Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

In this week’s prophetic portion, (Joshua 2: 1-24) or Haftarah, Joshua sends two spies to Jericho in anticipation of attacking and conquering the city. The two spies take up lodging with a woman named Rahab, who is described as a harlot. The King of Jericho hears of the infiltration of the spies. He seeks out Rahab to ask if she knows anything about their whereabouts. Instead of giving them up, she lies to the King, hides them, and later conspires with them to make their escape. Surely, she risks her life in misleading the King of Jericho – had he found out, he would have put her to death. What is Rahab’s motivation for acting against her own self-interest? “[I know] The Lord your God is the only God in heaven above and the earth below,” she tells the spies. (Joshua 2:11).

The Rabbi’s of the Talmud taught: There were four beautiful women in the world: Sara, Rahab, Avigayil and Ester. (Megillah 15a)

It is true that three of the women listed above, Sara, Avigayil and Esther, are described as “beautiful” in scriptures. As far as I can tell, Rahab is not described this way in the bible. Rav Moshe Lichtenstein of Yeshivah Har Etzion in Israel explains that the rabbis are not speaking here about physical beauty. They are speaking about these women’s internal beauty. Each of them demonstrates a deep commitment and a sense of responsibility to others that lead them to risk everything. Sarah allows herself to be taken to the palace of Pharaoh in order to save her husband’s life. (Genesis 12:10-20) Avigayil approaches David after her husband Naval refuses to provide provisions for David and his soldiers. (I Samuel 25:2-42) Esther stands up to Achashverosh despite the danger to her personally. (Esther 4:16). In helping the spies, Rahab rejects her life of sin and the corrupt society that compels her to lead the life of a prostitute and chooses instead the world of Israel and its values. Four brave and honorable women placing duty, faithfulness and inner conviction above their personal safety and concerns. This is what makes them beautiful.

Dedicated to my mother, Frances Rudolph, on her 13^th Yahrzeit.