按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Egypt with no more than seventy souls； while you are now become
above six hundred thousand。 Know therefore that I shall provide
for you all in common what is for your good； and particularly for
thyself what shall make thee famous； for that child； out of dread
of whose nativity the Egyptians have doomed the Israelite
children to destruction； shall be this child of thine； and shall
be concealed from those who watch to destroy him： and when he is
brought up in a surprising way； he shall deliver the Hebrew
nation from the distress they are under from the Egyptians。 His
memory shall be famous while the world lasts； and this not only
among the Hebrews； but foreigners also： … all which shall be the
effect of my favor to thee； and to thy posterity。 He shall also
have such a brother； that he shall himself obtain my priesthood；
and his posterity shall have it after him to the end of the
world。
4。 When the vision had informed him of these things； Amram awaked
and told it to Jochebed who was his wife。 And now the fear
increased upon them on account of the prediction in Amram's
dream； for they were under concern； not only for the child； but
on account of the great happiness that was to come to him also。
However； the mother's labor was such as afforded a confirmation
to what was foretold by God； for it was not known to those that
watched her； by the easiness of her pains； and because the throes
of her delivery did not fall upon her with violence。 And now they
nourished the child at home privately for three months； but after
that time Amram； fearing he should be discovered； and； by falling
under the king's displeasure； both he and his child should
perish； and so he should make the promise of God of none effect；
he determined rather to trust the safety and care of the child to
God； than to depend on his own concealment of him； which he
looked upon as a thing uncertain； and whereby both the child； so
privately to be nourished； and himself should be in imminent
danger； but he believed that God would some way for certain
procure the safety of the child； in order to secure the truth of
his own predictions。 When they had thus determined； they made an
ark of bulrushes； after the manner of a cradle； and of a bigness
sufficient for an infant to be laid in； without being too
straitened： they then daubed it over with slime； which would
naturally keep out the water from entering between the bulrushes；
and put the infant into it； and setting it afloat upon the river；
they left its preservation to God； so the river received the
child； and carried him along。 But Miriam； the child's sister；
passed along upon the bank over against him； as her mother had
bid her； to see whither the ark would be carried； where God
demonstrated that human wisdom was nothing； but that the Supreme
Being is able to do whatsoever he pleases： that those who； in
order to their own security； condemn others to destruction； and
use great endeavors about it； fail of their purpose； but that
others are in a surprising manner preserved； and obtain a
prosperous condition almost from the very midst of their
calamities； those； I mean； whose dangers arise by the appointment
of God。 And； indeed； such a providence was exercised in the case
of this child； as showed the power of God。
5。 Thermuthis was the king's daughter。 She was now diverting
herself by the banks of the river； and seeing a cradle borne
along by the current； she sent some that could swim； and bid them
bring the cradle to her。 When those that were sent on this errand
came to her with the cradle； and she saw the little child； she
was greatly in love with it； on account of its largeness and
beauty； for God had taken such great care in the formation of
Moses； that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up；
and providing for； by all those that had taken the most fatal
resolutions； on account of the dread of his nativity； for the
destruction of the rest of the Hebrew nation。 Thermuthis bid them
bring her a woman that might afford her breast to the child； yet
would not the child admit of her breast； but turned away from it；
and did the like to many other women。 Now Miriam was by when this
happened； not to appear to be there on purpose； but only as
staying to see the child； and she said； 〃It is in vain that thou；
O queen； callest for these women for the nourishing of the child；
who are no way of kin to it； but still； if thou wilt order one of
the Hebrew women to be brought； perhaps it may admit the breast
of one of its own nation。〃 Now since she seemed to speak well；
Thermuthis bid her procure such a one； and to bring one of those
Hebrew women that gave suck。 So when she had such authority given
her； she came back and brought the mother； who was known to
nobody there。 And now the child gladly admitted the breast； and
seemed to stick close to it； and so it was； that； at the queen's
desire； the nursing of the child was entirely intrusted to the
mother。
6。 Hereupon it was that Thermuthis imposed this name Mouses upon
him； from what had happened when he was put into the river； for
the Egyptians call water by the name of Mo； and such as are saved
out of it； by the name of Uses： so by putting these two words
together； they imposed this name upon him。 And he was； by the
confession of all； according to God's prediction； as well for his
greatness of mind as for his contempt of difficulties； the best
of all the Hebrews； for Abraham was his ancestor of the seventh
generation。 For Moses was the son of Amram； who was the son of
Caath； whose father Levi was the son of Jacob； who was the son of
Isaac； who was the son of Abraham。 Now Moses's understanding
became superior to his age； nay； far beyond that standard； and
when he was taught； he discovered greater quickness of
apprehension than was usual at his age； and his actions at that
time promised greater； when he should come to the age of a man。
God did also give him that tallness； when he was but three years
old； as was wonderful。 And as for his beauty； there was nobody so
unpolite as； when they saw Moses； they were not greatly surprised
at the beauty of his countenance； nay； it happened frequently；
that those that met him as he was carried along the road； were
obliged to turn again upon seeing the child； that they left what
they were about； and stood still a great while to look on him；
for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him
on many accounts； that it detained the spectators； and made them
stay longer to look upon him。
7。 Thermuthis therefore perceiving him to be so remarkable a
child； adopted him for her son； having no child of her own。 And
when one time had carried Moses to her father； she showed him to
him； and said she thought to make him her successor； if it should
please God she should have no legitimate child of her own； and to
him； 〃I have brought up a child who is of a divine form； （21） and
of a generous mind； and as I have received him from the bounty of
the river； in ； I thought proper to adopt him my son； and the
heir of thy kingdom。〃 And she had said this； she put the infant
into her father's hands： so he took him； and hugged him to his
breast； and on his daughter's account； in a pleasant way； put his
diadem upon his head； but Moses threw it down to the ground； and；
in a puerile mood； he wreathed it round； and trod upon his feet；
which seemed to bring along with evil presage concerning the
kingdom of Egypt。 But when the sacred scribe saw this； （he was
the person who foretold that his nativity would the dominion of
that kingdom low；） he made a violent attempt to kill him； and
crying out in a frightful manner； he said； 〃This； O king！ this
child is he of whom God foretold； that if we kill him we shall be
in no danger； he himself affords an attestation to the prediction
of the same thing； by his trampling upon thy government； and
treading upon thy diadem。 Take him； therefore； out of the way；
and deliver the Egyptians from the fear they are in about him；
and deprive the Hebrews of the hope they have of being encouraged
by him。〃 But Thermuthis prevented him； and snatched the child
away。 And the king was not hasty to slay him； God himself； whose
providence protected Moses； inclining the king to spare him。 He
was； therefore； educated with great care。 So the Hebrews depended
on him； and were of good hopes great things would be done by him；
but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his
education。 Yet because； if Moses had been slain； there was no
one； either akin or adopted； that had any oracle on his side for
pretending to the crown of Egypt； and likely to be of greater
advantage to them； they abstained from killing him。
CHAPTER 10。
How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians；
1。 Moses； therefore； when he was born； and brought up in the
foregoing manner； and came to the age of maturity； made his
virtue manifest to the Egyptians； and showed that he was born for
the bringing them down； and raising the Israelites。 And the
occasion he laid hold of was this： … The Ethiopians； who are next
neighbors to the Egyptians； made an inroad into their country；
which they seized upon； and carried off the effects of the
Egy