One wonders why James selects a case like this after speaking of
Abraham, the father of the fruitful and God’s friend. Oesterley doubts
how this verse could come from the pen of a Christian. But James may
have wished to select another example at the furthest possible point
from Abraham, a heathen and a proselyte, “the first of all the
proselytes” in the land of Canaan (Hort). Certainly if a woman like
Rahab could be saved, no one else need despair. She expressed her faith
in God: “I know that the Lord hath given you the land ... the Lord your
God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Josh. 2:9, 11,
AV). Besides, she showed her courage by avowing the cause of Jehovah and
of Israel, by protecting the messengers (spies, in reality), and by a
life of uprightness thereafter.
It was a crisis in the history of Israel as they came to Jericho, and
Rahab took her stand for God at the start; hence the high honor accorded
her. She is mentioned in Hebrews 11:31 in the famous list of heroes of
faith. In Matthew 1:5 she appears in the genealogy of Christ. She was
counted one of the four chief beauties of Israel along with Sarah,
Abigail, and Esther (Mayor). “Eight prophets who were also priests are
descended from the harlot Rahab” (_Megilla_ 14_b_). Certainly there is
no desire in James nor in Hebrews to dignify her infamous trade, which
she renounced, but only to single her out as a brand snatched from the
burning by the power of God.