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which they seized upon； and carried off the effects of the
Egyptians； who； in their rage； fought against them； and revenged
the affronts they had received from them； but being overcome in
battle； some of them were slain； and the rest ran away in a
shameful manner； and by that means saved themselves； whereupon
the Ethiopians followed after them in the pursuit； and thinking
that it would be a mark of cowardice if they did not subdue all
Egypt； they went on to subdue the rest with greater vehemence；
and when they had tasted the sweets of the country； they never
left off the prosecution of the war： and as the nearest parts had
not courage enough at first to fight with them； they proceeded as
far as Memphis； and the sea itself； while not one of the cities
was able to oppose them。 The Egyptians； under this sad
oppression； betook themselves to their oracles and prophecies；
and when God had given them this counsel； to make use of Moses
the Hebrew； and take his assistance； the king commanded his
daughter to produce him； that he might be the general （22） of
their army。 Upon which； when she had made him swear he would do
him no harm； she delivered him to the king； and supposed his
assistance would be of great advantage to them。 She withal
reproached the priest； who； when they had before admonished the
Egyptians to kill him； was not ashamed now to own their want of
his help。
2。 So Moses； at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king
himself； cheerfully undertook the business： and the sacred
scribes of both nations were glad； those of the Egyptians； that
they should at once overcome their enemies by his valor； and that
by the same piece of management Moses would be slain； but those
of the Hebrews； that they should escape from the Egyptians；
because Moses was to be their general。 But Moses prevented the
enemies； and took and led his army before those enemies were
apprized of his attacking them； for he did not march by the
river； but by land； where he gave a wonderful demonstration of
his sagacity； for when the ground was difficult to be passed
over； because of the multitude of serpents； （which it produces in
vast numbers； and； indeed； is singular in some of those
productions； which other countries do not breed； and yet such as
are worse than others in power and mischief； and an unusual
fierceness of sight； some of which ascend out of the ground
unseen； and also fly in the air； and so come upon men at
unawares； and do them a mischief；） Moses invented a wonderful
stratagem to preserve the army safe； and without hurt； for he
made baskets； like unto arks； of sedge； and filled them with
ibes； （23） and carried them along with them； which animal is the
greatest enemy to serpents imaginable； for they fly from them
when they come near them； and as they fly they are caught and
devoured by them； as if it were done by the harts； but the ibes
are tame creatures； and only enemies to the serpentine kind： but
about these ibes I say no more at present； since the Greeks
themselves are not unacquainted with this sort of bird。 As soon；
therefore； as Moses was come to the land which was the breeder of
these serpents； he let loose the ibes； and by their means
repelled the serpentine kind； and used them for his assistants
before the army came upon that ground。 When he had therefore
proceeded thus on his journey； he came upon the Ethiopians before
they expected him； and； joining battle with them； he beat them；
and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the
Egyptians； and went on in overthrowing their cities； and indeed
made a great slaughter of these Ethiopians。 Now when the Egyptian
army had once tasted of this prosperous success； by the means of
Moses； they did not slacken their diligence； insomuch that the
Ethiopians were in danger of being reduced to slavery； and all
sorts of destruction； and at length they retired to Saba； which
was a royal city of Ethiopia； which Cambyses afterwards named
Mero； after the name of his own sister。 The place was to be
besieged with very great difficulty； since it was both
encompassed by the Nile quite round； and the other rivers；
Astapus and Astaboras； made it a very difficult thing for such as
attempted to pass over them； for the city was situate in a
retired place； and was inhabited after the manner of an island；
being encompassed with a strong wall； and having the rivers to
guard them from their enemies； and having great ramparts between
the wall and the rivers； insomuch； that when the waters come with
the greatest violence； it can never be drowned； which ramparts
make it next to impossible for even such as are gotten over the
rivers to take the city。 However； while Moses was uneasy at the
army's lying idle； （for the enemies durst not come to a battle；）
this accident happened： … Tharbis was the daughter of the king of
the Ethiopians： she happened to see Moses as he led the army near
the walls； and fought with great courage； and admiring the
subtility of his undertakings； and believing him to be the author
of the Egyptians' success； when they had before despaired of
recovering their liberty； and to be the occasion of the great
danger the Ethiopians were in； when they had before boasted of
their great achievements； she fell deeply in love with him； and
upon the prevalency of that passion； sent to him the most
faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their
marriage。 He thereupon accepted the offer； on condition she would
procure the delivering up of the city； and gave her the assurance
of an oath to take her to his wife； and that when he had once
taken possession of the city； he would not break his oath to her。
No sooner was the agreement made； but it took effect immediately；
and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians； he gave thanks to God；
and consummated his marriage； and led the Egyptians back to their
own land。
CHAPTER 11。
How Moses Fled Out Of Egypt Into Midian。
1。 Now the Egyptians； after they had been preserved by Moses；
entertained a hatred to him； and were very eager in compassing
their designs against him； as suspecting that he would take
occasion； from his good success； to raise a sedition； and bring
innovations into Egypt； and told the king he ought to be slain。
The king had also some intentions of himself to the same purpose；
and this as well out of envy at his glorious expedition at the
head of his army； as out of fear of being brought low by him and
being instigated by the sacred scribes； he was ready to undertake
to kill Moses： but when he had learned beforehand what plots
there were against him； he went away privately； and because the
public roads were watched； he took his flight through the
deserts； and where his enemies could not suspect he would travel；
and； though he was destitute of food； he went on； and despised
that difficulty courageously； and when he came to the city
Midian； which lay upon the Red Sea； and was so denominated from
one of Abraham's sons by Keturah； he sat upon a certain well； and
rested himself there after his laborious journey； and the
affliction he had been in。 It was not far from the city； and the
time of the day was noon； where he had an occasion offered him by
the custom of the country of doing what recommended his virtue；
and afforded him an opportunity of bettering his circumstances。
2。 For that country having but little water； the shepherds used
to seize on the wells before others came； lest their flocks
should want water； and lest it should be spent by others before
they came。 There were now come； therefore； to this well seven
sisters that were virgins； the daughters of Raguel； a priest； and
one thought worthy by the people of the country of great honor。
These virgins； who took care of their father's flocks； which sort
of work it was customary and very familiar for women to do in the
country of the Troglodytes； they came first of all； and drew
water out of the well in a quantity sufficient for their flocks；
into troughs； which were made for the reception of that water；
but when the shepherds came upon the maidens； and drove them
away； that they might have the command of the water themselves；
Moses； thinking it would be a terrible reproach upon him if he
overlooked the young women under unjust oppression； and should
suffer the violence of the men to prevail over the right of the
maidens； he drove away the men； who had a mind to more than their
share； and afforded a proper assistance to the women； who； when
they had received such a benefit from him； came to their father；
and told him how they had been affronted by the shepherds； and
assisted by a stranger； and entreated that he would not let this
generous action be done in vain； nor go without a reward。 Now the
father took it well from his daughters that they were so desirous
to reward their benefactor； and bid them bring Moses into his
presence； that he might be rewarded as he deserved。 And when
Moses came； he told him what testimony his daughters bare to him；
that he had assisted them； and that； as he admired him for his
virtue； he said that Moses had bestowed such his assistance on
persons not insensible of benefits； but where they were both able
and