Metaphysical meaning of Rahab (mbd)
Rahab (in A.V., Matt. 1:5, Rachab), ra'-hab (Heb.)--large; wide; broad; ample; spacious; breadth; freedom; unrestraint; liberty; license.
A woman of Jericho, a harlot. She received the two spies that Joshua sent to Jericho, and aided them in getting away safely. For this act she and her household were saved alive when the Israelites took the town. Afterward she married Salmon, a Jewish man. Their son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth, so David and Jesus were descended from her (Josh. 2:1-24; 6:23, 25).
Meta. Rahab the harlot, Ruth the Moabitess (see The Book of Ruth), and Mary Magdalene all represent the natural love in man, with the fidelity and faithfulness of that love, which, becoming centered on spiritual things, opens the way for man to enter into the Promised Land, the kingdom of heaven, or spiritual consciousness.
Ruth was of a heathen race; yet because she loved Naomi and Naomi's people, the Israelites (spiritual thoughts and activities), better than the outer things of the physical world, she became the wife of Boaz, who was one of the foremost men of Israel (his name means alacrity, in strength, in power), and both David and Jesus were descended from her. So the love of the natural man in us, when turned to the things of Spirit, opens the way in our consciousness for the new birth into the realization and demonstration of our divine sonship.
Out of Mary Magdalene Jesus cast seven devils, which shows that she must have been under great bondage to sense thinking; yet, because she loved the Christ, she was made free. She lingered longest at the cross when Jesus was crucified, and she was first at the tomb on the morning of the resurrection; she served and worshiped much because she loved much, and she was greatly blessed.
Rahab the harlot gives another lesson along the same line. She lived in Jericho, the first city taken by the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land. She befriended the Israelitish spies, and she and her household were saved when the city was captured. Jericho (his moon) represents reflected thoughts about life in the subconsciousness. Rahab the harlot signifies the depths of sense into which the natural love had fallen. Yet when the city was approached by the spies (the first thoughts of Truth sent to the life center in the organism where sense had been exercising dominion so long), this natural love at once recognized the superiority of spiritual ideas over the old carnal beliefs, and so received gladly the new light. This love therefore is preserved and is lifted to higher expression. Rahab and her relatives not only dwelt among the Israelites in the Promised Land, but Rahab married Salmon and they were the parents of Boaz, who became Ruth's husband, and all four of them are named in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5).
There is in reality but one love, and that is God. So this phase of the one love that has been expressing in natural and even fallen ways is lifted, when purified of the error thoughts that have been woven about it by man in his ignorance and limitation, to its true expression; thus it becomes a part of man's spiritual, or Christ, consciousness. (Do not confuse this Rahab with the one that follows.)
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Preceding Entry: Raddai
Following Entry: Rahab
