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The Bible and The Quran both mention Rahab. In The Quran, Surah al-Qasas, ayat 32, Moses (Musa عليه السلام) is given a means of protection from Rahab:
[Al-Quran 28:32, Translator: Sahih International]
Generally, in translations of The Quran, we find words formed from the root rā hā bā (ر ه ب) translated as fear, terrify, and monks. So, we don't realise that its informing us of a real monstrous creature, that is mentioned in the earlier scriptures, and which is expected to appear again during end times.
The Bible mentions the Rahab (רהב) in Isaiah 51:9
. . . Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through? Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?
Isaiah 51:9
[quoted from Rahab and Monster]
Psalm 89:9-10 praises The Lord in these words:
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
[quoted from Crushing Rahab: Does the Old Testament Borrow from Myth?]
In the Jewish Encyclopedia, it states about RAHAB [as on November 3, 2022]:
Originally a mythical name designating the abyss or the sea; subsequently applied to Egypt. Job ix. 13 and xxvi. 12 indicate that it is an alternative for "Tiamat," the Babylonian name of the dragon of darkness and chaos; Ps. lxxxix. 9 also indicates that "Rahab" is a name applied to the sea-monster, the dragon. According to a sentence preserved in the Talmud, "Rahab" is the name of the demon, the ruler of the sea ("Sar shel Yam"; B. B. 74b). It is used as a designation for Egypt in Ps. lxxxvii. 4 and Isa. xxx. 7. Similarly, in Isa. li. 9, which alludes to the exodus from Egypt, the destruction of Pharaoh is described as a smiting of the great sea-monster Rahab or the dragon Tannin. The juxtaposition of "Rahab" and "Tannin" in this passageexplains why "Rahab" was used as a designation for Egypt, which was otherwise called "Tannin" (see Ezek. xxix. 3, Hebr.). It must be noted that the Jewish exegetes deprived the word "Rahab" of its mythological character, and explained it as merely an equivalent for "arrogance," "noise," or "tumult"—applied both to the roaring of the sea and to the arrogant noisiness and proud boasting of the Egyptians (comp. Abraham ibn Ezra on Ps. lxxxvii. 4 and lxxxix. 9).
Quoting the following from Book of Job, someone asks what Rahab means:
“God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
—Job 9:13 (ESV)
By his power he stilled the sea;
by his understanding he shattered Rahab.
—Job 26:12 (ESV)
[quoted from Who or what is Rahab in Job?]
It seems clear that Rahab is the name of an ancient sea monster, which an association with Ancient Egypt. The Bani Israel were aware of this monster, and so its not surprising that the very first ayat (Q2:40) addressing the Bani Israel in The Quran employs the same root:
The first narrative about Adam's khilafat, and Iblis' arrogant refusal to accept it; the warning about Iblis after exposing his arrogance; Adam and his wife falling into Iblis' trap and suffering loss; Adam's repentance; being expelled from The Garden, temporarily, with the assurance of God's Guidance, and that those who heed it will not suffer, and those who disbelieve and belie the signs will be companions of the fire forever; is mentioned from Q2:31 through Q2:39. The very next ayat immediately addresses the Bani Israel, who were saved from Pharaoh, the sea was parted for them to cross safely, and after their Exodus from Egypt, they were granted The Torah, and God took a covenant from them:
So, across the scriptures, from The Torah to The Quran, we find Rahab mentioned.
The Book of Daniel, Chapter 7, mentions four beasts rising from the sea:
[from a Christian website]:
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts
7
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
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[copied from Daniel 7 NIV, Biblegateway]
[from a Jewish website]:
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[screenshots from Daniel 7, Ketuvim - Scriptures]
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In the NEWS
As the world is increasingly attracted to, and embracing polytheism, strange news from the sea are making the rounds. On the one hand, as evidence builds up for huge walls of water swallowing up entire ships, the other news is of photographs of 'faces' in huge waves:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaZxhQX_Lo (video)
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-64797807
References & Links
Word Morphology 28:32:14 [The Quranic Arabic Corpus]
Quran Dictionary root word [The Quranic Arabic Corpus]
Crushing Rahab: Does the Old Testament Borrow from Myth?
RAHAB [Jewish Encyclopedia]
Rahab (term) [Wikipedia]
Who or what is Rahab in Job? [Stack Exchange]
Last updated on: September 10, 2024
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