A Treatise on the Life of Moses, that is to say, On the Theology and Prophetic Office of Moses, Book I.

 I. (1) I have conceived the idea of writing the life of Moses, who, according to the account of some persons, was the lawgiver of the Jews, but accord

 II. (5) And I will begin first with that with which it is necessary to begin. Moses was by birth a Hebrew, but he was born, and brought up, and educat

 III. (8) And he was thought worthy of being bred up in the royal palace, the cause of which circumstance was as follows. The king of the country, inas

 IV. (12) And so they departed in ignorance of the future, being wholly overwhelmed with sad misery but the sister of the infant who was thus exposed,

 V. (18) But when the child began to grow and increase, he was weaned, not in accordance with the time of his age, but earlier than usual and then his

 VI. (25) And when he had passed the boundaries of the age of infancy he began to exercise his intellect not, as some people do, letting his youthful

 VII. (32) But Moses, having now reached the very highest point of human good fortune, and being looked upon as the grandson of this mighty king, and b

 VIII. (40) At all these events Moses was greatly grieved and indignant, not being able either to chastise the unjust oppressors of his people nor to a

 IX. (46) But when the Egyptian authorities had once got an opportunity of attacking the young man, having already reason for looking upon him with sus

 X. (51) I will also mention one action which was done by him at that time, even although it may be but a trifling one in appearance, but still it proc

 XI. (58) So the damsels went home exceedingly delighted, and they related all that had happened to them beyond their hopes, so that they wished their

 XII. (63) Therefore Moses, having become the most skilful herdsman of his time, and the most prudent provider of all the necessary things for his floc

 XIII. (68) But we must now accurately investigate the comparison here made. The briar, as has been already said, is a most weak and supple plant, yet

 XIV. (71) God, having shown this prodigious and miraculous sight to Moses, gave him, in this way, a most visible lesson as to the events which are abo

 XV. (85) Having heard these things (for it as not at all safe or free from danger to oppose the commands of God), he departed and proceeded with his w

 XVI. Therefore, when all the powerful men of the state were assembled round the king, the brother of Moses taking his rod, and shaking it in a very re

 XVII. For the elements of the universe, earth, water, air, and fire, of which the world was made, were all by the command of God, brought into a state

 XVIII. (102) But again, after a brief respite, the Egyptians returned to the same cruelty and carelessness as before, as if either justice had been ut

 XIX. (106) And when they had a little recovered from this punishment, then, like wrestlers at the games, who have recovered fresh strength after a str

 XX. (113) Such then were the chastisements which were inflicted by the agency of the brother of Moses. But those in which Moses himself was the minist

 XXI. (120) And when this evil had abated, and when the king and his court had again resumed their confidence, Moses stretched forth his rod into the a

 XXII. (126) Such, they say, were the punishments inflicted by the agency of Moses alone, the plague, namely, of hail and thunderstorms, the plague of

 XXIII. (130) The remaining punishments are three in number, and they were inflicted by God himself without any agency or ministration of man, each of

 XXIV. (134) After which the tenth and last punishment came, exceeding in terror all that had gone before, namely, the death of the Egyptians themselve

 XXV. (140) So they, being now driven out of the land and pursued, coming at last to a proper notion of their own nobility and worth, ventured upon a d

 XXVI. (143) Such, then, were the afflictions and punishments by which Egypt was corrected not one of which ever touched the Hebrews, although they we

 XXVII. (147) And of those who now went forth out of Egypt and left their abodes in that country, the men of age to bear arms were more than six hundre

 XXVIII. (155) Therefore, as he had utterly discarded all desire of gain and of those riches which are held in the highest repute among men, God honour

 XXIX. (163) When then he received the supreme authority, with the good will of all his subjects, God himself being the regulator and approver of all h

 XXX. (167) But when the king of Egypt saw them proceeding along a pathless track, as he fancied, and marching through a rough and untrodden wilderness

 XXXI. (170) And the Hebrews, being terrified at this extraordinary and unexpected danger, and not being well prepared for defence, because of a scarci

 XXXII. (176) He then spoke thus. But when the sun had set, immediately a most violent south wind set in and began to blow, under the influence of whic

 XXXIII. (181) And when they had departed from the sea they went on for some time travelling, and no longer feeling any apprehension of their enemies.

 XXXIV. (187) And so having appeased their thirst with double pleasure, since the blessing of enjoyment when it comes beyond one's hopes delights one s

 XXXV. (191) But after these events only a short time elapsed, when they became oppressed by famine through the scarcity of provisions, as if one neces

 XXXVI. (196) Moses, being reviled in this way, was nevertheless not so much grieved at their accusations which they brought against himself, as at the

 XXXVII. (206) I will also relate a circumstance which is more marvellous than even this one for, though they were travelling for forty years, yet dur

 XXXVIII. (210) Accordingly, they had a great abundance of these birds, as they never failed. But, a second time, a terrible scarcity of water came upo

 XXXIX. (214) And now, as they had gone over a vast tract of land previously untravelled, there appeared some boundaries of habitable country and some

 XL. (220) After this battle he considered that it was proper to reconnoitre the country into which the nation was being led as a colony (and it was no

 XLI. (227) When they had received these orders, they went forth to spy out the land, being conducted on their way by the whole multitude who feared le

 XLII. (232) Accordingly, there were a great many contest between them even before they returned to the camp, but not very serious ones, in order that

 XLIII. (237) This was the reason why they did not arrive sooner in the land which they went forth to colonize for though they might, in the second ye

 XLIV. (244) But as the Hebrews received their answer with great indignation, and prepared at once to oppose them, Moses stood in a place from whence h

 XLV. (250) Therefore he passed by the cities of these nations but a certain king of the neighbouring country, Canaan by name, when his spies reported

 XLVI. (255) A short time afterwards, having found a copious spring of water which supplied drink to all the multitude, and the spring was in a well an

 XLVII. (258) A few days afterwards he entered the country of the Amorites, and sent ambassadors to the king, whose name was Sihon, exhorting him to th

 XLVIII. (263) This war struck all the Asiatic nations with terrible consternation, and especially all those who were near the borders of the Amorites,

 XLVI. (269) But when he was on his road a very manifest sign met him in the way, showing him plainly that the purpose for which he was travelling was

 L. (275) But when the king heard that he was now near at hand, he went forth with his guards to meet him and when they met at first there were, as wa

 LI. (280) When Balak heard these words he was grieved within himself and after he had stopped speaking, not being able to contain his sorrow, he said

 LII. (285) But Balak, being very indignant at finding that all the assistance which he expected to derive from divination was turning out contrary to

 LIII. (292) And the king, being very indignant at these words, said: Having been invited hither to curse my enemies, you have now prayed for and bles

 LIV. (295) Come, then, let us examine into his fine recommendations, and see how cunningly they were contrived with reference to the most certain defe

 LV. (300) This, then, was the advice which Balaam gave to Balak. And he, thinking that what he said to him did not want sense, repealed the law agains

 LVI. (305) But when none of the civil and intestine evils remained any longer, but when all the men who were suspected of having either forsaken the w

 LVII. (309) Therefore being nerved by these exhortations, and being kindled and filled with noble courage which was indeed in their souls already, the

 LVIII. (315) However, after no long lapse of time he divided the booty among those who had taken a part in the expedition, and they were but a small n

 LIX. (319) All these wars were carried on and brought to an end before the Hebrews had crossed Jordan, the river of the country, being wars against th

 LX. (328) So they, bearing this rebuke with moderation, as being genuine sons of a very kindlydisposed father (for they knew that Moses was not a man

I. (1) I have conceived the idea of writing the life of Moses, who, according to the account of some persons, was the lawgiver of the Jews, but according to others only an interpreter of the sacred laws, the greatest and most perfect man that ever lived, having a desire to make his character fully known to those who ought not to remain in ignorance respecting him, (2) for the glory of the laws which he left behind him has reached over the whole world, and has penetrated to the very furthest limits of the universe; and those who do really and truly understand him are not many, perhaps partly out of envy, or else from the disposition so common to many persons of resisting the commands which are delivered by lawgivers in different states, since the historians who have flourished among the Greeks have not chosen to think him worthy of mention, (3) the greater part of whom have both in their poems and also in their prose writings, disparaged or defaced the powers which they have received through education, composing comedies and works full of Sybaritish profligacy and licentiousness to their everlasting shame, while they ought rather to have employed their natural endowments and abilities in preserving a record of virtuous men and praiseworthy lives, so that honourable actions, whether ancient or modern, might not be buried in silence, and thus have all recollection of them lost, while they might shine gloriously if duly celebrated; and that they might not themselves have seemed to pass by more appropriate subjects, and to prefer such as were unworthy of being mentioned at all, while they were eager to give a specious appearance to infamous actions, so as to secure notoriety for disgraceful deeds. (4) But I disregard the envious disposition of these men, and shall proceed to narrate the events which befell him, having learnt them both from those sacred scriptures which he has left as marvellous memorials of his wisdom, and having also heard many things from the elders of my nation, for I have continually connected together what I have heard with what I have read, and in this way I look upon it that I am acquainted with the history of his life more accurately than other people.