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.