“Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.’ So, they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.”

Book of Joshua [2:1 (NIV)]

December 31 2023 — The phrase “the oldest profession” is commonly used to refer to prostitution, while “the second-oldest profession” is often humorously attributed to espionage. The origins of these expressions are not definitively traced to a specific source, but they have been used colloquially for many years. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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“The profession of espionage is also very much like the profession of being a whore. You get in, and you get out. It’s not a profession a lot of people retire from.”

American author and humorist
Eric Ambler

Prostitution is often referred to as the oldest profession because the exchange of sexual services for goods or money has been documented throughout human history, dating back to ancient civilizations. In some way, this phrase highlights the enduring nature of certain professions.

Espionage, humorously referred to as the second-oldest profession is a play on words, suggesting that the practice of spying or gathering intelligence is nearly as ancient as prostitution. The idea is to emphasize that, just as people have engaged in intimate services since time immemorial, the need for gathering information and conducting espionage has also been a longstanding aspect of human history.

The use of spies and intelligence in various forms has been an integral part of human history, dating back thousands of years. While the methods and technologies have evolved, the fundamental principles of espionage have remained remarkably consistent over time.

Both spies and prostitutes are mentioned in the same passage in the Book of Joshua. The story is about Joshua sending two spies to scout the city of Jericho before the Israelites’ conquest of the land of Canaan.

The narrative goes on to describe how Rahab, the prostitute, helped the Israelite spies by hiding them and providing them with information about the city. In return for her assistance, she and her family were spared when the Israelites eventually captured Jericho.

The combination of spies and a prostitute in this narrative has contributed to the humor in the expression that espionage is the “second-oldest profession.” The reference to a prostitute in this biblical passage is one example of how such occupations were acknowledged in ancient texts.

The Book of Joshua is part of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) and is traditionally attributed to Joshua, the successor of Moses. The exact date of its composition is challenging to determine precisely. Biblical scholars generally believe that it was composed over several centuries, likely during the late 7th to 6th centuries BCE.

The earliest mention of prostitution as an actual profession was recorded in a 24th century BCE Sumerian text.

The Discovery of the Wheel — Simultaneous developments by both Indo-European and Chinese societies?

In contemporary historical narratives, the invention of the wheel is often attributed to independent developments by both Indo-European and Chinese societies.

Yet, as a physicist, I find the notion of parallel, independent discoveries somewhat elusive.

Could it be that the wheel, a cornerstone of human innovation, bears the enigmatic fingerprints of espionage?

A tantalizing hypothesis suggests the possibility of Chinese spies acquired the wheel technology from Indo-European settlers.

The domestication of the horse and the development of wheeled transport, including chariots, played a crucial role in the spread of Indo-European people and their cultures.

The Tocharians, an ancient Indo-European people, settled in the Tarim Basin, located in present-day Xinjiang, China, around the second millennium BCE.

The wheel is believed to have appeared in China around 1500 BCE during the Late Shang dynasty.

Stay tuned!

REFERENCES

The world’s second oldest profession — BBC News

Espionage and spying are ancient practices, and stories of covert operations and intelligence gathering can be found in various historical texts. Here are a few examples of some of the oldest known spying stories:

Ancient China – The Art of War (c. 6th century BCE): Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” an ancient Chinese military treatise, discusses the importance of intelligence and espionage in warfare. The text emphasizes the value of understanding the enemy’s plans and movements through spies and reconnaissance.

Ancient Greece – The Trojan War (c. 12th century BCE): The story of the Trojan War, as told in Homer’s “Iliad,” includes instances of espionage. The Greeks used the famous wooden horse as a trick to infiltrate Troy, showcasing strategic deception and intelligence gathering.

Ancient Israel – The Book of Joshua (c. 6th century BCE): The Book of Joshua in the Old Testament of the Bible tells the story of two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to gather intelligence about the city of Jericho before the conquest of Canaan.

Ancient Rome – Cicero’s Letters (1st century BCE): Cicero, a Roman statesman and orator, wrote letters that revealed instances of intelligence gathering and espionage during the turbulent times of the late Roman Republic. Cicero himself faced political intrigue and conspiracy.

Ancient India – Arthashastra (c. 4th century BCE): Attributed to the ancient Indian scholar Chanakya, “Arthashastra” is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, military strategy, and economic policy. It discusses the use of spies for intelligence gathering.

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The Second-oldest profession

“Someone once said that politics is the second-oldest profession. I’m beginning to think it bears resemblance to the first.”

Ronald Reagan