but when that removed they journeyed also. | them who exhorted them not to be unmind. 6. Moreover, Moses was the inventor of ful of Moses, and of what great pains he had the form of their trumpet, which was made been at about their common safety; and not of silver. Its description is this:-In length to despair of assistance from God. The mul it was little less than a cubit. It was com- titude thereupon became still more unruly, posed of a narrow tube, somewhat thicker and more mutinous against Moses than bethan a flute, but with so much breadth as was fore. Hereupon Moses, although he was so sufficient for admission of the breath of a basely abused by them, encouraged them in man's mouth: it ended in the form of a bell, their despairing condition, and promised that like common trumpets. Its sound was called he would procure them a great quantity of in the Hebrew tongue Asosra. Two of these flesh-meat, and that not for a few days only, being made, one of them was sounded when but for many days. This they were not will. they required the multitude to come togethering to believe; and when one of them asked to congregations. When the first of them whence he could obtain such vast plenty of gave a signal, the heads of the tribes were to what he promised, he replied, "Neither God assemble, and consult about the affairs to nor I, although we hear such opprobrious lanthem properly belonging; but when they gave guage from you, will leave off our labours the signal by both of them, they called the for you; and this shall soon appear also." multitude together. Whenever the tabernacle As soon as ever he had said this, the whol was removed, it was done in this solemn or- camp was filled with quails, and they stood der:At the first alarm of the trumpet, those round about them, and gathered them in great whose tents were on the east quarter prepared numbers. However, it was not long ere to remove; when the second signal was given, God punished the Hebrews for their inso those that were on the south quarter did the lence, and those reproaches they had used to like; in the next place, the tabernacle was wards him, for no small number of them taken to pieces, and was carried in the midst died; and still to this day the place retains of six tribes that went before, and of six that the memory of this destruction, and is named followed, all the Levites assisting about the Kibroth-hattaavah, which is, The Graves tabernacle; when the third signal was given, that part which had their tents towards the west put themselves in motion; and at the fourth signal those on the north did so likewise. They also made use of these trumpets in their sacred ministrations, when they were bringing their sacrifices to the altar, as well on the Sabbaths as on the rest of the [festival] days; and now it was that Moses offered that sacrifice which was called the Passover in the Wilderness, as the first he had offered after the departure out of Egypt. CHAPTER XIIL HOW MOSES REMOVED FROM MOUNT SINAI, BORDERS OF THE CANAANITES. Lust. CHAPTER XIV. HOW MOSES SENT SOME PERSONS TO SEARCH § 1. WHEN Moses had led the Hebrews away from thence to a place called Paran, which was near to the borders of the Canaanites, and a A LITTLE while afterwards he rose up, and place difficult to be continued in, he gathered went from mount Sinai; and, having passed the multitude together to a congregation. through several mansions, of which we and standing in the midst of them, he said will speak anon, he came to a place called "Of the two things that God determined to Hazeroth, where the multitude began again to bestow upon us, Liberty, and the Possession be mutinous, and to blame Moses for the mis- of a Happy Country, the one of them ye al Fortunes they had suffered in their travels; ready are partakers of, by the gift of God and that when he had persuaded them to leave and the other you will quickly obtain; for a good land, they at once had lost that land, we now have our abode near the borders of and instead of that happy state he had pro- the Canaanites, and nothing can hinder the mised them, they were still wandering in their acquisition of it, when we now at last are present miserable condition, being already in fallen upon it: I say, not only no king not want of water; and if the manna should hap-city, but neither the whole race of mankind, pen to fail, they must then utterly perish. if they were all gathered together, could de Yet while they generally spake many and it. Let us therefore prepare ourselves fo sore things against the man, there vas one of the work for the Canaanites will not resign Thus did these two exhort them, and endeavour to pacify the rage they were in. But Moses and Aaron fell on the ground, and besought God, not for their own deliverance but that he would put a stop to what th people were unwarily doing, and would brin their minds to a quiet temper, which were now disordered by their present passion. The cloud also did now appear, and stood over the tabernacle, and declared to them the presence of God to be there. up their land to us without fighting, but it could hinder men of true courage from atmust be wrested from them by great struggles tempting them, especially while God would in war. Let us then send spies, who may take care of them beforehand, and be assis take a view of the goodness of the land, and tant to them. "Let us then go," said they, what strength it is of; but, above all things," against our enemies, and have no suspicion let us be of one mind, and let us honour God, of ill success, trusting in God to conduct us, who above all is our helper and assister." and following those that are to be our lead2 When Moses had said thus, the multi-ers.' tude requited him with marks of respect; and chose twelve spies, of the most eminent men, one out of each tribe, who, passing over all the land of Canaan from the borders of Egypt, came to the city Hamath, and to mount Lebanon; and having learned the nature of the land, and of its inhabitants, they came home, having spent forty days in the whole work. They also brought with them of the fruits which the land bare; they also showed them the excellency of those fruits, and gave an account of the great quantity of the good things that land afforded, which were motives to the multitude to go to war. But then they terrified them, again with the great difficulty there was in obtaining it; that the rivers were so large and deep that they could not be passed over; and that the hills were so high that they could not travel along for them; that the cities were strong with walls, and their firm fortifications round about them. They told them also, that they found at Hebron, the posterity of the giants. Ac-§ 1. MOSES came now boldly to the multicordingly these spies, who had seen the land of Canaan, when they perceived that all these difficulties were greater there than they had met with since they came out of Egypt, they were affrighted at them themselves, and endeavoured to affright the multitude also. CHAPTER XV. HOW MOSES WAS DISPLEASED AT THIS, AND tude, and informed them that God was moved at their abuse of him, and would inflict punishment upon them, not indeed such as they deserved for their sins, but such as parents inflict on their children, in order to their correction: For, he said, that when he was in the tabernacle, and was bewailing with tears that 3. So they supposed, from what they had eard, that it was impossible to get the pos-destruction which was coming upon them, God ession of the country. And when the congretation was dissolved, they, their wives and children, continued their lamentation, as if God would not indeed assist them, but only promised them fair. They also again blamed Moses, and made a clamour against him and his brother Aaron, the high-priest. Accordingly they passed that night very ill, and with contumelious language against them; but in the morning they ran to a congregation, intending to stone Moses and Aaron, and so to return back into Egypt. 4. But of the spies, there were Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb of the tribe of Judah, that were afraid of the consequence, and came into the midst of them, and stilled the multitude, and desired them to be of good courage; and neither to condemn God, as having told them lies, nor to hearken to those who had affright ed them, by telling them what was not true oncerning the Canaanites, but to those that ncouraged them to hope for good success; and that they should gain possession of the happiness promised them, because neither the aeight of mountains nor the depth of rivers put him in mind what things he had done for them, and what benefits they had received from him, and yet how ungrateful they had been to him; that just now they had been induced, through the timorousness of the spies, to think that their words were truer than his own promise to them; and that on this account, though he would not indeed destroy them all, nor utterly exterminate their nation, which he had honoured more than any other part of mankind, yet he would not permit them to take possession of the land of Canaan, nor enjoy its happiness; but would make them wander in the wilderness, and live without a fixed habitation, and without a city, for forty years together, as a punishment for this their transgression; but that he hath promised to give that land to our children, and that he would make them the possessors of those good things which, by your ungoverned passions, you have deprived yourselves of. 2. When Moses had discoursed thus to then., according to the direction of God, the multitu grieved, and were in affliction; and entreated 'oses to procure their reconcilia tion to God, ad to permit them no longer to wander in the wilderness, but to bestow cities | toms made inconsistent there with; some of upon them; but he replied, that God would these did not sacrifice at all, and others left not admit of any such trial, for that God was their sacrifices in an imperfect condition; nay, not moved to this determination from any bu- many were not able, even at first, so much as man levity or anger, but that he had judici- to enter into the temple, but went their ways ally condemned them to that punishment. in this state, as preferring a submission to the Now we are not to disbelieve that Moses, laws of Moses before the fulfilling of their own who was but a single person, pacified so many inclinations, even when they had no fear upor ten thousands when they were in anger, and them that any body could convict them, but converted them to a mildness of temper; for only out of a reverence to their own conGod was with him, and prepared the way to science. Thus this legislation, which appeared bis persuasions of the multitude; and as they to be divine, made this man to be esteemed had often been disobedient, they were now as one superior to his own nature. Nay, far sensible that such disobedience was disadvan-ther, a little before the beginning of this tageous to them, and that they had still there- war, when Claudius was emperor of the Ro by fallen into calamities. mans, and Ismael was our high-priest, and 3. But this man was admirable for his vir- when so great a famine was come upon us tue, and powerful in making men give credit that one tenth deal [of wheat] was sold for fou to what he delivered, not only during the drachmæ, and when no less than seventy cor time of his natural life, but even there is still of flour were brought into the temple, at the no one of the Hebrews who does not act even feast of unleavened bread (these cori are now as if Moses were present, and ready to thirty-one Sicilian, but forty-one Athenian punish him if he should do any thing that is medimni), not one of the priests was so hardy indecent; nay, there is no one but is obe- as to eat one crumb of it, even while so great dient to what laws he ordained, although they a distress was upon the land; and this out of might be concealed in their transgressions. a dread of the law, and of that wrath which There are also many other demonstrations God retains against acts of wickedness, even hat his power was more than human, for still, when no one can accuse the actors. Whence some there have been, who have come from <he parts beyond Euphrates, a journey of four months, through many dangers, and at great expenses, in honour of our temple; and yet, when they had offered their oblations, could not partake of their own sacrifices, because Moses had forbidden it, by somewhat in the law that did not permit them, or somewhat that had befallen them:, which our ancient cus we are not to wonder at what was then done, while to this very day the writings left by Moses have so great a force, that even those that hate us do confess, that he who established this settlement was God, and that it was by the means of Moses, and of his virtue: but as to these matters, let every one take them as he thinks fit. BOOK IV. CONTAINING THE INTERVAL OF THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS. FROM THE REJECTION OF THAT GENERATION, TO THE CHAPTER I. THE FIGHT OF THE HEBREWS WITH THE CA- SES; AND THEIR DEFEAT. 1. Now this life of the Hebrews in the wilderness was so disagreeable and trouble some to them, and they were so uneasy at it, that although God had forbidden them to meddle with the Canaanites, yet could they not be persuaded to be obedient to the words of Moses, and to be quiet; but supposing they should be able to beat their enemies, even without his approbation, they accused mentioned in Antiq, b. xx. chap. U. sect. 6; and Acta * This great famine in the days of Claudius, is again xi 28 CHAP. II. ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS were sensible that, without his care for them, him, and suspected that he made it his busi- | themselves up again to his conduct; for they CHAPTER II. TUDE AGAINST MOSES, AND AGAINST HIS § 1. THAT which is usually the case of great pains for it. They also said that they were pos- THE SEDITION OF CORAH AND OF THE MULTIsessed of abilities sufficient for the conquest of their enemies, although Moses should have a mind to alienate God from them; that, however, it was for their advantage to be their own masters, and not so far to rejoice in their deliverance from the indignities they endured under the Egyptians, as to bear the tyranny of Moses over them, and to suffer themselves to be deluded, and live according to his pleasure, as though God did only foretell what concerns us out of his kindness to him, as if they were not all the posterity of Abraham; that God made him alone the author of all the knowledge we have, and we must still learn t from him; that it would be a piece of pru-a sedition overtook them, as we have not the dence to oppose his arrogant pretences, and to put their confidence in God, and to resolve to take possession of that land which he had promised them, and not to give ear to him, who, on this account, and under the pretence of divine authority, forbade them so to do. Considering, therefore, the distressed state they were in at present, and that in those desert places they were still to expect things would be worse with them, they resolved to fight with the Canaanites, as submitting only to God, their supreme commander, and not waiting for any assistance from their legislator. 2. When, therefore, they had come to this resolution, as being best for them, they went against their enemies; but those enemies were not dismayed either at the attack itself, or at the great multitude that made it, and received them with great courage. Many of the Hebrews were slain; and the remainder of the army, upon the disorder of their troops, were pursued, and fled, after a shameful manner, to their camp. Whereupon this unexpected misfortune made them quite despond; and they hoped for nothing that was good; as gathering from it, that this affliction came from the wrath of God, because they rashly went out to war without his approbation. 3. But when Moses saw how deeply they were affected with this defeat, and being afraid lest the enemies should grow insolent upon this victory, and should be desirous of gaining still greater glory, and should attack them, he resolved that it was proper to withdraw the arany into the wilderness to a farther distance from the Canaanites: so the multitude gave like example either among the Greeks or the Barbarians, by which they were in danger of being all destroyed, but were notwithstanding saved by Moses, who would not remember that he had been almost stoned to death by them. Nor did God neglect to prevent their ruin; but, notwithstanding the indignities they had offered their legislator and the laws, and their disobedience to the commandments which he had sent them by Moses, he delivered them from those terrible calamities, which, without his providential care, had been brought upon them by this sedition. So I will first explain the cause whence this sedition arose, and then will give an account of the sedition itself; as also of what settlements Moses made for their government, after it was over. 2. Corah, a Hebrew of principal account, both by his family and by his wealth, one that was also able to speak well, and one that could easily persuade the people by his speeches, saw that Moses was in an exceeding great dignity, and was uneasy at it, and envied him on that account (he was of the same tribe with Moses, and of kin to him), was particularly grieved, because he thought he better deserved that So he honourable post on account of his great riches, and not inferior to him in his birth. raised a clamour against him among the Le44 That it was vites, who were of the same. tribe, and especially among his kindred, saying, a very sad thing that they should overlook Moses, while he hunted after, and paved the way to glory for himself, and by ill arts should obtain it, under the pretence of God's command, while contrary to the laws, be hac given the priesthood to Aaron, not by the one as was inferior to many others, nor have common suffrage of the multitude, but by his given him that office; and that in case he had own vote, as bestowing dignities in a tyranni-judged it fit to bestow it on Aaron, he would cal way on whom he pleased." He added, have permitted it to the multitude to bestow "That this concealed way of imposing on them it, and not have left it to be bestowed by his was harder to be borne than if it had been own brother. done by an open force upon them, because 4. Now although Moses had a great while he did now not only take away their power ago foreseen this calumny of Corah, and had without their consent, but even while they seen that the people were irritated, yet was he were unapprized of his contrivances against not affrighted at it; but being of good cour them; for whosoever is conscious to himself age, because he had given them right advice that he deserves any dignity, aims to get it by about their affairs, and knowing that his bropersuasion, and not by an arrogant method of ther had been made partaker of the priesthood violence; but those that believe it impossible at the command of God, and not by his own to obtain those honours justly, make a show favour to him, he came to the assembly; and, of goodness, and do not introduce force, but as for the multitude, he said not a word to by cunning tricks grow wickedly powerful: them, but spake as loud to Corah as he could; that it was proper for the multitude to punish and being very skilful in making speeches, such men, even while they think themselves and having this natural talent, among others, concealed in their designs, and not suffer them that he could greatly move the multitude with to gain strength till they have them for their his discourses, he said, "O Corah, both thou open enemies. For what account," added and all these with thee (pointing to the two he, "is Moses able to give, why he has be-hundred and fifty men) seem to be worthy of stowed the priesthood on Aaron and his sons? for if God had determined to bestow that honour on one of the tribe of Levi, I am more worthy of it than he is; I myself being equal to Moses by my family, and superior to him both in riches and in age: but if God had determined to bestow it on the eldest tribe, that of Reuben might have it most justly; and then Dathan, and Abiram, and [On, the son of] Peleth, would have it; for these are the oldest men of that tribe, and potent on account of their great wealth also." this honour; nor do I pretend but that this whole company may be worthy of the like dignity, although they may not be so rich, or so great as you are: nor have I taken and given this office to my brother, because he excelled others in riches, for thou exceedest us both in the greatness of thy wealth;* nor indeed because he was of an eminent family, for God, by giving us the same common ancestor, has made our families equal: nay, nor was it out of brotherly affection, which ano ther might yet have justly done; for certainly, 3. Now Corah, when he said this, had a unless I had bestowed this honour out of remind to appear to take care of the public gard to God, and to his laws, I had not passed welfare; but in reality he was endeavouring by myself, and given it to another, as being to procure to have that dignity transferred by nearer of kin to myself than to my brother, the multitude to himself. Thus did he, out and having a closer intimacy with myself than of a malignant design, but with plausible I have with him; for surely it would not be words, discourse to those of his own tribe; a wise thing for me, to expose myself to the And when these words did gradually spread to dangers of offending, and to bestow the happy more of the people, and when the hearers still employment on this account upon another. added to what tended to the scandals that were But I am above such base practices: nor cast upon Aaron, the whole army was full of would God have overlooked this matter, and them. Now of those that conspired with seen himself thus despised; nor would he Corah, there were two hundred and fifty, and have suffered you to be ignorant of what you those of the principal men also, who were were to do, in order to please him; but he eager to have the priesthood taken away from hath himself chosen one that is to perform Moses's brother, and to bring him into dis- that sacred office to him, and thereby freed grace: nay, the multitude themselves were us from that care. So that it was not a thing provoked to be seditious, and attempted to that I pretend to give, but only according to stone Moses, and gathered themselves toge- the determination of God; I therefore propose ther after an indecent manner, with confusion it still to be contended for by such as please and disorder. And now they all were, in a to put in for it, only desiring, that he who has tumultuous manner, raising a clamour before been already preferred, and has already obthe tabernacle of God, to prosecute the ty-tained it, may be allowed now also to offer rant, and to relieve the multitude from their slavery under him who, under colour of the divine commands, laid violent injunctions upon them; for that had it been God who chose one that was to perform the office of a priest, he would have raised a worthy person to that dignity, and ld not have produced such a himself for a candidate. He prefers your peace, and your living without sedition, to this honourable employment, although in truth Reland here takes notice, that although our Bibles say little or nothing of these riches of Corah, yet that both the Jews and Mak mmedans, as well as Josepbus are full of it |