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！
virtue； he said that Moses had bestowed such his assistance on
persons not insensible of benefits； but where they were both able
and willing to return the kindness； and even to exceed the
measure of his generosity。 So he made him his son； and gave him
one of his daughters in marriage； and appointed him to be the
guardian and superintendent over his cattle； for of old； all the
wealth of the barbarians was in those cattle。
CHAPTER 12。
Concerning The Burning Bush And The Rod Of Moses。
1。 Now Moses； when he had obtained the favor of Jethro； for that
was one of the names of Raguel； staid there and fed his flock；
but some time afterward； taking his station at the mountain
called Sinai； he drove his flocks thither to feed them。 Now this
is the highest of all the mountains thereabout； and the best for
pasturage； the herbage being there good； and it had not been
before fed upon； because of the opinion men had that God dwelt
there； the shepherds not daring to ascend up to it； and here it
was that a wonderful prodigy happened to Moses； for a fire fed
upon a thorn bush； yet did the green leaves and the flowers
continue untouched； and the fire did not at all consume the fruit
branches； although the flame was great and fierce。 Moses was
aftrighted at this strange sight； as it was to him； but he was
still more astonished when the fire uttered a voice； and called
to him by name； and spake words to him； by which it signified how
bold he had been in venturing to come into a place whither no man
had ever come before； because the place was divine； and advised
him to remove a great way off from the flame； and to be contented
with what he had seen； and though he were himself a good man； and
the offspring of great men； yet that he should not pry any
further； and he foretold to him； that he should have glory and
honor among men； by the blessing of God upon him。 He also
commanded him to go away thence with confidence to Egypt； in
order to his being the commander and conductor of the body of the
Hebrews； and to his delivering his own people from the injuries
they suffered there： 〃For；〃 said God； 〃they shall inhabit this
happy land which your forefather Abraham inhabited； and shall
have the enjoyment of all good things。〃 But still he enjoined
them； when he brought the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt； to
come to that place； and to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
there； Such were the divine oracles which were delivered out of
the fire。
2。 But Moses was astonished at what he saw； and much more at what
he heard； and he said； 〃I think it would be an instance of too
great madness； O Lord； for one of that regard I bear to thee； to
distrust thy power； since I myself adore it； and know that it has
been made manifest to my progenitors： but I am still in doubt how
I； who am a private man； and one of no abilities； should either
persuade my own countrymen to leave the country they now inhabit；
and to follow me to a land whither I lead them； or； if they
should be persuaded； how can I force Pharaoh to permit them to
depart； since they augment their own wealth and prosperity by the
labors and works they put upon them ？〃
3。 But God persuaded him to be courageous on all occasions； and
promised to be with him； and to assist him in his words； when he
was to persuade men； and in his deeds； when he was to perform
wonders。 He bid him also to take a signal of the truth of what he
said； by throwing his rod upon the ground； which； when he had
done； it crept along； and was become a serpent； and rolled itself
round in its folds； and erected its head； as ready to revenge
itself on such as should assault it； after which it become a rod
again as it was before。 After this God bid Moses to put his right
hand into his bosom： he obeyed； and when he took it out it was
white； and in color like to chalk； but afterward it returned to
its wonted color again。 He also； upon God's command； took some of
the water that was near him； and poured it upon the ground； and
saw the color was that of blood。 Upon the wonder that Moses
showed at these signs； God exhorted him to be of good courage；
and to be assured that he would be the greatest support to him；
and bid him make use of those signs； in order to obtain belief
among all men； that 〃thou art sent by me； and dost all things
according to my commands。 Accordingly I enjoin thee to make no
more delays； but to make haste to Egypt； and to travel night and
day； and not to draw out the time； and so make the slavery of the
Hebrews and their sufferings to last the longer。〃
4。 Moses having now seen and heard these wonders that assured him
of the truth of these promises of God； had no room left him to
disbelieve them： he entreated him to grant him that power when he
should be in Egypt； and besought him to vouchsafe him the
knowledge of his own name； and since he had heard and seen him；
that he would also tell him his name； that when he offered
sacrifice he might invoke him by such his name in his oblations。
Whereupon God declared to him his holy name； which had never been
discovered to men before； concerning which it is not lawful for
me to say any more （24） Now these signs accompanied Moses； not
then only； but always when he prayed for them： of all which signs
he attributed the firmest assent to the fire in the bush； and
believing that God would be a gracious supporter to him； he hoped
he should be able to deliver his own nation； and bring calamities
on the Egyptians。
CHAPTER 13。
How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh。
1。 So Moses； when he understood that the Pharaoh； in whose reign
he fled away； was dead； asked leave of Raguel to go to Egypt； for
the benefit of his own people。 And he took with him Zipporah； the
daughter of Raguel； whom he had married； and the children he had
by her； Gersom and Eleazer； and made haste into Egypt。 Now the
former of those names； Gersom； in the Hebrew tongue； signifies
that he was in a strange land； and Eleazer； that； by the
assistance of the God of his fathers； he had escaped from the
Egyptians。 Now when they were near the borders； Aaron his
brother； by the command of God； met him； to whom he declared what
had befallen him at the mountain； and the commands that God had
given him。 But as they were going forward； the chief men among
the Hebrews； having learned that they were coming； met them： to
whom Moses declared the signs he had seen； and while they could
not believe them； he made them see them； So they took courage at
these surprising and unexpected sights； and hoped well of their
entire deliverance； as believing now that God took care of their
preservation。
2。 Since then Moses found that the Hebrews would be obedient to
whatsoever he should direct； as they promised to be； and were in
love with liberty； he came to the king； who had indeed but lately
received the government； and told him how much he had done for
the good of the Egyptians； when they were despised by the
Ethiopians； and their country laid waste by them； and how he had
been the commander of their forces； and had labored for them； as
if they had been his own people and he informed him in what
danger he had been during that expedition； without having any
proper returns made him as he had deserved。 He also informed him
distinctly what things happened to him at Mount Sinai； and what
God said to him； and the signs that were done by God； in order to
assure him of the authority of those commands which he had given
him。 He also exhorted him not to disbelieve what he told him； nor
to oppose the will of God。
3。 But when the king derided Moses； he made him in earnest see
the signs that were done at Mount Sinai。 Yet was the king very
angry with him and called him an ill man； who had formerly run
away from his Egyptian slavery； and came now back with deceitful
tricks； and wonders； and magical arts； to astonish him。 And when
he had said this； he commanded the priests to let him see the
same wonderful sights； as knowing that the Egyptians were
skillful in this kind of learning； and that he was not the only
person who knew them； and pretended them to be divine； as also he
told him； that when he brought such wonderful sights before him；
he would only be believed by the unlearned。 Now when the priests
threw down their rods； they became serpents。 But Moses was not
daunted at it； and said； 〃O king； I do not myself despise the
wisdom of the Egyptians； but I say that what I do is so much
superior to what these do by magic arts and tricks； as Divine
power exceeds the power of man： but I will demonstrate that what
I do is not done by craft； or counterfeiting what is not really
true； but that they appear by the providence and power of God。〃
And when he had said this； he cast his rod down upon the ground；
and commanded it to turn itself into a serpent。 It obeyed him；
and went all round； and devoured the rods of the Egyptians； which
seemed to be dragons； until it had consumed them all。 It then
returned to its own form； and Moses took it into his hand again。
4。 However； the king was no more moved when was done than before；
and being very angry； he said that he should gain nothing by this
his cunning and shrewdness agai