Library / Commentary on Joshua, Volume I

Book II: Teaching what befell the spies in that exploration

Question IV. When the spies came, was Rahab still exercising harlotry?

Following Lyra and Abulensis (quaest. 14), some think [that], before these [spies] came to her, she had already long departed from harlotry, so that she was then no more a harlot. But I [think she quit] not except when these [spies] had come, and she had truly joined herself to the religion of God—

(col. 343)

—[she] would join [herself to God’s religion, and then] made the end of harlotry, I opine. 1. because, as above [was] said, through the pretext of this wantonness, the spies conveniently hid themselves in her house. 2. because why she would have desisted from that disgrace [flagitium] before, scarcely any cause can be given. For if, of the Gentiles, [women] flourishing in age and not married to anyone, [it is] scarcely [possible] to find one who of her own accord would draw [her] foot back from that soft and bland way of pleasure — 3. she still had parents surviving, and yet did not dwell in their house, nor was she joined to a man, but was Mistress [Domina] of her own house, when the spies approached. Who, therefore, would doubt [her] still then [to be] a harlot?

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To cite this page

Nicolaus Serarius, S.J., “Question IV. When the spies came, was Rahab still exercising harlotry?,” in Commentary on Joshua, Volume I, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/serarius-joshua-1/219-question-iv-when-the-spies-came-was-rahab-still-exercisi/.

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