Open your Bible to Joshua chapter 2, cover the word harlot in verse one, reread the chapter and ask yourself if you are reading about a harlot or a Canaanite innkeeper who just happens to also be a weaver of fine cloth, a woman of great faith in the omnipotent G-d of Israel and a heroine who risked her very life for two men simply because they were Hebrew.
That is the context of the story, not the translation of the word zonah as harlot, a horrible translation in this context. See Jonathan Uzziel, Jonathan on The Prophets.
Webster defines context thus
The parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can shed light on its meaning.
There is nothing in the words or actions of this woman to justify such a translation. The Jericho authorities would not force their way into her home, instead requested she send the spies out, meaning she was a respected citizen of the community. If she were not they would have kicked in the door and put her and the spies to the sword. Finally, stop listening to the lies and gossip that have been the source of income for so many for centuries.
