Question: Shall We Hail the Whores?

One of the interesting things about reading the Bible -- particularly the Old Testament -- is that it's easy to find what I call throwaway lines. These are sentences or passages that don't appear to be imperative to a story and one could easily read over without much thought as to what it may mean or suggest. I found such verse in the 2nd Chapter of Joshua (Verse 1).

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

If you aren't aware, a harlot is a prostitute. In olden times -- it's often true today as well -- harlots live in a brothel. So, what this passage indicates is that two men are sent by Joshua to spy on the "promised land" and, in an attempt to blend in, they head to the nearest house of ill repute.

What is it that men do at brothels with prostitutes? If I need to answer that question FOR you, then maybe you should get out more often! Since there is no indication whatsoever that, upon their return, the spies were chastised for visiting a cathouse, it stands to reason that God understands that men -- even spies in a foreign land -- have certain "needs" that must be attended to!

Yet, this is the very same divine being who condemns adultery and doesn't look very kindly on "sins of the flesh." Go figure!

Of course, maybe I'm simply splitting [pubic] hairs.

To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.