lost his sister, having lived in all a hundred |ous: so they could not sustain the first onset, twenty and three years. He died on the nor bear up against the Hebrews, but filed first day of that lunar month which is called away, as thinking this would afford them a by the Athenians Hecatombæon, by the Mace-more likely way for their escape than fighting; donians Lous, but by the Hebrews Abba. CHAPTER V. HOW MOSES CONQUERED SIHON AND OG, KINGS OF THE HEBREWS. § 1. THE people mourned for Aaron thirty days, and when this mourning was over, Moses removed the army from that place, and came to the river Arnon, which, issuing out of the mountains of Arabia, and running through all that wilderness, falls into the lake Asphaltitis, and becomes the limit between the land of the Moabites and the land of the Amorites. This land is fruitful, and sufficient to maintain a great number of men, with the good things it produces. Moses therefore sent messengers to Sihon, the king of this country, desiring that he would grant his army a passage, upon what security he should please to require; he promised that he should be no way injured, neither as to that country which Sihon governed, nor as to its inhabitants; and that he would buy his provisions at such a price as should be to their advantage, even though he should desire to sell them their very water. But Sihon refused his offer, and put his army into battle array, and was preparing every thing in order to hinder their passing over Arnon. for they depended upon their cities, which were strong, from which yet they reaped no advantage when they were forced to fly to them; for as soon as the Hebrews saw them giving ground, they immediately pursued them close; and when they had broken their ranks, they greatly terrified them, and some of them broke off from the rest, and ran away to the cities. Now the Hebrews pursued them briskly, and obstinately persevered in the labours they had already undergone; and being very skilful in slinging, and very dexterous in throwing of darts, or any thing else of that kind; and also having nothing but light armour, which made them quick in the pursuit, they overtook their enemies; and for those that were most remote, and could not be overtaken, they reached them by their slings and their bows, so that many were slain; and those that escaped the slaughter were sorely wounded, and these were more distressed with thirst than with any of those that fought against them, for it was the summer season; and when the greatest number of them were brought down to the river out of a desire to drink, as also when others fled away by troops, the Hebrews came round them, and shot at them; so that, what with darts and what with arrows, they made a slaughter of them all. Sihon their king was also slain. So the Hebrews spoiled the dead bodies, and took their prey. 'The land also which they took was full of abundance of fruits, and the army went all over it without fear, and fed their cattle upon it; and they took the enemies prisoners, for they could no way put a stop to them, since all the fighting men were destroyed. Such was the destruction which overtook the Amorites, who were neither sagacious in counsel, nor courageous in action. Hereupon the Hebrews took possession of their land, which is a country situate between three rivers, and naturally resembling an island: the river Arnon being its southern limit; the river Jabbok determining its northern side, which, running into Jordan, loses its own name, and takes the other; while Jordan itself runs along by it, on its western coast. 2. When Moses saw that the Amorite king was disposed to enter upon hostilities with them, he thought he ought not to bear that insult; and, determining to wean the Hebrews from their indolent temper, and prevent the disorders which arose thence, which had been the occasion of their former sedition (nor indeed were they now thoroughly easy in their minds), be inquired of God, whether he would give him leave to fight? which when he had done, and God also promised him the victory, he was himself very courageous, and ready to 3. When matters were come to this state, proceed to fighting. Accordingly he encou- Og, the king of Gilead and Gaulanitis, fell raged the soldiers; and he desired of them upon the Israelites. He brought an army with that they would take the pleasure of fighting, him, and came in haste to the assistance of his now God gave them leave so to do. They friend Sihon; but though he found him althen upon the receipt of this permission, ready slain, yet did he resolve still to come which they so much longed for, put on their and fight the Hebrews, supposing he should whole armour, and set about the work with-be too hard for them, and being desirous to out delay. But the Amorite king was not now like to himself when the Hebrews were ready to attack him; but both he himself was affrighted at the Hebrews, and his army, which before had showed themselves to be of good courage, were then found to be tim r try their valour; but failing of his hope, he was both himself slain in the battle, and all his army was destroyed. So Moses passed over the river Jabbok, and overran the king, dom of Og. He overthew their cities, and soy all their inhabitants, who yet exceeded in riches all the men in that part of the conti- | by words: but he did not judge it prudent to nent, on account of the goodness of the soil, fight against them, after they had such rrosand the great quantity of their wealth. Now perous successes, and even became out of ill Og had very few equals, either in the large- successes more happy than before; but he ness of his body or handsomeness of his thought to hinder them, if he could, from appearance. He was also a man of great growing greater, and so he resolved to send activity in the use of bis hands, so that his ambassadors to the Midianites about them. actions were not unequal to the vast largeness Now these Midianites knowing there was one and handsome appearance of his body; and Balaam, who lived by Euphrates, and was the men could easily guess at his strength and greatest of the prophets at that time, and one magnitude when they took his bed at Rabbath, that was in friendship with them, sent some the royal city of the Ammonites; its structure of their honourable princes along with the was of iron, its breadth four cubits, and its ambassadors of Balak, to entreat the prophet length a cubit more than double thereto. to come to them that he might imprecate However, his fali did not only improve the curses to the destruction of the Israelites. So circumstances of the Hebrews for the present, Balaam received the ambassadors, and treated but by his death he was the occasion of fur- them very kindly; and when he had supped, ther good success to them; for they presently he inquired what was God's will, and what took those sixty cities which were encom-this matter was for which the Midianites enpassed with excellent walls, and had been subject to nun; and ail got bota in general and in particular a great prey. CHAPTER VI. CONCERNING BALAAM THE PROPHET, AND I. Now Moses, when he had brought his, army to Jordan, ritcned his camp in the great piai. over against Jericno. This city is a very happy situation, and very fit for producing palm-trees and baisam; and now the Israelites began to be very proud of themselves, and were very eager for fighting. Moses then, after he had offered for a few days sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, and feasted the people, sent a party of armed men to lay waste the country or the Midianites, and to take their cities. Now the occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that follows: treated him to come to them. But when God opposed his going, he came to the ambassadors, and told them that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with their request, but informed them that God was opposite to his intentions, even that God who had raised him to great reputation on account of the truth of his predictions; for that this army, which they entreated him to come and curse, was in the favour of God; on which account he advised them to go home again, and not to persist in their enmity against the Israelites: and when he had given them that answer, he dismissed the ambassadors. 3. Now the Midianites, at the earnest request and fervent entreaties of Balak, sent other ambassadors to Balaam, who, desiring to gratify the men, inquired again of God; but he was displeased at this [second] trial,f and bid him by no means to contradict the ambassadors. Now Balaam did not imagine that God gave this injunction in order to deceive him, so he went along with the ambassadors; but when the divine angel met him in the way, when he was in a narrow passage, and hedged in with a wall on both sides, the ass on which Balaam rode understood that it + Note, that Josephus never supposes Balaam to be 2. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, who had from his ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites, saw how great the Israelites were grown, he was much af-an idolater, or to seek idolatrous enchantments, or to frighted on account of his own and his king-prophesy falsely, but to be no other than an ill-disposed doin's danger; for he was not acquainted with this, that the Hebrews would not medule with any other country, but were to be contented with the possession of the land of Canaan, God having forbidden them to go any farther. So he, with more baste than wisdom, resolved to make an attempt upon them What Josephus here remarks is well worth our remark in this place also viz. That the Israelites were never to meddle with the Moabites or Ammonites, or any other people, but those belonging to the land of Canaan, and the countries of Sihon and Og beyond Jordan. 23 far as the desert and Euphrates; and that therefore no other people had reason to fear the conquests of the Israelites; but that those countries given them by God were their proper and peenliar portion among the Gatters; an i that a I who endeavoured to dispossess the might ever be justly destroyed by them. prophet of the rue God; and intimates that God's ancal, and on design that he should be deceived (which swer the second time, permitting him to go, was ironi. sort of deception, by way of punishment for former crimes, Josephus never scruples to admit, as ever esteeming such wicked men justly and providentially deceived). But perhaps we had better keep here close to the text, which says (Numb, xxiii. 20. 21,) that God only permitted Balaam to go along with the ambassa dors, in case they came and called him, or positively insisted on his going along with them on any terms; whereas Balaam seems out of impatience to have risen up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and rather to have called them, than staid for their calling him; so zealous does he seem to have been for his reward for di vination, his wages of unrighteousness (Numb xxii. 7, 17, 18, 37; 2 Pet, ii. 15; Jude v, 11); which reward or wages the truly religious prophets of God never required nor accepted, as our Josephus justly takes notice in the cases of Samuel, Antiq. b, v chap. iv. sect. 1, and Daniel, Antiq. h. x chap. xi. sect. 3. See also Gen. XIV. 22, 23; 2 Kings v. 15, 16, 26, 27 Acts 7iii. 18--21 CHAP. VI. ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS. was a divine spirit that met him, and thrust | army! wonder that you are become so many Balaam to one of the walls, without regard from one father: and truly, the land of Cato the stripes which Balaam, when he was naan can now hold you, as being vet con.pahurt by the wall, gave her; but when the ass, ratively few; but know ye that the whole world upon the angel's continuing to distress her, is proposed to be your place of nanitation for The multitude of your posterity also and upon the stripes which were given her, ever. fell down, by the will of God she made use shall live as well in the islands as on the conof the voice of a man, and complained of Ba- tinent, and that more in number than are the laam as acting unjustly to her; that whereas stars of heaven. And when you are become he had no fault to find with her in her former so many, God will not relinquish the care o! service to him, he now inflicted stripes upon you, but will afford you an abundance of ail her, as not understanding that she was hin- good things in times of peace, with victory dered from serving him in what he was now and dominion in tines of war. May the chilgoing about, by the providence of God. And dren of your enemies have an inclination to when he was disturbed by reason of the voice fight against you, and may they be so hardy of the ass, which was that of a man, the an- as to come to arms, and to assault you in gel plainly appeared to him, and blamed him battle, for they will not return with victory, for the stripes he had given his ass; and in- nor will their return be agreeable to their formed him that the brute creature was not children and wives. To so great a degree of in fault, but that he was himself come to ob- valour will you be raised by the providence of struct his journey, as being contrary to the God, who is able to diminish the affluence of will of God. Upon which Balaam was some, and to supply the wants of others." afraid, and was preparing to return back again: yet did God excite him to go on his intended journey, but added this injunction, that he should declare nothing but what he himself should suggest to his mind, 5. Thus did Balaam speak by inspiration, as not being in his own power, but moved to say what he did by the divine Spirit. But then Balak was displeased, and said he had broken the contract he had made, whereby he was to 4. When God had given him this charge, come, as he and his confederates had invited he came to Balak; and when the king had him, by the promise of great presents: for entertained him in a magnificent manner, he whereas he came to curse their enemies. be desired him to go to one of the mountains to had made an encomium upon them, and had take a view of the state of the camp of the declared that they were the happiest of inen. Hebrews. Balak himself also came to the To which Balaam replied, "() Balak, it toou mountain, and brought the prophet along rightly considerest this whole matter, canst with him, with a royal attendance. This thou suppose that it is in our power to be simountain lay over their heads, and was dis-lent, or to say any thing, when the Spirit of Now God seizes upon us?-for be puts such words tant sixty furlongs from the camp. when he saw them, he desired the king to as he pleases in our mouths, and such discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of. build him seven altars, and to bring him as many bulls and rams; to which desire the I well remember by what entreaties both you king did presently conform. He then slew and the Midianites so joyfully brought me the sacrifices, and offered them as burnt-offer- hither, and on that account I took this jourings, that he might observe some signal of ney. It was my prayer, that I might not put the flight of the Hebrews. Then said he, any affront upon you, as to what you desired "Happy is this people, on whom God be- of me; but God is more powerful than the stows the possession of innumerable good purposes I had made to serve you; for those things, and grants them his own providence that take upon them to foretell the affairs of to be their assistant and their guide; so that mankind, as from their own abilities, are enthere is not any nation among mankind but tirely unable to do it, or to forbear to utter you will be esteemed superior to them in vir- what God suggests to them, or to offer viotue, and in the earnest prosecution of the lence to his will; for when he prevents us and best rules of life, and of such as are pure enters into us, nothing that we say is our own. from wickedness, and will leave those rules I then did not intend to praise this army, nor to your excellent children, and this out of the to go over the several good things which God regard that God bears to you, and the provi- intended to do to their race; but since he was sion of such things for you as may render so favourable to them, and so ready to bestow you happier than any other people under the upon them a happy life and eternal glory, he suggested the declaration of those things to me: but now, because it is my desire to oblige thee thyself, as will as the Midianites, whose entreaties it is not decent for me to reject, go to, let us again rear other altars, and offer the like sacrifices that we did before, that I may see whether I can persuade God to permit me to bind these men with curses." Sun. You shall retain that land to which he hath sent you, and it shall ever be under the command of your children; and both all the earth, as well as the sea, shall be filled with your glory and you shall be sufficiently umerous to supply the world in general, and every region of it in particular, with inhabitants out of your stock. However, O blessed : |