choose for thyself, from among the children of Isrâîl, men of might, from every tribe a thousand men. And they shall go round about the city, six circuits in six days, with the golden ark, the ark of the covenant, before them; and they shall not talk in conversation, or be intent upon anything except offering up praises and halleluiahs, nor shall they make an intermission in this, or raise any great tumult during the space of six days; yet the two priests shall be along with the two clamorous trumpets. But on the seventh day they shall go round about the city the seventh time, and the two priests shall sound with the two trumpets, and when the company hear the sound of the trumpets; then let them shout with a loud voice, three times, saying: God is omnipotent in battles. God is His name.' And at the completion of this act, the wall of the city will be demolished, and the fortresses will fall down before the people, and the army shall enter the city and destroy it." And Yûsh'â returned and assembled the leaders of his people, and commanded that they should select twelve thousand men. And when they came unto him, he gave orders to them to march, and with them should be the saintly priests, bearing the ark and the two trumpets. And he gave instructions unto the company, that they should offer up halleluiahs and praises, during the six days, in a low tone of voice: but on the seventh day they should go round about the city six times, "And on the seventh time around the priests shall sound with the two trumpets, and upon their hearing the trumpets, the whole army shall shout with a loud voice, and instantly advance: and then the fortifications will be demolished, and God will put the city in your hands. And when this has been successfully ac

1 See Note 42.

complished by you, and ye have attained the city, ye shall put to death every breathing thing which ye find in it, whether of men or animals. And ye shall destroy it and burn it, and shall not leave in it any, except the woman who is known as Rahab the innkeeper; her ye shall spare, and also those souls that are in her courtyard, according as the spies made covenant with her. O assemblies of men! Be watchful of yourselves; do not take anything from the city; burn its gold and silver and brass and iron, and all its appurtenances, and do not meddle with anything that is devoted; for then would ye and the army perish." And the people did as he instructed them. And in the seventh circuit the priests sounded with the two trumpets, and they cried out with a great shout; and at that, the walls of the city fell down, and the army entered in, and put to death every breathing thing in it, from man even to animals. And they collected all the furniture which was in it, and placed it in the middle of the city, and burned it; and it became a mound never to be rebuilt. And Yûsh'â proclaimed in the loudest voice; "O assemblies of men! It is forbidden unto you, and unto those who shall rise up of your seed, to build up in this city one single stone." And it is the first of the rebellious .cities, known as Ancient Yarîha; and this city was devoted, destroyed, burned and converted into a mound, never to be built up or restored, throughout eternal ages. And this was done after the spies had entered the courtyard of the woman, and brought out her and every soul that was in her courtyard, and preserved them from death. And the name of Yûsh'â, by this act of his, was spread abroad unto the different regions of the earth. And a man of the children of Isrâîl committed a trespass, and entered into the temple

8 Note 43.

of the idols of this city, and he found therein a goodly thing of gold, and a tongue of gold, their weight was two thousand, two hundred and fifty mithqals, and he took them and concealed them in his tent; now it had been forbidden him to even touch it, not to mention his taking it in theft, and hiding it in his place of abode. And the Lord became angry with the children of Isrâîl, on account of him. And neither the leaders nor the king knew about this deed. But praise be unto Him who knows secrets, and who shows forth miracles. Blessed be His name, and exalted be His fame.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ONE WHO TOOK THE DEVOTED THING.

WHEN it was morning of the day of which mention has already been made, Yûsh'a the king, and all the army, came before the temple, and he made the chiefs present themselves before el'Azar, the imâm-peace be upon him, and upon him were the jewels. And the jewel which was inscribed with the name of Yahûdah (Judah) grew black1; and he, in succession, presented the tribe of Yahûdah, in its companies, name by name, before the jewel; and it grew black at the name which was called Afchan (Achan), of the family of Zarah (Zerah), the son of Yahûdah. And the man at once presented himself and stood before Yûsh'a the king. And the king said unto him: "O man! lift up thy face to the King of the heavens and earth, and know that He knows secrets, and, O, woe be to the one who imagines that he can conceal from Him anything, or cover 1 Note 45.

66

4 Note 44.

up from Him a matter. So now confess as to how you have sinned, and what you have taken of the devoted thing; for God has become angry with His people on your account." And the man answered him, and said: "I know, O king, that I have committed a great sin before God, Who knows what is secret and concealed, and I have been a traitor to the covenant of God, and of His messenger; for I entered the temple of the chief idol of Yarîha, and there found a goodly thing of gold, and a tongue of gold, and their weight was two thousand two hundred and fifty mithqals, and my soul became greedy for this, and I took it and buried it in my tent. And now if a crime like mine can be pardoned, well and good, seeing that God is merciful and compassionate; but if there is no pardon for it, then let there be executed what thou shalt command in my affair." Then the king sent immediately trustworthy people, and they brought what the man had mentioned he had felt greedy after, and so had taken it. And the governor and his associates, the chiefs, brought him before the temple of the Creator, and command was given that he should be burned outside the camp. And he took the man and burned both him and whatever children he had, and cattle, and all that he possessed, and he placed all in a deep valley, and commanded the whole army to stone it with stones. And he named the valley: The valley of 'Akûr (Achor). And after this God removed His anger from the children of Isrâîl; for what they did appeased Him. And unto Him be praise; for His bounty and the excellency of His favor and goodness.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE ACCOUNT OF HOW CERTAIN PEOPLES OF THE KANAANITES PRACTICED A STRATAGEM, AND OBTAINED PROTECTION OF THE KING.

AFTER the capture of the city, the king and his people returned unto the place which was named Jalîl. And they took no notice until there came unto them a company of men whose faces were blackened, and their garments and shoes worn out, and with them was bread that had become putrid. And they approached unto the king and unto the chiefs of the children of Isrâîl, in this place, and saluted them, as the like of them were wont to salute, and they prostrated themselves before the assembly; then they said to the king: "We seek protection of thee and of thy people, that we may exist in your company; for we are of those who choose for ourselves, God your Lord." And he answered them: "Verily I will not grant protection unto you, unless ye inform me who ye are and from what place ye come." And they answered him: "We are people from a far distance, we have heard of your fame, and what signs and wonders God-Powerful and Mighty-has revealed to the children of Isrâîl, even in the sea, and in the desert, and in Wâdy el-Mûjib,1 and what has happened unto the kings through you. And now, O king, we have repaired unto thee that we might be in the company of those who beg protection with thee; for we believe in thy Lord, and we will not resist whatever thou shalt prescribe unto us, be it small or great. And behold thou seest our

1 Note 46.