Editing Rahab (section)

== In rabbinic literature ==
In the [[midrash]], Rahab is named as one of the four most beautiful women the world has ever known, along with [[Sarah]], [[Abigail]], and [[Esther]]. In the [[Babylonian Talmud]], Rahab was so beautiful that the very mention of her name could cause arousal (''Megillah'' 15a). Rahab is said to have converted at the age of 50, after practising prostitution for 40 years, and repented according to three sins, saying:

{{blockquote|Master of the Universe! I have sinned with three things [with my eye, my thigh, and my stomach]. By the merit of three things pardon me: the rope, the window, and the wall [pardon me for engaging in harlotry because I endangered myself when I lowered the rope for the spies from the window in the wall]." (Babylonian Talmud, Zevahim 116a–b).}}

A similar tradition has Rahab declaring, "Pardon me by merit of the rope, the window, and the flaxen [the stalks of flax under which she concealed the spies]."

Because of this, rabbis interpret Biblical verses that talk about the citizens of Jericho "melting in fear", such as {{Bibleverse|Joshua|2:9-11}} and {{Bibleverse|Joshua|5:1}}, as describing their inability to maintain erections upon hearing Israelite military victories. Rahab knew this because "there was no minister or prince that did not pay a visit to Rahab the harlot".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Amy Cooper |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Rahab the Faithful Harlot |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/rahab-the-faithful-harlot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208015547/https://www.thetorah.com/article/rahab-the-faithful-harlot |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |website=TheTorah.com}}</ref>

The rabbis viewed Rahab as a worthy convert to Judaism, and attested that following her conversion, Rahab married [[Joshua]],<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Kohelet_Rabbah.8.10.1?lang=bi "Eccl. Rabbah 8:10:1"]</ref> and their descendants included the prophets [[Jeremiah]], [[Hilkiah]], [[Seraiah]], Mahseiah, [[Baruch ben Neriah|Baruch]], [[Ezekiel]] and the prophetess [[Huldah|Hulda]],<ref>{{cite Talmud|b|Megillah||14b}}</ref> although there is no report in the book of Joshua of the leader marrying anyone, or having any family life.<ref>[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/joshua.html "Joshua ben Nun"]. Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed 25 January 2021.</ref> Rahab often is mentioned alongside [[Jethro (biblical figure)|Jethro]] (Yitro) and [[Na'aman]] as "positive examples" of the converts who joined Israel,<ref>[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12535-rahab "Rahab"]. JewishEncyclopedia.com. Accessed 25 January 2021.</ref> and another midrash has Rahab acting as an advocate for all nations of the world.<ref>Assis, Elie (2004). "The Choice to Serve God and Assist His People: Rahab and Yael". ''Biblica''. '''85''' (1): 82–90. {{JSTOR|42614492}}</ref><ref>Baskin, Judith (1979). "The Rabbinic Transformations of Rahab the Harlot". ''Notre Dame English Journal''. '''11''' (2): 141–157. {{JSTOR|40062458}}</ref>

Some believe that the genealogies described in {{Bibleverse|Jeremiah|1:1}} and {{Bibleverse|Ezekiel|1:3}} served to dispel accusations that Jeremiah and Ezekiel were descendants of Rahab. At the time, the Israelites discriminated against these prophets for this alleged heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kadari |first=Tamar |date=2024 |title=Rahab: Midrash and Aggadah |url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rahab-midrash-and-aggadah#pid-16543 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208012103/https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rahab-midrash-and-aggadah#pid-16543 |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |website=Jewish Women's Archive}}</ref>