Description
These images from Walters manuscript W.106 depict scenes from the story of Joshua. Top: A man named Achan had stolen some things,which had been promised to God, from Jericho, and because of this the people of Israel fled before the men of Ai. Achan confessed his crime to Joshua; he had stolen silver and gold. The Israelites took Achan and his family, and stoned them.
Bottom: Under the command of Joshua, the Israelites captured the city of Ai.
Provenance
Léon Gruel, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, June 6, 1903, by purchase [see The Diaries of George Lucas]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions
[Translation] the inscription ABOVE the image has been partially cut off, but the remainder reads: ...gold and silver and bronze. They were stoned to death; [Transliteration] ...mens d[']or de arge[n]t [e] d[']areim. il furent lapidez.
[Translation] the inscription BELOW the image reads: The Hebrews took the city of Ai and killed the citizens and burned the city; [Transliteration] les ebreus p[ri]strent la cite de hay, e tuerent les citezeins e alumerent la vile.
Credit
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1903