poised at the very entrance to Canaan and we have two Israelites walking around Jericho. Disguised as Canaanites.”
“It could be coincidence that they decided to come at this time.”
“Perhaps.” Mepu did not look convinced.
Shemu bit into his own crusty slice of fresh baked bread. “What do you think we should do?”
“We could turn them in to the authorities, I suppose, but Rahab was right. I cannot forget the debt I owe them. Without that young man’s intervention . . .”
Shemu nodded. “They were good to her. The son saved her from the slavers and the father kept her safe. No one molested her. And he sent for us to come and get her. There was no reason except for kindness for them to have been so careful of her welfare.”
Mepu looked glum. “I know.”
“They are rich too, Father. I saw their house in Ramac, and Rahab said the father owns many ships. Families like that might hesitate to throw in their lot with a group of barbarian invaders. The Israelites have lived in this country for as long as we have. Why should their loyalty be to this foreign group and not to us?”
Mepu took another bite of bread. “Perhaps you are right, Shemu. In truth, I do not know what to think about them.”
Shemu said, “Let us look at this situation differently. If they are here as spies, they will be planning to report whatever they find out to the Israelite army. Is this not so?”
Mepu nodded agreement.
“But what is there to report? They will have to inform the Israelites that the walls of Jericho are unassailable, that the city is stocked with grain, and, finally, that one of the finest springs in all of Canaan lies within the safety of our walls. Even if the whole of the surrounding countryside moves into the city, we can withstand an extended siege.”
“They would be spies who bring only bad news to their people.”
Shemu smiled. “Perhaps it would not be a bad thing for them to carry that news to our enemy.”
“Clever thinking. Very clever.”
Shemu looked pleased. “And there is always the possibility they are not spies at all. They might be here for the reason they gave us. They might want to do business with us.”
Mepu’s jaw tightened. “If that is the case, we must be certain they deal with us and not with the greedy nobles. Those bloodsuckers would buy up all of our produce and sell it at an inflated price.”
“They said they had already spoken to a few nobles. We must act quickly if we are not to lose out.”
“Yes. I said I would be in touch with them. After breakfast you must go to their inn and see if you can set up a meeting.”
They both turned their heads as they heard the sound of steps on the stairs. It was Kata. She gave them an approving smile as she came into the room. “I see you have been to the bake shop already.”
“We have, Mother.”
“Did you sleep well, my husband? Did you sleep well, my son?”
Both men assured her they had.
“Good. I will get the water and the fruit from the storage room. Rahab and Atene will be down soon.”
As she left the room, Shemu said softly, “What are you going to do about Rahab, Father?”
“What do you mean?”
“The prince noticed her yesterday.”
Mepu didn’t reply at first. Finally he said, “I don’t want Rahab to have anything to do with the prince. He will not be looking to marry her, and I do not want your sister to be some man’s courtesan. She was not brought up for that.”
“We need to find her a husband without delay then. Otherwise there will be little we can do if royalty wants her.”
They both turned their eyes to the staircase. Rahab’s voice could be heard from the second floor. Mepu said, “We must not be here if the prince’s messenger comes. If she is unavailable he may forget about her.”
Shemu agreed as Kata came back into the room with the jug of water and some cups. As she was putting them on the table beside the basket of bread, Rahab and Atene came into the room.
Mepu looked
“It could be coincidence that they decided to come at this time.”
“Perhaps.” Mepu did not look convinced.
Shemu bit into his own crusty slice of fresh baked bread. “What do you think we should do?”
“We could turn them in to the authorities, I suppose, but Rahab was right. I cannot forget the debt I owe them. Without that young man’s intervention . . .”
Shemu nodded. “They were good to her. The son saved her from the slavers and the father kept her safe. No one molested her. And he sent for us to come and get her. There was no reason except for kindness for them to have been so careful of her welfare.”
Mepu looked glum. “I know.”
“They are rich too, Father. I saw their house in Ramac, and Rahab said the father owns many ships. Families like that might hesitate to throw in their lot with a group of barbarian invaders. The Israelites have lived in this country for as long as we have. Why should their loyalty be to this foreign group and not to us?”
Mepu took another bite of bread. “Perhaps you are right, Shemu. In truth, I do not know what to think about them.”
Shemu said, “Let us look at this situation differently. If they are here as spies, they will be planning to report whatever they find out to the Israelite army. Is this not so?”
Mepu nodded agreement.
“But what is there to report? They will have to inform the Israelites that the walls of Jericho are unassailable, that the city is stocked with grain, and, finally, that one of the finest springs in all of Canaan lies within the safety of our walls. Even if the whole of the surrounding countryside moves into the city, we can withstand an extended siege.”
“They would be spies who bring only bad news to their people.”
Shemu smiled. “Perhaps it would not be a bad thing for them to carry that news to our enemy.”
“Clever thinking. Very clever.”
Shemu looked pleased. “And there is always the possibility they are not spies at all. They might be here for the reason they gave us. They might want to do business with us.”
Mepu’s jaw tightened. “If that is the case, we must be certain they deal with us and not with the greedy nobles. Those bloodsuckers would buy up all of our produce and sell it at an inflated price.”
“They said they had already spoken to a few nobles. We must act quickly if we are not to lose out.”
“Yes. I said I would be in touch with them. After breakfast you must go to their inn and see if you can set up a meeting.”
They both turned their heads as they heard the sound of steps on the stairs. It was Kata. She gave them an approving smile as she came into the room. “I see you have been to the bake shop already.”
“We have, Mother.”
“Did you sleep well, my husband? Did you sleep well, my son?”
Both men assured her they had.
“Good. I will get the water and the fruit from the storage room. Rahab and Atene will be down soon.”
As she left the room, Shemu said softly, “What are you going to do about Rahab, Father?”
“What do you mean?”
“The prince noticed her yesterday.”
Mepu didn’t reply at first. Finally he said, “I don’t want Rahab to have anything to do with the prince. He will not be looking to marry her, and I do not want your sister to be some man’s courtesan. She was not brought up for that.”
“We need to find her a husband without delay then. Otherwise there will be little we can do if royalty wants her.”
They both turned their eyes to the staircase. Rahab’s voice could be heard from the second floor. Mepu said, “We must not be here if the prince’s messenger comes. If she is unavailable he may forget about her.”
Shemu agreed as Kata came back into the room with the jug of water and some cups. As she was putting them on the table beside the basket of bread, Rahab and Atene came into the room.
Mepu looked
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