Note
Expanded Wall Label:
The Scarlet Thread and The Golden Cord: Thirteen Women of the Hebrew Scriptures
Edgar G. Boevé
The writers of the Hebrew Scriptures give great attention to the women. They were totally involved in the lives of their men and are often the driving force of their lives together. These women were the mothers of the leaders of lsrael, God's chosen people. The scarlet thread defines the place of those women in the royal line of David. Other women were essential to saving the nation of Israel, therefore, the golden cord.
The intent of the thirteen fabric art works is to interpret the essential character of each woman who contributed to the royal line of the preservation of lsrael by texture, color and design through diverse fabrics gathered from around the world.
Rahab
Rahab lived in Jericho, a city seventeen miles north-east of Jerusalem. She was a Canaanite who lived as a prostitute in a house on the city wall.
When the Israelites arrived at the Promised Land, Moses' brother Joshua was in charge. He sent two spies to "view the land, especially Jericho" (Joshua 2: 1). These two spies hid in Rehab's house and when the king of Jericho came searching for them, she hid them. As a reward,
Rahab insisted that she and her household be saved when Israel conquered the land. The spies escaped down a rope through the window of her house. The scarlet cord became the secret sign to save Rahab and her family.
When the walls of Jericho fell after the Israelites had marched around the city seven days according to God's command, Rahab and her family were spared. Rahab married Salmon and their son was Obed, the grandfather of King David.
The Scarlet Thread continues.