Red Between the Lines
Behold, when we come to the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window from which you let us down, . . . Joshua 2:18
Line – Usually translated “cord” in this verse, the Hebrew word tiqvah has a different meaning in every one of its additional thirty-one occurrences. The fact that it isn’t translated in the normal way in this verse isn’t an accident. It’s an intentional word-play; another example of the elaborate interconnections found in the Hebrew Scripture that are invisible to us in English. By now you must realize that the story of the Scripture just wasn’t written to you. It was written to Hebrew readers because only Hebrew readers can read between the lines.
Tiqvah is usually translated “hope.” Put this background into the story of Rahab and you will come away with a much deeper understanding of this event. The spies whom Rahab saves tell her to put a scarlet “cord” in her window. What does that cord mean? It means hope, the very same word. Rahab is saved by hope in Israel. Rahab, the Gentile prostitute, is rescued because she puts the sign of hope in her window and Israel recognizes that sign. After the attack, the text tells us that Rahab is brought “into the midst” of Israel. In fact, this is another play on words. The secondary meaning of “into the midst” is womb or inward parts. Rahab, the prostitute, enters into the womb of Israel where she is now safe. The imagery converts what was a sinful activity into another sign of rescue and salvation. Perhaps Rahab’s story has a lot more to it than we think – if we read between the lines.
There are other allusions associated with this story. The red cord protects Rahab’s entire family as long as they stay within the house. The red cord, the sign of hope, becomes Rahab’s Passover offering. Just as the children of Israel were protected by the blood on the door, so Rahab is protected by the scarlet cord from the window. It’s worth noting that Rahab’s act of faith rescues her whole family. Once again we see the focus on community. What the individual does impacts the whole.
Today you can journey to Israel and visit Yad VaShem, the holocaust museum. Outside the museum is the path of the righteous Gentiles, a garden walkway between trees planted as memorials to those Gentiles who rescued Jews from the Third Reich. There is no tree for Rahab, but there could be. She is a righteous Gentile. Her act brought salvation to Hebrew spies. Her act of faith and trust in the God of Israel resulted in adoption into the community of Israel. In fact, she is so important that her name appears in the genealogy of Yeshua. If there were ever a righteous Gentile, Rahab qualifies.
We can learn two important things from this brief look at her story. First, we discover another example of the importance of women in the Hebrew Scripture. Rahab is honored. In spite of her profession, what matters is her deliberate faith – a faith expressed in outward righteous acts. Second, we see ourselves in her story. We are Gentiles brought into the midst of Israel. We have been folded into the womb of God’s people. Oh, and by the way, from this point on, there is no mention of Rahab as an independent person within the body of the children of Israel. She is just one of God’s chosen. Her place in the genealogy of the Messiah is secured. One more Gentile is grafted in – just like we are.
Topical Index: Rahab, tiqvah, hope, cord, Gentile, Joshua 2:18
Excellent illustration! Thank you
“line of scarlet thread”
“Rahab, the prostitute, enters into the womb of Israel”
For those of you who have read The Scarlet Letter (A), Rahab, like Hagar, is a Biblical subtext of the Amercan/Adulterous/Angel Hester Prynne.
For a more contemporary American Heroine/Hooker with a Heart of Gold, you might want to watch Cate Blanchett in The Good German, a great movie about Jewish Heroes.
If there is one point to be made about these Jewish Heroes it is that the Hawthornian/Hebrew view of sin and perfection is very different than the “Christian.”
In a number of his short stories, Hawthorne shows how striving for perfection is often a very destructive impulse, which results in sado-masochistic behavior.
In the worst case, this impulse results in what Hawthorne referred to as the Unpardonable Sin; an insensitivity that results in the violation of another person’s Heart.
Personally, I think Hawthorne goes a bit overboard here; for me no sin is unpardonable.
“no sin is unpardonable”
Speaking of Unpardonable Sins makes me think of Clint Eastwood, who directed and starred in what may be the greatest Western in film history, “The Unforgiven”.
My favorite line occurs right before Clint Eastwood (“Will Munny”) kills the sadistic sheriff who is played by Gene Hackman (“Little Bill”), when Little Bill accuses Will of killing men, women, and children:
“That’s right. I’ve killed women and children. I’ve killed just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I’m here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned.”
Sounds a little bit like Joshua, doesn’t it?
From Wiki:
The Book of Joshua describes the famous battle of Jericho, stating that it was circled seven times by the ancient Children of Israel until its walls came tumbling down, after which Joshua cursed the city:
“And Joshua charged the people with an oath at that time, saying: ‘Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city, even Jericho; with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it'”. (Joshua 6:26).
“…the trumpets sounded. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a mighty war cry and the wall collapsed then and there. At once the people stormed the city, each man going straight forward; and they captured the city. They enforced the curse of destruction on everyone in the city; men and women, young and old, including the oxen, the sheep, and the donkeys, slaughtering them all. — Joshua 6:20-21”
“no sin is unpardonable”
Psalm 130:4 “But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1.9) To be forgiven and to be clean is one prayer away for “whosoever will.” “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” (I Timothy 1:15)
Hallelujah for the cross! …and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
The Scriptures mention one sin that is unforgivable. Yeshua comments on this, but He is often misunderstood. I have just posted a study of the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (from a talk I gave in Honduras some time ago). You can view it here.