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So often Jesus’ lineage is studied with great emphasis given to the long line of men listed in the begats. There are only four women listed: Rahab, Tamar, Ruth, and Bathsheba. In this list are a Canaanite harlot from Jericho, a Canaanite woman, a Moabite, and an adulteress.

I have to wonder why these women were singled out to be mentioned. What could possibly be so different about them that they needed mentioning when not even Sarah was mentioned or Isaac’s wife, Rebecca? I do not think it is solely because of their sin. Although, I do believe that God has reminded us again and again that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Abraham lied, Jacob’s name meant deceiver, which he was, Judah lay with whom he thought was a prostitute but was actually his daughter-in-law. Elimelech, Ruth’s father-in-law took his family out of Judah into Moab where they worshiped Chemoz and Molech. David couldn’t take his eyes of Bathsheba when she was bathing. These men were not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. So what was it about the women that God wanted them noted in Jesus’ lineage?

If we take note of heritage, we might get a clue. Rahab was a Canaanite, a harlot. We know she was a prostitute not just an innkeeper because Hebrews and James mention her this way. We know that she was an innkeeper else how could two devout, Hebrew spies on a mission be directed to her? Their interest was not in romping but in scoping out the strengths and weaknesses of Jericho. Therefore, as men who have gone undercover in a town, where else would they get the exact kind of news they needed to complete their mission except at an inn?

Some scholars indicate that she was had set aside the occupation of prostitution. How they come to that conclusion, I cannot fathom. She did profess her faith in Israel’s God beyond a tentative acknowledgment that God exists. She expressed a deep and abiding belief that Israel’s God is the one, true God. He gave the spies all the information they needed. The men of Jericho were fainthearted that Israel was camped on the other side of the Jordan. She hid the spies when the king’s men went in search of them. She lowered them out her window for their escape from certain death. All these acts were evidence of her emphatic belief. Indeed, her faith was not dead, but filled with her works to save the men of Israel.

Of all the women mentioned in the Old Testament, the four in Jesus’ lineage had life changing experiences in their faith. Three were from outside the Hebrew heritage. We could read a lot into that. I believe that is God telling us that Jesus was sent to the world not to condemn it but to save it (John 3:17). I also believe that God was telling Jews that no matter how pure they thought their genealogy, they still had a drop or two of foreign blood running through their veins. They could turn up their nose at the Samaritans, but when the brass tacks were laid, the facts pointed to the similarities rather than the apartness and purity they claimed.

Salmon the spy married Rahab the harlot and they had Boaz the rich farmer who married Ruth from Moab. They had Obed who sired David who reigned over Israel and who had Solomon and Nathan. There the lineage of Jesus flows directly to Joseph, his earthly father and Mary, his earthly mother: A truly royal earthly heritage.

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Called To Brokenness