. I feel that we can assume that if Rahab knew, most, if not all, the people in the city knew that if they tried to war and stand against the Israelites, they would fall. Yehovah revealed not only his true name to these people (Through whatever means necessary, we can’t put his ways in a box) but warned them of what was to come. How did he warn them? Did he do something akin to Balaam? If these people abandoned their ways and grabbed ahold to Yehovah, would they have just joined Israel instead of being killed in a war against them and therefore the ways of God himself?

Keith and Nehemia shalom! Concerning the two spies and Rahab. Keith I will have to say that you are “more” right this time than Nehemiah, ha ha. But you both missed the point. Although Keith you did touch on it at the end of the message. The whole purpose of the two being sent in, from Yehovah’s stand point, was the salvation of Rahab. She and her family would have perished had the deal not been made. If Israel had just attacked, she would not have been in the lineage of Yeshua.

Perhaps the spies were sent to save that lady with all that faith, though! 🙂

Sylvia, the sentence about journeys and reasons was amazing. Thank you.

Bwana Nehemiah, no army move without scouting. Today there are technogies but in those days that is the way it is done. Don’t forget Joshua was a miltary man he fought many battles. So no fear there. The scouts were just reporting accurately what has happened. The beauty for me is that the mighty acts of our Father on behalf of the children of Israel were known everywhere and Rahab was just witnessing to that and choose to join herself and her family to Him.
I did the same upon hearing the gospel. Hallelujah.

Okay, correction….it was the first time that Yehovah told the spies to go into the land. But on the second occasion, Yehovah is already talking with Joshua and telling the people to go into the land, and there seems to be no rebuke from Yehovah when Joshua had the 2 spies go in first because Yehovah had already commanded it to begin with in the first spying command. The lack of a rebuke from Yehovah on the second spying is significant to me.

Yes! I just saw that recently and was shocked, having been taught all my life that sending the spies was due to a lack of faith. and then I read, that Yehovah told them to do it.

Shalom! I have to agree with Keith — even though Joshua is sending spies instead of using blind faith, the story of Rachab is wonderful, and I believe Yehovah wanted to save her, so He allowed Joshua to send the spies and “by chance” encounter her. Sometimes, Yehovah sends us on journeys without revealing the entire reason for them. Be blessed!

Yes!!

I also see Rahab as a brave woman with a heart of “jewish mother”, always prepared to protect her family at any cost. She hid HIM, her future husband Salmon, as she had greater fear of Creator than of her earthly king. Thus she became the grand-grand-grand mom of king David, and thanks to her, we also have Nehemia, halelujah!

Nehemiah, Yehoshua had faith in YHVH. I respect your scholarship, but not your speculation on the two spies. May Yehovah bless you and show you the hidden things in not only His Torah, but also the prophets and writings.

Archeological and written evidence shows the Temple was on the Temple Mount.

The account of Jericho is so rich in prophetic overtones that I barely know where to begin. But I’ll start by noting that Jericho is described as “the city of palm trees”. And what do palm trees represent? On Palm Sunday and in the Book of the Revelation we have masses of believers welcoming Yeshua by waving palm fronds. So palm fronds seem to represent believers and since trees are used elsewhere in the Bible to represent nations, palm trees would represent nations of believers. The word for date palm is “tamar” and it is derived from a verb meaning to be erect or upright. Psalm 92:12 says: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” And in Exodus 15:27 it says: “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.” Elim seems to be a picture of the New Jerusalem where 70 nations of believers are ministered to by the 12 tribes of Israel.

So it seems that Jericho “the city of palm trees” represents the community of believing nations or Christendom. And it is very unsettling that Jericho is completely destroyed by the incoming Israelites who I think may be types of the angels of Revelation lead by Yeshua (Joshua). But recall that the Israelites had standing orders from Deuteronomy 20:19 not to destroy the trees of a city that they were besieging. And palm trees are naturally very resistant to fire, so I think that all the palm trees survived the capture of Jericho.

Rahab is clearly a type of the believer. The scarlet cord represents the blood of Yeshua, the hope of all believers. She had flax drying on her roof. Flax is used to make linen and white linen is what believers wear. Rahab was not raptured in this account, but she was holed up in a house on the top of the wall. And when the walls fell, her house was spared and she and her family were suddenly elevated high above the chaos and destruction.

There is much more in the account of Jericho that helps to open up the Book of the Revelation. For example the daily marches around Jericho seem to relate to the seals. And the final seven marches around Jericho on the last day seem to relate to the trumpets.

Would the Temple be nearer the city of David and the Forte Antonia be a 40 acre piece of HIGH land with walls that WERE not torn down. ??

1) idk wat flax is but ‘ hiding him’ in the flax reminded me of the reeds moshue was hid i as well…2) Ya’ll clearly dont know prostitutes (PTL!)…but they hear from ALL men, so wud be best informed on the hearts of men, knowledge of their lands (Red Sea), victories n defeats.

Awwww, I loved the song, too! You did basically stay in the same key! : ) I thought if only one could have accompanied your song on the piano, every note would have been perfectly in tune!! : ) You do have a nice voice, Nehemia.

Keith, maybe he changes keys on other songs because they are pitched out of his range. He pitched this song really low; the key was basically in A Flat Minor (the first note started on a G…but he settled on the key of ‘A Flat minor’ [assuming the recording speed is accurate…])….though in the very last section of the song it started barely sliding up into the next key above it..but not too noticeable…. Nicely done! (Said by a music teacher who has great “hope” and loves working with students who can’t sing on tune! There is always HOPE! They can do it!!!)

Actually, if you study flax, it is used for linen, which is different to cotton…..im sure Yahovah had something to say about that………Thanks

Can we stop over spiritualising please. Flax is a plant, linseed, that was used to make linen and you could eat it. She hid the spies under this plant that was stored in the roof…..

I think this is a picture of the end times with the two witnesses and the whore represents the Western Christian church. Those that provide protection to Israel and declare Yahovah God are saved.

I don’t know where Nehemia gets the idea that Spying = Evil. Can’t find anything in scripture that indicates it’s forbidden or a sin. Numbers 13 says YHVH told Moses to send the spies; it was only in the hearts and minds of the ten that clouded or spoiled their report. Intelligence gathering is just that. We see it all through history as a means of survival for nations and small groups. Connecting the dots, puzzling the pieces and the final analysis requires real knowledge, experience and discernment. Maybe it’s because the poor field operative that gets caught as a spy usually pays for it with his life – after being tortured – leaves a negative connotation with many people. Maybe if we translated the word as ‘scout’ rather than ‘spy’ some folks won’t get a bee in their bonnet.

YHVH commanded Moses to send the spies in Numbers 13… Not sending them would be a lack of Faith and a lack of Obedience. Moses didn’t get to cross over because he struck the rock and was told to speak to it. If sending spies kept him out, how did Joshua get in?

Assuming the spies were sent due to lack of trust in YHVH’s promise, what if Joshua’s heart was inspired to send the spies because YHVH knew Rahab’s heart was yearning for Him? So He inspired their sending to provide a means of salvation to one “lost sheep”?

Lately I have been feeling very sad thinking how it seems like this business of spying by the Hebrew people and their descendants has endured down through the ages, even until our very own time. I just cannot wait until this dreadful behavior between nations comes to a stop … and most likely it will when Meshiach arrives. Come quickly!!!

That has always been my take, too, Sarah &; >

What came to me was: Rahab the Harlot became a Prophetess of Yehovah.

I’m thinking that sometimes we need to hear some encouraging words. Like Gideon overheard a man telling a dream about a loaf of bread! I find this humorous, but to Gideon I think this really strengthened him. Only because it was from Yehovah. Who knows, maybe these guys needed some encouragement and our Father saw in this woman something no one else could and saved her in this manner along with giving these guys some encouraging words. Yehovah is a great orchestra of amazing things.

Since Nehemia and Keith are speculating on how it was known that the two Israelite spies were outed, and how Rahab knew Yehovah’s name, and what was about to happen to Jericho, let me add my own speculation about what possibly went down.
The spies entered the city during daylight hours, unnoticed among the hustle and bustle of commerce activity. They stopped at the inn because it was a good place to get a meal, and to listen in on conversations and local gossip about goings on in the city, and the concerns of the citizens, etc. The spies also probably learned that the townspeople had heard about the Israelites and were very apprehensive.
Now Rahab, being a harlot, does what a harlot does. She is not in the business for pleasure–it’s a means of survival (for herself and possiblbly her family, as well). She is sagacious, a good business woman, knows men well, and sizes up the two young men. Rahab sidles over to the visitors, serves them food, and strikes up friendly conversation with them. She knows how to put men at ease.
One of the young men is quite taken with her (and young men do what young men do); he is seduced. He is so enarmored with this lady, enjoying her attention, that he holds back nothing. He confirms what the townspeople have been anxiously discussing; she believes him. Rahab, being a clever survivor, knows what she must do; she hides the spies.
Meanwhile, word of two strangers in town has raised suspicion, and reaches the king, who sends his men to Rahab’s place of business, demanding that the men be brought out. She covers for them, saying that they had already gone before the city gate closed. She sends the king’s men off on a wild goose chase, and goes up to the roof where the spies are hiding.
Rahab pours out her heart to the men, tearfully expressing her fears, and confessing that Yehovah (yes, in their pillow-talk, the young man had told her the name of Israel’s God) is indeed God in heaven and on earth–and then reminds them that she had saved their lives! (Shrewd move, Rahab! You go, Girl!) They strike a deal! “Our life for yours, if you do not tell this business of ours…”
Rahab and her family are spared, and are brought back to the Israelite camp. Rahab no longer has to be a prostitute; after the triumph over Jericho, she marries the young man who was so taken with her that he divulged state secrets to her in Jericho; and then she went on to become the mother of Boaz. (Matt. 1:5; Hebrews 11:31)

Pure speculation! May not be true, but could be.

Now looking back at the original Torah portion when Moses went through a similar event in Numbers 13, I have to agree that sending spies is always a lack of faith. It is confirmed in Deuteronomy 1:19. It is the whole reason why Moses ended up never entering the promised land.

Originally, the Lord commanded them to take the land – Canaan. He told them not to be afraid or discouraged…… They came up with the idea of spies. Spying the land brought discouragement and ultimately death and a curse on all the adults of the nation!

For Joshua to continue this tradition made of man and allowed by the Lord, I can only imagine the Lord rolling his eyes in exasperation after 40 years and showing mercy through Rahab.

I enjoyed this midrash, and especially enjoyed singing HaTikva with Nechemia!

You know guys, everyone has moments of doubt. I think the more important thing is that YHVH can use even the most unlikely source to edify and encourage us when those moments of doubt occur. A wise man will search any source to find the truth that he seeks, and YHVH can use any vessel to provide it!

Rahab hid them/him under the Flax. Flax is a plant that is dried,beaten,and spun into linen :0 Linen is used as a covering for God’s messengers. Angels,priests, called out.
Unlike the events of Exodus.
We get to see someone from outside of the multitude that came out of Eygpt who when given an opportunity to hear of the Lord’s Wonders and to leave the past ways behind accepts the opportunity to be a part of God’s people.

Rahab willingly obeys without resisting, mumbling, or complaining.
It doesn’t matter that she was a Harlot whether it was a physical and/or a spiritual harlotry. She was willing to take a risk. She put her faith into action voluntarily.
She sided with The Lord over the earthly rulers of her own city.

Unlike,the masses of Exodus.We have no record that a form of salvation was offered to anyone in Jericho other than those who were associated with Rahab.

Even if the men had doubts. Rahab’s words are a reminder and a sign of the mission they are on. As she is repeating what the Lord had told to Joshua,and in turn what Joshua told them. It would have been a big mistake to have ignored it.