CHAPTER XV.
1 Concerning the children of Israel. 4 Certain of them go up unto the host. 9 Proper men are chosen. 16 Jericho is captured by a stratagem. 17 An husbandman entertaineth guests. 22 A certain young man taketh unto himself a wife. 35 His sufferings.
Now there was much perturbation of spirit amongst the children of Israel because the fliers of Hu, they did come unto the city of Lon.
2 And some of the tribes did hasten to get them underneath the earth; and some of them did make a great exodus from the city, and they did pass over unto the shores of the sea.
3 Wherefore the people were in doubt concerning what it was, and some said, Verily, it is the exodus that but repeateth itself. But others made answer unto them, saying, Nay, brother, rather is it the Passover that happeneth again.
4 ¶ Nevertheless, there were certain of the children of Israel that behaved in other manner. And they did go for to be amongst the host of En.
5 And men did know this part of them for the fighting Judæans, or King David's Own, or the Kosher Cavalry; yea, whichever of the names came first unto their lips, by that name did they call them.
6 Now the Levites, that were also Cohens, they complained in a very low voice because they were not allowed for to go up, saying, Alas, it is against the law of Moses for us to do this thing.
7 And the chief priest, he heard them. And he was moved to compassion by the hardness of their lot. Wherefore he made him an ordinance. And he ordained that they should go up. Yea, all the Levites, that were also Cohens, he gave them leave for to join the host of En. And some of them rejoiced.
8 Now whensoever a man stood forth for to fight amongst the children of Israel, being the fighting Judæans, or King David's Own, or the Kosher Cavalry, then did they send unto the chief physician for to make trial of his aptness.
9 ¶ And if the chief physician did say, I have seen this man in all his nakedness, and, behold, he is a proper man to be amongst us, then was it so. But if he spake in otherwise, then was it not so.
10 Wherefore it came to pass that they were all men made unto a certain end; and if there was anything lacking in them, verily, it was but a little thing and beneath notice.
11 Now there was one amongst them, and his mind it was filled with stratagems. And, after they had been gathered together for a length of time, he stood upon his feet, and he spake unto them in these words, saying,
12 Hail to you, my brothers, and, Hail to you, ye men of Israel! And they answered him, saying, Hail! And when he perceived that their ears, they were turned towards him, he continued with a loud voice, and he said unto them,
13 What of Jericho, and what about it? Verily, the city of David, it hath fallen unto Gentile hosts, but the walls of Jericho, behold, they are yet whole. Let us, therefore, contrive the matter.
14 And after that he had reminded them concerning Joshua that behaved in a cunning manner, he commanded them accordingly; and he told each man the thing that he should do.
15 Wherefore it came to pass when the signal was given unto them, that they did blow upon their noses with a loud blast. Yea, they did make a very great noise with their noses because they did do it all at one time.
16 ¶ And when they awoke on the morrow, lo, the walls of Jericho, they were fallen down. And all the children of Israel rejoiced in their tents because they had contrived it; nevertheless, they imparted unto no man the secret of the blowing.
17 ¶ Now there was a certain man in the land of En that was an husbandman and of substance. And he hired him captives of the men of Hu for to plow his fields and to sow his seeds and to do that which was requisite and necessary unto his land.
18 And amongst them there was one that had formerly been wont to shave the beards of his brethren with a razor, and to prepare the heads of them with scissors.
19 Now in the house of the husbandman there were many guest chambers, and they were for ever full. And whensoever it happened that his friends were come for to visit him over the end of a week, then would he send unto the man of Hu.
20 And he would set him at the hair of his friends, and he would bid him take the scissors; yea, whosoever did come for to visit him, the hair of that man's head, assuredly, it was cut short.
21 Neither was there any help in him, for the husbandman, he was resolved that the opportunity which was come, it should not be idly cast away.
22 ¶ Now there was a certain young man and he took unto himself a wife, a comely maid and graceful as a young gazelle.
23 And after that he had rewarded the priest for all that he had done for him, and after that he had taken leave of the guests that were bidden to the marriage feast, he departed unto another city; and the damsel that was his wife, she went with him.
24 For it was a custom in En that those who were newly wed should steal away secretly unto a place afar off, lest any man should spy upon them and make him a report about it.
25 And after they had pursued their way for many hours, they came unto an inn, being that hostelry where they did intend to sojourn through all the night.
26 Now the damsel was a wily sort, being sly and very artful; and she had made her preparations for to blind the eyes of the curious.
27 Wherefore she did carry her apparel in boxes that were old, fearing lest any man should laugh and wink his eye because of the newness of them. And there was writ upon the boxes certain symbols, being the first letters of her name of yesterday.
28 Now after they had subscribed their names unto certain writings that were laid before them, it was their single thought to close their eyes in sleep, for they were weary unto death because of the journey.
29 But the keeper of the inn, he was a man that was full of suspicion; and the damsel was comely to look upon. Therefore he called the young man unto him.
30 And he said unto him, Tarry yet a little while and haste thee not away, for I would feign commune with thee concerning a matter.
31 And he took the young man privately upon one side, and he questioned him concerning the matter. And he said unto him, Tell me, I pray thee, the name of the damsel?
32 Now the young man, he had never been married before; also, he was full of weariness, having an earnest desire to lay him down. And because the question, it came on a sudden, therefore did he make answer without serious meditation. And he said,
33 The damsel concerning whom thou speakest, verily, her name, it is Such an One. And he forgat that it was lately changed.
34 And the keeper of the inn waxed very wroth; yea, his rage flew all around him. And he spake unto the young man again, saying, Is thy face then of brass that thou speakest unto me thus?
35 ¶ And what thou hast said, that have I suspected long enough, for so it is writ upon the young thing's baggage. Take heed, therefore, and pay attention. Because it is late, therefore shalt thou sojourn in my house during the night.
36 And the damsel, she shall sojourn here also. Nevertheless there shall be a separation of two floors between you lest, peradventure, ye come together by a chance. And to-morrow thou shalt proceed upon thy way.
37 And it was even as the keeper of the inn had said. And when the morning was come, they arose from their couches ere the sky was red and they shook the dust of that place from off their feet.
38 And they hied them with speed to another place. And they said unto the keeper of the inn that was there, We have come from a very distant city, and we have journeyed the whole night through. And, now, behold, we are fatigued, and there is no strength left in us.
39 And because the young man, he forgat not the damsel's name again, therefore were they permitted for to seek their couch. And they slumbered heavily during all that day.