Can you help me find out about the culture of Shittim where Rahab lived?
Hope this will help you Kevin.
A key word search on NASB from BibleGateway revealed six occurrences of "Shittim", it is a shorten name of "Abel-shittim" and it is the area in which the Isrealites encamped, in the desert plains of Moab.
So the culture you should look for is that of the Moabites, the place where the Israelites had sexual relationships with the daughters of Moab, from Numbers 22:1 below, you will read that the area which the Israelites encamped was opposite to Jericho.
The Moabites were related to the Israelites, they were descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot, and despite their close relationship, the scriptures show that the Moabites held great enmity towards Israel, and tried to prevent them from entering the promised land. (Deuteronomy 2:9, 2 Kings 24:1-2)
Numbers 22:1 (NASB)
22 Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab
beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.
All Verses below are from NASB
Numbers 25:1 [ The Sin of Peor ] While Israel remained at Shittim, the
people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
Numbers 33:49 They camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as
Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
Joshua 2:1 [ Rahab Shelters Spies ] Then Joshua the son of Nun sent
two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land,
especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot
whose name was Rahab, and lodged there
Joshua 3:1 [ Israel Crosses the Jordan ] Then Joshua rose early in the
morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and
came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed.
Joel 3:18 [ Judah Will Be Blessed ] And in that day The mountains will
drip with sweet wine, And the hills will flow with milk, And all the
brooks of Judah will flow with water; And a spring will go out from
the house of the Lord To water the valley of Shittim.
MOLECH WAS THE GOD OF THE MOABITES.
A key word search of "Molech" the God of the Moabites on Bible Gateway (NASB Bible) revealed many verses, some I copied below.The Moabites did sexual immoralities and offered their children as sacrifices to their God.
Leviticus 20 [ Read Full Chapter]
[ On Human Sacrifice and
Immoralities ] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “You shall also
say to the sons of Israel: ‘Any man from the sons of Israel or from
the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to
Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall
stone him with stones. I will also set My face against that man and
will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of
his offspring to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and to profane
My holy name. ...
Verses below are fro NASB.
1 Kings 11:7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the
detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem,
and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon.
2 Kings 23:10 He also defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the
son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass
through the fire for Molech.
Jeremiah 32:35 They built the high places of Baal that are in the
valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass
through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it
entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah
to sin.