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looked to see what Moses would do。 They had also their servants
about them to defend themselves； in case Moses should use force
against them。
2。 But he came near； and lifted up his hands to heaven； and cried
out with a loud voice； in order to be heard by the whole
multitude； and said； 〃O Lord of the creatures that are in the
heaven； in the earth； and in the sea； for thou art the most
authentic witness to what I have done； that it has all been done
by thy appointment； and that it was thou that affordedst us
assistance when we attempted any thing； and showedst mercy on the
Hebrews in all their distresses； do thou come now； and hear all
that I say； for no action or thought escapes thy knowledge； so
that thou wilt not disdain to speak what is true； for my
vindication； without any regard to the ungrateful imputations of
these men。 As for what was done before I was born； thou knowest
best； as not learning them by report； but seeing them； and being
present with them when they were done； but for what has been done
of late； and which these men； although they know them well
enough； unjustly pretend to suspect； be thou my witness。 When I
lived a private quiet life； I left those good things which； by my
own diligence； and by thy counsel； I enjoyed with Raguel my
father…in…law； and I gave myself up to this people； and underwent
many miseries on their account。 I also bore great labors at
first； in order to obtain liberty for them； and now in order to
their preservation； and have always showed myself ready to assist
them in every distress of theirs。 Now； therefore； since I am
suspected by those very men whose being is owing to my labors；
come thou； as it is reasonable to hope thou wilt； thou； I say；
who showedst me that fire at mount Sinai； and madest me to hear
its voice； and to see the several wonders which that place
afforded thou who commandedst me to go to Egypt； and declare thy
will to this people； thou who disturbest the happy estate of the
Egyptians； and gavest us the opportunity of flying away from our
under them； and madest the dominion of Pharaoh inferior to my
dominion； thou who didst make the sea dry land for us； when we
knew not whither to go； and didst overwhelm the Egyptians with
those destructive waves which had been divided for us； thou who
didst bestow upon us the security of weapons when we were naked；
thou who didst make the fountains that were corrupted to flow； so
as to be fit for drinking； and didst furnish us with water that
came out of the rocks； when we were in want of it； thou who didst
preserve our lives with ＇quails； which was＇ food from the sea；
when the fruits of the ground failed us； thou didst send us such
food from heaven as had never been seen before； thou who didst
suggest to us the knowledge of thy laws； and appoint to us a of
government； … come thou； I say； O Lord of the whole world； and
that as such a Judge and a Witness to me as cannot be bribed； and
show how I never admitted of any gift against justice from any of
the Hebrews； and have never condemned a man that ought to have
been acquitted； on account of one that was rich； and have never
attempted to hurt this commonwealth。 I am now and am suspected of
a thing the remotest from my intentions； as if I had given the
preisthood to Aaron； not at thy command； but out own favor to
him； do thou at this time demonstrate that all things are
administered by thy providence and that nothing happens by
chance； but is governed by thy will； and thereby attains its end：
as also demonstrate that thou takest care that have done good to
the Hebrews； demonstrate this； I say； by the punishment of Abiram
and Dathan； who condemn thee as an insensible Being； and one
overcome by my contrivances。 This thou do by inflicting such an
open punishment on these men who so madly fly in the face of thy
glory； as will take them out of the world； not in an manner； but
so that it may appear they do die after the manner of other men：
let that ground which they tread upon open about them and consume
them； with their families and goods。 This will be a demonstration
of thy power to all and this method of their sufferings will be
an instruction of wisdom for those that entertain profane
sentiments of thee。 By this means I shall be a good servant； in
the precepts thou hast given by me。 But if the calumnies they
have raised against me be true； mayst thou preserve these men
from every evil accident； and bring all that destruction on me
which I have imprecated upon them。 And when thou hast inflicted
punishment on those that have endeavored to deal unjustly with
this people； bestow upon them concord and peace。 Save this
multitude that follow thy commandments； and preserve them free
from harm； and let them not partake of the punishment of those
that have sinned； for thou knowest thyself it is not just； that
for the wickedness of those men the whole body of the Israelites
should suffer punishment。〃
3。 When Moses had said this； with tears in his eyes； the ground
was moved on a sudden； and the agitation that set it in motion
was like that which the wind produces in waves of the sea。 The
people were all aftrighted； and the ground that was about their
tents sunk down at the great noise； with a terrible sound； and
carried whatsoever was dear to the seditious into itself； who so
entirely perished； that there was not the least appearance that
any man had ever been seen there； the earth that had opened
itself about them； closing again； and becoming entire as it was
before； insomuch that such as saw it afterward did not perceive
that any such accident had happened to it。 Thus did these men
perish； and become a demonstration of the power of God。 And
truly； any one would lament them； not only on account of this
calamity that befell them； which yet deserves our commiseration；
but also because their kindred were pleased with their
sufferings； for they forgot the relation they bare to them； and
at the sight of this sad accident approved of the judgment given
against them； and because they looked upon the people about
Dathan as pestilent men； they thought they perished as such； and
did not grieve for them。
4。 And now Moses called for those that contended about the
priesthood； that trial might be made who should be priest； and
that he whose sacrifice God was best pleased with might be
ordained to that function。 There attended two hundred and fifty
men； who indeed were honored by the people； not only on account
of the power of their ancestors； but also on account of their
own； in which they excelled the others： Aaron also and Corah came
forth； and they all offered incense； in those censers of theirs
which they brought with them； before the tabernacle。 Hereupon so
great a fire shone out as no one ever saw in any that is made by
the hand of man； neither in those eruptions out of the earth that
are caused by subterraneous burn…rags； nor in such fires as arise
of their own accord in the woods； when the agitation is caused by
the trees rubbing one against another： but this fire was very
bright； and had a terrible flame； such as is kindled at the
command of God； by whose irruption on them； all the company； and
Corah himself； were destroyed； （2） and this so entirely； that
their very bodies left no remains behind them。 Aaron alone was
preserved； and not at all hurt by the fire； because it was God
that sent the fire to burn those only who ought to be burned。
Hereupon Moses； after these men were destroyed； was desirous that
the memory of this judgment might be delivered down to posterity；
and that future ages might be acquainted with it； and so he
commanded Eleazar； the son of Aaron； to put their censers near
the brazen altar； that they might be a memorial to posterity of
what these men suffered； for supposing that the power of God
might be eluded。 And thus Aaron was now no longer esteemed to
have the priesthood by the favor of Moses； but by the public
judgment of God； and thus he and his children peaceably enjoyed
that honor afterward。
CHAPTER 4。
What Happened To The Hebrews During Thirty…Eight Years In The
Wilderness。
1。 However； this sedition was so far from ceasing upon this
destruction； that it grew much stronger； and became more
intolerable。 And the occasion of its growing worse was of that
nature； as made it likely the calamity would never cease； but
last for a long time； for the men； believing already that nothing
is done without the providence of God； would have it that these
things came thus to pass not without God's favor to Moses； they
therefore laid the blame upon him that God was so angry； and that
this happened not so much because of the wickedness of those that
were punished； as because Moses procured the punishment； and that
these men had been destroyed without any sin of theirs； only
because they were zealous about the Divine worship； as also； that
he who had been the cause of this diminution of the people； by
destroying so many men； and those the most excellent of them all；
besides his escaping any punishment himself； had now given the
priesthood to his brother so firmly； that nobody could any longer
dispute it with him； for no one else； to be sure； could now