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NASB | Joshua 2:5 "It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Joshua 2:5 "When it was time to close the [city] gate at dark, the men left; I do not know where they went. Pursue them quickly, for [if you do] you will overtake them." |
Bible Question: Was it morally acceptable for Rahab to lie, to save the lives of the Israelite spies? (I think of so many instances of people hiding others from those who intend violence... Nazi germany, Rwanda...) |
Bible Answer: It would have been morally wrong for Rahab to not lie for it would have certainly resulted in the death of the spies. Those good people risking all to hide Jews during WW2, to fail to lie to the German Nazi's, would have been morally wrong. When one is faced with the unfortunate situation where by keeping one law you break another, he must know which is greater. "Life" trumps most things. In Jesus day this question was asked in many ways and Jesus is asked it as well. Will Jesus "work" on the Sabbath to bring wholeness to a hurting sick person or not? Is "to do good" greater than to "not work on the Sabbath?" One group said it this way: All commands can be broken to preserve life but these three: 1) to take a life, 2) to commit adultery, 3) to commit idolatry; for the Law was given so that "you might have life" and not death. Death is the antagonist of God's Law and Kingdom. A long way to say, Rahab was considered righteous because she lied. That being said, I agree with previous answers, it is technically speculation, but the results of Rahab's blessed life and the comments in Scripture concerning her lead me to be quite certain of that statement. MJH |