Martin Luther - "Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther"

Ulysses S. Grant - "State of the Union Addresses of Ulysses S. Grant"

Rosa Nouchette Carey - "Esther"

William Makepeace Thackeray - "Vanity Fair"

The Antiquities of the Jews

F >> Flavius Josephus >> The Antiquities of the Jews




5. By this means Moses pacified the people, and restrained them
from stoning him, and brought them to repent of what they were
going to do. And because he thought the necessity they were under
made their passion less unjustifiable, he thought he ought to
apply himself to God by prayer and supplication; and going up to
an eminence, he requested of God for some succor for the people,
and some way of deliverance from the want they were in, because
in him, and in him alone, was their hope of salvation; and he
desired that he would forgive what necessity had forced the
people to do, since such was the nature of mankind, hard to
please, and very complaining under adversities. Accordingly God
promised he would take care of them, and afford them the succor
they were desirous of. Now when Moses had heard this from God, he
came down to the multitude. But as soon as they saw him joyful at
the promises he had received from God, they changed their sad
countenances into gladness. So he placed himself in the midst of
them, and told them he came to bring them from God a deliverance
from their present distresses. Accordingly a little after came a
vast number of quails, which is a bird more plentiful in this
Arabian Gulf than any where else, flying over the sea, and
hovered over them, till wearied with their laborious flight, and,
indeed, as usual, flying very near to the earth, they fell down
upon the Hebrews, who caught them, and satisfied their hunger
with them, and supposed that this was the method whereby God
meant to supply them with food. Upon which Moses returned thanks
to God for affording them his assistance so suddenly, and sooner
than he had promised them.

6. But presently after this first supply of food, he sent them a
second; for as Moses was lifting up his hands in prayer, a dew
fell down; and Moses, when he found it stick to his hands,
supposed this was also come for food from God to them. He tasted
it; and perceiving that the people knew not what it was, and
thought it snowed, and that it was what usually fell at that time
of the year, he informed them that this dew did not fall from
heaven after the manner they imagined, but came for their
preservation and sustenance. So he tasted it, and gave them some
of it, that they might be satisfied about what he told them. They
also imitated their conductor, and were pleased with the food,
for it was like honey in sweetness and pleasant taste, but like
in its body to bdellium, one of the sweet spices, and in bigness
equal to coriander seed. And very earnest they were in gathering
it; but they were enjoined to gather it equally (3) - the measure
of an omer for each one every day, because this food should not
come in too small a quantity, lest the weaker might not be able
to get their share, by reason of the overbearing of the strong in
collecting it. However, these strong men, when they had gathered
more than the measure appointed for them, had no more than
others, but only tired themselves more in gathering it, for they
found no more than an omer apiece; and the advantage they got by
what was superfluous was none at all, it corrupting, both by the
worms breeding in it, and by its bitterness. So divine and
wonderful a food was this! It also supplied the want of other
sorts of food to those that fed on it. And even now, in all that
place, this manna comes down in rain, (4) according to what Moses
then obtained of God, to send it to the people for their
sustenance. Now the Hebrews call this food manna: for the
particle man, in our language, is the asking of a question. What
is this ? So the Hebrews were very joyful at what was sent them
from heaven. Now they made use of this food for forty years, or
as long as they were in the wilderness.

7. As soon as they were removed thence, they came to Rephidim,
being distressed to the last degree by thirst; and while in the
foregoing days they had lit on a few small fountains, but now
found the earth entirely destitute of water, they were in an evil
case. They again turned their anger against Moses; but he at
first avoided the fury of the multitude, and then betook himself
to prayer to God, beseeching him, that as he had given them food
when they were in the greatest want of it, so he would give them
drink, since the favor of giving them food was of no value to
them while they had nothing to drink. And God did not long delay
to give it them, but promised Moses that he would procure them a
fountain, and plenty of water, from a place they did not expect
any. So he commanded him to smite the rock which they saw lying
there, (5) with his rod, and out of it to receive plenty of what
they wanted; for he had taken care that drink should come to them
without any labor or pains-taking. When Moses had received this
command from God, he came to the people, who waited for him, and
looked upon him, for they saw already that he was coming apace
from his eminence. As soon as he was come, he told them that God
would deliver them from their present distress, and had granted
them an unexpected favor; and informed them, that a river should
run for their sakes out of the rock. But they were amazed at that
hearing, supposing they were of necessity to cut the rock in
pieces, now they were distressed by their thirst and by their
journey; while Moses only smiting the rock with his rod, opened a
passage, and out of it burst water, and that in great abundance,
and very clear. But they were astonished at this wonderful
effect; and, as it were, quenched their thirst by the very sight
of it. So they drank this pleasant, this sweet water; and such it
seemed to be, as might well be expected where God was the donor.
They were also in admiration how Moses was honored by God; and
they made grateful returns of sacrifices to God for his
providence towards them. Now that Scripture, which is laid up in
the temple, (6) informs us, how God foretold to Moses, that water
timid in this manner be derived out of the rock.'

CHAPTER 2.

How The Amalekites And The Neighbouring Nations, Made War With
The Hebrews And Were Beaten And Lost A Great Part Of Their Army.

1. The name of the Hebrews began already to be every where
renowned, and rumors about them ran abroad. This made the
inhabitants of those countries to be in no small fear.
Accordingly they sent ambassadors to one another, and exhorted
one another to defend themselves, and to endeavor to destroy
these men. Those that induced the rest to do so, were such as
inhabited Gobolitis and Petra. They were called Amalekites, and
were the most warlike of the nations that lived thereabout; and
whose kings exhorted one another, and their neighbors, to go to
this war against the Hebrews; telling them that an army of
strangers, and such a one as had run away from slavery under the
Egyptians, lay in wait to ruin them; which army they were not, in
common prudence and regard to their own safety, to overlook, but
to crush them before they gather strength, and come to be in
prosperity: and perhaps attack them first in a hostile manner, as
presuming upon our indolence in not attacking them before; and
that we ought to avenge ourselves of them for what they have done
in the wilderness, but that this cannot be so well done when they
have once laid their hands on our cities and our goods: that
those who endeavor to crush a power in its first rise, are wiser
than those that endeavor to put a stop to its progress when it is
become formidable; for these last seem to be angry only at the
flourishing of others, but the former do not leave any room for
their enemies to become troublesome to them. After they had sent
such embassages to the neighboring nations, and among one
another, they resolved to attack the Hebrews in battle.

2. These proceedings of the people of those countries occasioned
perplexity and trouble to Moses, who expected no such warlike
preparations. And when these nations were ready to fight, and the
multitude of the Hebrews were obliged to try the fortune of war,
they were in a mighty disorder, and in want of all necessaries,
and yet were to make war with men who were thoroughly well
prepared for it. Then therefore it was that Moses began to
encourage them, and to exhort them to have a good heart, and rely
on God's assistance by which they had been state of freedom and
to hope for victory over those who were ready to fight with them,
in order to deprive them of that blessing: that they were to
suppose their own army to be numerous, wanting nothing, neither
weapons, nor money, nor provisions, nor such other conveniences
as, when men are in possession of, they fight undauntedly; and
that they are to judge themselves to have all these advantages in
the Divine assistance. They are also to suppose the enemy's army
to be small, unarmed, weak, and such as want those conveniences
which they know must be wanted, when it is God's will that they
shall be beaten; and how valuable God's assistance is, they had
experienced in abundance of trials; and those such as were more
terrible than war, for that is only against men; but these were
against famine and thirst, things indeed that are in their own
nature insuperable; as also against mountains, and that sea which
afforded them no way for escaping; yet had all these difficulties
been conquered by God's gracious kindness to them. So he exhorted
them to be courageous at this time, and to look upon their entire
prosperity to depend on the present conquest of their enemies.

3. And with these words did Moses encourage the multitude, who
then called together the princes of their tribes, and their chief
men, both separately and conjointly. The young men he charged to
obey their elders, and the elders to hearken to their leader. So
the people were elevated in their minds, and ready to try their
fortune in battle, and hoped to be thereby at length delivered
from all their miseries: nay, they desired that Moses would
immediately lead them against their enemies without the least
delay, that no backwardness might be a hindrance to their present
resolution. So Moses sorted all that were fit for war into
different troops, and set Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of
Ephraim, over them; one that was of great courage, and patient to
undergo labors; of great abilities to understand, and to speak
what was proper; and very serious in the worship of God; and
indeed made like another Moses, a teacher of piety towards God.
He also appointed a small party of the armed men to be near the
water, and to take care of the children, and the women, and of
the entire camp. So that whole night they prepared themselves for
the battle; they took their weapons, if any of them had such as
were well made, and attended to their commanders as ready to rush
forth to the battle as soon as Moses should give the word of
command. Moses also kept awake, teaching Joshua after what manner
he should order his camp. But when the day began, Moses called
for Joshua again, and exhorted him to approve himself in deeds
such a one as a his reputation made men expect from him; and to
gain glory by the present expedition, in the opinion of those
under him, for his exploits in this battle. He also gave a
particular exhortation to the principal men of the Hebrews, and
encouraged the whole army as it stood armed before him. And when
he had thus animated the army, both by his words and works, and
prepared every thing, he retired to a mountain, and committed the
army to God and to Joshua.

4. So the armies joined battle; and it came to a close fight,
hand to hand, both sides showing great alacrity, and encouraging
one another. And indeed while Moses stretched out his hand
towards heaven (7) the Hebrews were too hard for the Amalekites:
but Moses not being able to sustain his hands thus stretched out,
(for as often as he let down his hands, so often were his own
people worsted,) he bade his brother Aaron, and Hur their sister
Miriam's husband, to stand on each side of him, and take hold of
his hands, and not permit his weariness to prevent it, but to
assist him in the extension of his hands. When this was done, the
Hebrews conquered the Amalekites by main force; and indeed they
had all perished, unless the approach of the night had obliged
the Hebrews to desist from killing any more. So our forefathers
obtained a most signal and most seasonable victory; for they not
only overcame those that fought against them, but terrified also
the neighboring nations, and got great and splendid advantages,
which they obtained of their enemies by their hard pains in this
battle: for when they had taken the enemy's camp, they got ready
booty for the public, and for their own private families, whereas
till then they had not any sort of plenty, of even necessary
food. The forementioned battle, when they had once got it, was
also the occasion of their prosperity, not only for the present,
but for the future ages also; for they not only made slaves of
the bodies of their enemies, but subdued their minds also, and
after this battle, became terrible to all that dwelt round about
them. Moreover, they acquired a vast quantity of riches; for a
great deal of silver and gold was left in the enemy's camp; as
also brazen vessels, which they made common use of in their
families; many utensils also that were embroidered there were of
both sorts, that is, of what were weaved, and what were the
ornaments of their armor, and other things that served for use in
the family, and for the furniture of their rooms; they got also
the prey of their cattle, and of whatsoever uses to follow camps,
when they remove from one place to another. So the Hebrews now
valued themselves upon their courage, and claimed great merit for
their valor; and they perpetually inured themselves to take
pains, by which they deemed every difficulty might be surmounted.
Such were the consequences of this battle.

5. On the next day, Moses stripped the dead bodies of their
enemies, and gathered together the armor of those that were fled,
and gave rewards to such as had signalized themselves in the
action; and highly commended Joshua, their general, who was
attested to by all the army, on account of the great actions he
had done. Nor was any one of the Hebrews slain; but the slain of
the enemy's army were too many to be enumerated. So Moses offered
sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, and built an altar, which he
named The Lord the Conqueror. He also foretold that the
Amalekites should utterly be destroyed; and that hereafter none
of them should remain, because they fought against the Hebrews,
and this when they were in the wilderness, and in their distress
also. Moreover, he refreshed the army with feasting. And thus did
they fight this first battle with those that ventured to oppose
them, after they were gone out of Egypt. But when Moses had
celebrated this festival for the victory, he permitted the
Hebrews to rest for a few days, and then he brought them out
after the fight, in order of battle; for they had now many
soldiers in light armor. And going gradually on, he came to Mount
Sinai, in three months' time after they were removed out of
Egypt; at which mountain, as we have before related, the vision
of the bush, and the other wonderful appearances, had happened.

CHAPTER 3.

That Moses Kindly Received-His Father-In-Law, Jethro, When He
Came To Him To Mount Sinai.

Now when Raguel, Moses's father-in-law, understood in what a
prosperous condition his affairs were, he willingly came to meet
him. And Moses and his children, and pleased himself with his
coming. And when he had offered sacrifice, he made a feast for
the multitude, near the Bush he had formerly seen; which
multitude, every one according to their families, partook of the
feast. But Aaron and his family took Raguel, and sung hymns to
God, as to Him who had been the author procurer of their
deliverance and their freedom. They also praised their conductor,
as him by whose virtue it was that all things had succeeded with
them. Raguel also, in his eucharistical oration to Moses, made
great encomiums upon the whole multitude; and he could not but
admire Moses for his fortitude, and that humanity he had shewn in
the delivery of his friends.

CHAPTER 4.

How Raguel Suggested To Moses To Set His People In Order, Under
Their Rulers Of Thousands, And Rulers Of Hundreds, Who Lived
Without Order Before; And How Moses Complied In All Things With
His Father-In-Law's Admonition.

1. The next day, as Raguel saw Moses in the of a crowd of
business for he determined the differences of those that referred
them to him, every one still going to him, and supposing that
they should then only obtain justice, if he were the arbitrator;
and those that lost their causes thought it no harm, while they
thought they lost them justly, and not by partiality. Raguel
however said nothing to him at that time, as not desirous to be
any hinderance to such as had a mind to make use of the virtue of
their conductor. But afterward he took him to himself, and when
he had him alone, he instructed him in what he ought to do; and
advised him to leave the trouble of lesser causes to others, but
himself to take care of the greater, and of the people's safety,
for that certain others of the Hebrews might be found that were
fit to determine causes, but that nobody but a Moses could take
of the safety of so many ten thousands. "Be therefore," says he,
"insensible of thine own virtue, and what thou hast done by
ministering under God to the people's preservation. Permit,
therefore, the determination of common causes to be done by
others, but do thou reserve thyself to the attendance on God
only, and look out for methods of preserving the multitude from
their present distress. Make use of the method I suggest to you,
as to human affairs; and take a review of the army, and appoint
chosen rulers over tens of thousands, and then over thousands;
then divide them into five hundreds, and again into hundreds, and
into fifties; and set rulers over each of them, who may
distinguish them into thirties, and keep them in order; and at
last number them by twenties and by tens: and let there be one
commander over each number, to be denominated from the number of
those over whom they are rulers, but such as the whole multitude
have tried, and do approve of, as being good and righteous men;
(8) and let those rulers decide the controversies they have one
with another. But if any great cause arise, let them bring the
cognizance of it before the rulers of a higher dignity; but if
any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their
determination, let them send it to thee. By these means two
advantages will be gained; the Hebrews will have justice done
them, and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on God, and
procure him to be more favorable to the people."

2. This was the admonition of Raguel; and Moses received his
advice very kindly, and acted according to his suggestion. Nor
did he conceal the invention of this method, nor pretend to it
himself, but informed the multitude who it was that invented it:
nay, he has named Raguel in the books he wrote, as the person who
invented this ordering of the people, as thinking it right to
give a true testimony to worthy persons, although he might have
gotten reputation by ascribing to himself the inventions of other
men; whence we may learn the virtuous disposition of Moses: but
of such his disposition, we shall have proper occasion to speak
in other places of these books.

CHAPTER 5.

How Moses Ascended Up To Mount Sinai, And Received Laws From God,
And Delivered Them To The Hebrews.

1. Now Moses called the multitude together, and told them that he
was going from them unto mount Sinai to converse with God; to
receive from him, and to bring back with him, a certain oracle;
but he enjoined them to pitch their tents near the mountain, and
prefer the habitation that was nearest to God, before one more
remote. When he had said this, he ascended up to Mount Sinai,
which is the highest of all the mountains that are in that
country (9) and is not only very difficult to be ascended by men,
on account of its vast altitude, but because of the sharpness of
its precipices also; nay, indeed, it cannot be looked at without
pain of the eyes: and besides this, it was terrible and
inaccessible, on account of the rumor that passed about, that God
dwelt there. But the Hebrews removed their tents as Moses had
bidden them, and took possession of the lowest parts of the
mountain; and were elevated in their minds, in expectation that
Moses would return from God with promises of the good things he
had proposed to them. So they feasted and waited for their
conductor, and kept themselves pure as in other respects, and not
accompanying with their wives for three days, as he had before
ordered them to do. And they prayed to God that he would
favorably receive Moses in his conversing with him, and bestow
some such gift upon them by which they might live well. They also
lived more plentifully as to their diet; and put on their wives
and children more ornamental and decent clothing than they
usually wore.

2. So they passed two days in this way of feasting; but on the
third day, before the sun was up, a cloud spread itself over the
whole camp of the Hebrews, such a one as none had before seen,
and encompassed the place where they had pitched their tents; and
while all the rest of the air was clear, there came strong winds,
that raised up large showers of rain, which became a mighty
tempest. There was also such lightning, as was terrible to those
that saw it; and thunder, with its thunderbolts, were sent down,
and declared God to be there present in a gracious way to such as
Moses desired he should be gracious. Now, as to these matters,
every one of my readers may think as he pleases; but I am under a
necessity of relating this history as it is described in the
sacred books. This sight, and the amazing sound that came to
their ears, disturbed the Hebrews to a prodigious degree, for
they were not such as they were accustomed to; and then the rumor
that was spread abroad, how God frequented that mountain, greatly
astonished their minds, so they sorrowfully contained themselves
within their tents, as both supposing Moses to be destroyed by
the Divine wrath, and expecting the like destruction for
themselves.

3. When they were under these apprehensions, Moses appeared as
joyful and greatly exalted. When they saw him, they were freed
from their fear, and admitted of more comfortable hopes as to
what was to come. The air also was become clear and pure of its
former disorders, upon the appearance of Moses; whereupon he
called together the people to a congregation, in order to their
hearing what God would say to them: and when they were gathered
together, he stood on an eminence whence they might all hear him,
and said, "God has received me graciously, O Hebrews, as he has
formerly done; and has suggested a happy method of living for
you, and an order of political government, and is now present in
the camp: I therefore charge you, for his sake and the sake of
his works, and what we have done by his means, that you do not
put a low value on what I am going to say, because the commands
have been given by me that now deliver them to you, nor because
it is the tongue of a man that delivers them to you; but if you
have a due regard to the great importance of the things
themselves, you will understand the greatness of Him whose
institutions they are, and who has not disdained to communicate
them to me for our common advantage; for it is not to be supposed
that the author of these institutions is barely Moses, the son of
Amram and Jochebed, but He who obliged the Nile to run bloody for
your sakes, and tamed the haughtiness of the Egyptians by various
sorts of judgments; he who provided a way through the sea for us;
he who contrived a method of sending us food from heaven, when we
were distressed for want of it; he who made the water to issue
out of a rock, when we had very little of it before; he by whose
means Adam was made to partake of the fruits both of the land and
of the sea; he by whose means Noah escaped the deluge; he by
whose means our forefather Abraham, of a wandering pilgrim, was
made the heir of the land of Canaan; he by whose means Isaac was
born of parents that were very old; he by whose means Jacob was
adorned with twelve virtuous sons; he by whose means Joseph
became a potent lord over the Egyptians; he it is who conveys
these instructions to you by me as his interpreter. And let them
be to you venerable, and contended for more earnestly by you than
your own children and your own wives; for if you will follow
them, you will lead a happy life you will enjoy the land
fruitful, the sea calm, and the fruit of the womb born complete,
as nature requires; you will be also terrible to your enemies for
I have been admitted into the presence of God and been made a
hearer of his incorruptible voice so great is his concern for
your nation, and its duration."

Copyright (c) 2007. topbookz.net. All rights reserved.