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also that were embroidered, there were of both sorts; that is, of what were woven, and what were the ornaments of their armour and other things that served for use to their 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 valour; and they perpetually inured themselves to take pains, by which they deemed every difficulty might be surmounted: and this was the result of the battle. On the next day Moses stripped the dead bodies of their enemies, and gathered together the armour of those that were fled, and gave rewards to such as had signalised 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, though the slain of the enemies' army were too many to be enumerated. So Moses offer

meet him; and Moses took Zipporah his wife, 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; every one, according to their families, partaking of the festival. But Aaron, and his family, took Raguel, and sung hymns to God, as to him who had been the author and procurer of their deliverance, and their freedom. They also praised their conductor, as him by whose virtue it was that all things had succeeded so well 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 shewed in the delivery of his friends.

CHAP. IV.

OF RAGUEL'S FRIENDLY SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING THE GO-
VERNMENT OF THE HEBREWS, WHICH WERE ADOPTED
BY MOSES.

ed sacrifice of thanksgiving to God, and built THE next day, Raguel saw Moses in the midst of a crowd of business,† for he dean altar, which he named, the Lord the con-termined the differences of those that referred queror. He also foretold that the Amalekites should be utterly destroyed, and that hereafter none of them should remain, because they fought against the Hebrews when they were in the wilderness, and in their distress. 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 brought them out after the fight in order of battle; for they had now many soldiers in light armour, and going gradually on, he came to mount Sinai, and three months 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 appearances had happened.

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them to him, every one still going to him, and supposing they should then only obtain justice, if he were the arbitrator; and those that lost their causes thought it no great harm, while they thought they lost them justly, and not by partiality. Raguel, however, said nothing at that time, as not desirous to be any hindrance to such as had a mind to make use of the virtue of their conductor; but afterward he took Moses 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 others of the Hebrews might be found that were fit to determine causes, but that nobody but a Moses could take care of the safety of many thousands. "Be not, therefore," said he, "insensible of thine own virtue, and what thou hast done by ministering under God to the people's preservation. Leave, therefore, the determination of common causes to others: but do thou reserve thyself to the attendance on God only, and look out for methods of preserving the multitude from their

Exod. xviii. 13.

present

present distress. Make use of the method I suggest as to human affairs, and take a review of the army, and appoint chosen rulers

CHAP. V.

over tens of thousands, and then over thou-OF MOSES'S ASCENT TO MOUNT SINAI; and of the divine sands; and then divide them into five hundreds, and again into hundreds, and into fifties, and

LAWS WHICH HE RECEIVED FROM GOD, AND DELIVERED
TO THE HEBREWS.

tents near the mountain: and prefer the habi-
tation that was nearest to God, before one
more remote.
more remote. When he had said this, he as-
cended up to mount Sinai, which is the highest
of all the mountains,† that are in that coun-
try, and is not only very difficult to be as-
cended by men, on account of its vast altitude,
but because of the sharpness of its precipices.

set rulers over each of them, who may distin- NOW Moses called the multitude together, guish them into thirties, and keep them and told them that he was going unto in order, and at last number them by twen-mount Sinai, to converse with God, to reties and by tens. And let there be one com-ceive and to bring back with him a certain mander over each number, to be denominat-oracle. But he enjoined them to pitch their ed from the number of those over whom they are rulers; but such as the whole multitude have tried, and approve of, as being good *of, as being good and righteous men; and let these rulers deeide the controversies they have one with another; if any great cause arise, let them bring the cognizance of it, before the rulers of a higher dignity; and if any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their determi-Nay, indeed, it cannot be looked at withnation let them send it to thee. By these means two advantages will be gained; that the Hebrews will have justice done them, and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on God, and procure him to be more favourable to the people."

This was the admonition of Raguel, which Moses received 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 the ordering of the people, as thinking it right to give a true testimony to worthy persons, although he might have obtained reputation by ascribing to himself the invention of other men; whence we may learn the virtuous disposition of Moses, but of that disposition we shall have occasion to speak in other places.

* This manner of electing the judges and officers of the Israelites by the testimonies and suffrages of the people before they were ordained by God or Moses, deserves to be carefully noted, because it was the pattern of the like manner of the choice and ordination of bishops, preshyters, and deacons in the Christian church. See Constitut. Apost. VIII. 4. 16. 18.

out pain to the eyes; and besides this, it was terrible and inaccessible on account of a general rumor that God dwelt there. But the Hebrews removed the 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 with promises of the good things he had proposed to them. So they feasted, and waited for their conductor, and kept themselves pure for three days: as he had before ordered them to do. And they prayed to God, that he would favourably receive Moses in his conversing with him, and bestow some such gifts 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 clothing than they usually wore.

Two days passed in this way of feasting; but on the third ‡ day, before sun-rise, a cloud

168, 169. The other name of it, Horeb, is never used by Josephus, and perhaps was its name among the Egyptians only, whence the Israelites were lately come, as Sinai was its name among the Arabians, Canaanites, and other nations. Accordingly, when I Kings ix. 8. the Scripture. says that Elijah came to Horeb, the mount of God, Josephus justly says, Antiq. VIII. 13. that he came to the + Since this mountain Sinai is here said to be the high-mountain called Sinai; and Jerome, bere cited by Dr. est of all the mountains in that country, it must be that Hudson, says, that he took this mountain to have two now called St. Catherine's which is one third higher than names, Sinai and Choreb. De Nomin. Heb. page 427, that within a mile of it, now called Sinai, as Monsieur (Edit Benedict.) Thevenot informs us, Travels, Part I. chap. xxviii. page

+ Exod. xix. 16.

*

spread itself over the whole camp of the Hebrews; such an 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 be-mands have been given by me; nor because came 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 remained within their tents; as both sup-water to issue out of a rock, when we had posing Moses to be destroyed by the divine wrath, and expecting the like destruction for themselves.

||vernment, and is now present in the camp. J therefore charge you for his sake, and the sake of his works, and what we have done y his means, that you do not put a low value on what I am going to say, because the com

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While they were under these apprehensions, Moses appeared joyful, and greatly exalted. When they saw him, they were freed from their fear, and admitted 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 the people together, in order to their hearing what God would say to them. And when they were assembled, 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 go

*That fire and lightning should attend the presence of God, is a notion so frequent in the most ancient and oriental theology, that it might possibly give occasion to the worship of fire among the Chaldeans and Persians: to the magi, among the Cappadocians called Purrethi, which Strabo mentions, and to the vestal fires among the Greeks and Romans, as well as ancient Britons.

• Ηνίκα βλέψης μορφῆς ἅπερ ευιερον πῦρ Δαμπόμενον σκιρτηδὸν ὅλα καλὰ βένθεα Κόσμο Κλύθι πυρὸς φωνὴν.

Say the Chaldaic oracles: and as for earthquakes, or shak.

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

very little of it before; he by whose means Adam was made to partake of the fruits 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 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 wives and children; 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 complete, as nature requires; you will also be terrible to your enemies: for

ing of mountains, this is no more than what all nations
suppose have ever come to pass, upon God's manifesting
himself at any time; for it is not only the Psalmist who
tells us, that the earth shook, and the heaven dropped at the
presence of God; but in the description which Virgil gives
us of the approach of Phoebus, he does in a manner tran-
slate the words of Moses.

Tremere omnia visa repente,
Luminaque, laurusque Dei; totusque moveri
Mons circum, et mugire adytis cortina reclusis.
Vide Nicholl's Conference, part 2. B.

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I have been admitted into the presence of place: but I shall reserve most of them for§
God, and been made a hearer of his incorrup- another work; and make there a distinct ex-
tible voice; so great is his concern for the wel-plication of them.
fare of your nation.

When he had said this, he brought the people, with their wives and children, so near the mountain, that they might hear God himself speaking to them about the precepts which they were to practise; that the energy of what should be spoken might not be hurt by its utterance, by that tongue of a man which could but imperfectly deliver it to their understanding. And they all heard a voice that came from above; insomuch that none of those words escaped them, which Moses wrote in two tables; and though it is not lawful for us to set them down directly, we will declare their import.

When matters were brought to this state, Moses went up again to mount Sinai, of which he had told them beforehand. He made his ascent in their sight; but when he had been absent from them forty days, fear. seized upon the Hebrews, lest he should have. come to any harm. Nor was there any thing that so much troubled them, as the idea, that Moses had perished. Now there was a variety in their sentiments about it: some saying that he was fallen among wild beasts and those that were of this opinion were chiefly such as were ill disposed to him: but others saying, that he was departed and gone to God. The wiser sort were led by their reason, to embrace neither of those opinions, with any satisfaction; thinking that as it was a thing that sometimes happens to men, to fall among wild beasts and perish that way, so it was probable enough that he might depart and go to God, on account of his virtue; they therefore were quiet, and expected the event; though they were exceeding sorrowful upon the probability that they were deprived of a governor, and a protector; such an one indeed, as they could never recover again. Nor would this suspicion give them leave to expect any comfortable event about this man: nor could they prevent their trouble and me

The first commandment teaches us, that there is but one God, and that we ought to worship him only. The second, commands us not to make the image of any living creature to worship it. The third, that we must not swear by God in a false matter. The fourth, that we must keep the seventh day, by resting from all sort of work. The fifth, that we must honour our parents. The sixth, that we must abstain from murder. The seventh, that we must not commit adultery. The eighth, that we must not be guilty of theft. The ninth, that we must not bear false witness. The tenth, that we must not admit of the desire of any thing that is an-lancholy upon this occasion. However, the other's. I

camp durst not move all this while be-
cause Moses had commanded them to stay
there,

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Now when the multitude had heard God himself, giving those precepts which Moses had discoursed of, they rejoiced at what was When forty days and as many nights were said; and the congregation was dissolved. But expired, Moses came down; having tasted noon the following day they came to his tent, thing of food, usually appointed for the nouand desired them to bring them besides other rishment of men. His appearance filled the laws from God. Accordingly he appointed such laws, and afterward informed them in what manner they should act in all cases'; which laws I shall mention in their proper

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+ As disobedience to parents is, by the law of Moses, threatened to be punished with death, so on the contrary, long life is promised to the obedient; and that in their own country, which God had peculiarly enriched with abundance of blessings. Heathens also gave the very

army with gladness; and he declared to them,
what care God had of them, and by what
manner of conduct they might live happily:
telling them, that during his absence, God had

same encouragement, saying, that such children should
be dear to the gods, both living and dying. So Euripides.
It was also one of their promises, thou shalt live long,
if thou nourish thy ancient parents. Whence children
are called by Xenophon Tspobooxo. PATRICK, in loc. B.
Exod. xx. 1 to 18.

This other work of Josephus's, here referred to, does
not appear to have been ever published.

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suggested to him* also that he would have a || zaleel, the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, tabernacle built for him, into which he would the grandson of Miriam, the sister of their descend when he came to them: and how conductor; and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, they should carry it about with them when of the tribe of Dan. Now the people went they removed: and that there would be no on with what they had undertaken with so longer any occasion for going up to mount great alacrity, that Moses was obliged to reSinai but that he would himself come and strain them, by making proclamation, that pitch his tabernacle amongst them, and be what had been brought was sufficient, as present at their prayers. As also that the ta- the artificers had informed him so they bernacle should be of such measures and con- fell to work upon the fell to work upon the building of the taberstruction, as he had shewed him; and that nacle. Moses also informed them, according the work must be immediately begun, and to the direction of God, both what the mea prosecuted diligently. When he had said. When he had said sures were to be, and its dimensions; and this he shewed them the two tables, with how many vessels it ought to contain, for the the ten commandments engraven upon them, use of the sacrifices. The women also were five upon each table, and the writing was by ambitious to do their parts about the garthe hand of God. ments of the priests, and about other things that would be wanted in this work, both for ornament, and for the divine service itself.

CHAP. VI.

OF THE TABERNACLE WHICH MOSES BUILT IN THE WILDER-
NESS, FOR THE HONOR OF GOD.

TOW the Israelites rejoiced at what they had seen and heard of their conductor; and were not wanting in diligence according to their ability, but they brought silver, and gold, and brass, and the best sorts of wood, and such as would not at all decay by putrefaction; camels hair also, and sheep-skins: some of them dyed of a blue colour, and some of a scarlet: some brought the flour for the purple color, and others for white, with wool dyed by the aforementioned flours; and fine linen, and precious stones, which those that use costly ornaments set in ouches of gold: they brought also a great quantity of spices, For of these materials did Moses build the tabernacle: which did not at all differ from a moveable temple. Now when these things were brought together with great diligence, (for every one was ambitions to further the work, even beyond their ability,) he set architects over the works, and this, by the cominand of God: and indeed the very same which the people themselves would have chosen, had the election been allowed to them. Now their names are set down in writing in the sacred books, and they were these, Ba

It is a query whether Josephus, in all his own transcripts, omitted here the heinous sin of the Israelites, in making and worshipping the golden calf, or the Egyptian

When all things were prepared, the gold, and the silver, and the brass, and what was woven, Moses having previously appointed that there should be a festival, and that sacrifices should be offered according to every one's ability, reared up the tabernacle. And when he had measured the open court, fifty cubits broad, and a hundred long, he set up brazen pillars, five cubits high: twenty on each of the longer sides, and ten pillars for the breadth behind. Every one of the pillars also had a ring. Their chapiters were of silver, but their bases were of brass; they resembled the sharp ends of spears, and were of brass; fixed in the ground cords were also put through the rings, and were tied at the farther ends to brass nails of a cubit long; which at every pillar, were driven into the floor, and would keep the tabernacle from being shaken by the violence of winds. But a curtain of fine soft linen went round all the pillars, and hung down in a flowing manner from their chapiters, and enclosed the whole space, forming. a kind of wall about it. Such was the structure of three of the sides of this inclosure: but as for the fourth side, which was fifty cubits in extent, and was the front of the whole; twenty cubits of it were for the opening at the gates, wherein stood two pillars on

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Apis, made of wood, but covered over with cast gold round about it. See Isaiah xl. 19, 20. Jer. x, 3, 4. and Hab. ii. 19.

each

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