Josephus’s words are these, under bk. 5, [at the] beginning: “When JESUS [Joshua] had fixed [his] camp there, suddenly the spies came. Ignorant of none of these [things] which were being done among the Canaanites, they first secretly and freely considered the whole city of them, and at once the walls — whichever [were] strong, and which did not seem so [well] guarded — and [they considered] also the gates, [whether] some were fragile [and] would afford an opportune entrance to invaders. But the citizens did not care [that] whoever saw them [was] considering these [things], thinking [that] the foreigners, for the sake of seeing, were most aptly scrutinizing the single places of the city, not however with hostile intent. And when [it] had become evening, and, descending, they had come into a certain dwelling near the wall — in which also they were about to dine — and there was now to them a care of departing, [it] was announced to the King [as he was] dining, that certain spies of the city, coming from the Hebrews’ army, were in Rahab’s dwelling, set [there] with much providence of hiding. But he suddenly ordered them, [when] apprehended, to be led [to him], so that, torturing them, he might learn with what intent they were present. And when Rahab recognized their invasion [the search] (for above the wall she was drying flax-stalks), she hid the spies indeed there. But to those who had been sent by the King, she said that the foreigners indeed [were] unknown, [and had been] a little before, before the sun set, with her, and, dining, had departed — whom, if they esteemed [them] to have come bearing terror to the city and danger to the King, [the King’s men] would without labor apprehend [by] pursuing [them]. But those [King’s men], the woman thus speaking, esteeming no guile of hers, departed, neither scrutinizing her dwelling. And when they had gone through the ways by which they especially believed them to go, and which would lead
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to the fords of the Jordan, and would recognize no token [of them], they rested from labor. But, the commotion settled, Rahab, leading down the men, and making [taking on] danger for their safety [as if it were] her own — [danger] which, if [they] had been caught in their hiding, [would mean] she would in no way have escaped the King’s punishments, but with [her] whole house would have most badly perished — asked that they might keep memory of her, and that, while they should obtain the land of the Canaanites, they should render to her the recompense of this her safety.” She recalls all these [things] to the balance [examination], in more questions, Abulensis quaest. 17–23; but to tarry in these [there is] no need. For, either from [things] now said, or from [things] to be said, all [things] are manifest. Yet in this old version, which Abulensis follows — the Rufinian [Rufinus’s] version — [some things] could be noted. First, [it is] to be read latentes [“hiding”] for latenter [“secretly”]; for in Greek [it] is λαθόντες [lathontes, “having escaped notice”]. Secondly, for “most aptly for the sake of seeing,” [it is] to be read “most aptly for the foreigners”; for [it] is said ἱστορία τοῖς ξένοις προσήκουσα [historia tois xenois prosēkousa, “an inquiry befitting the foreigners”]. Thirdly, for “there she hid [them],” [it is] to be read “in those [things],” namely the flax-stalks — τὰς ταύτας ἀγκαλίδας ἀποκρύψας [tas tautas ankalidas apokrypsas, “hiding these bundles”]. Fourthly, for “making danger for their safety,” and the rest, [it is] more congruently to the Greek text to be turned thus: “And [taking on] the danger which she would undergo for their safety (for if [they] were caught, [it would be found that] she had hidden them, etc.), she exhorted [them] that they should hold [her] in memory, and, [when] made possessors of the Canaanites’ land, could render [her] the recompense of this present saving of hers.” [There] are, in the same version, other [readings] — but of almost less moment.