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！
sufficient to maintain a great number of men； with the good
things it produces。 Moses therefore sent messengers to Sihon； the
king of this country； desiring that he would grant his army a
passage； upon what security he should please to require； he
promised that he should be no way injured； neither as to that
country which Sihon governed； nor as to its inhabitants； and that
he would buy his provisions at such a price as should be to their
advantage； even though he should desire to sell them their very
water。 But Sihon refused his offer； and put his army into battle
array； and was preparing every thing in order to hinder their
passing over Arnon。
2。 When Moses saw that the Amorite king was disposed to enter
upon hostilities with them； he thought he ought not to bear that
insult； and； determining to wean the Hebrews from their indolent
temper； and prevent the disorders which arose thence； which had
been the occasion of their former sedition； （nor indeed were they
now thoroughly easy in their minds；） he inquired of God； whether
he would give him leave to fight？ which when he had done； and God
also promised him the victory； he was himself very courageous；
and ready to proceed to fighting。 Accordingly he encouraged the
soldiers； and he desired of them that they would take the
pleasure of fighting； now God gave them leave so to do。 They
then； upon the receipt of this permission； which they so much
longed for； put on their whole armor； and set about the work
without delay。 But the Amorite king was not now like to himself
when the Hebrews were ready to attack him； but both he himself
was affrighted at the Hebrews； and his army； which before had
showed themselves to be of good courage； were then found to be
timorous： so they could not sustain the first onset； nor bear up
against the Hebrews； but fled away； as thinking this would afford
them a more likely way for their escape than fighting； for they
depended upon their cities； which were strong； from which yet
they reaped no advantage when they were forced to fly to them；
for as soon as the Hebrews saw them giving ground； they
immediately pursued them close； and when they had broken their
ranks； they greatly terrified them； and some of them broke off
from the rest； and ran away to the cities。 Now the Hebrews
pursued them briskly； and obstinately persevered in the labors
they had already undergone； and being very skillful in slinging；
and very dexterous in throwing of darts； or any thing else of
that kind； and also having nothing but light armor； which made
them quick in the pursuit； they overtook their enemies； and for
those that were most remote； and could not be overtaken； they
reached them by their slings and their bows； so that many were
slain； and those that escaped the slaughter were sorely wounded；
and these were more distressed with thirst than with any of those
that fought against them； for it was the summer season； 。and when
the greatest number of them were brought down to the river out of
a desire to drink； as also when others fled away by troops； the
Hebrews came round them； and shot at them； so that； what with
darts and what with arrows； they made a slaughter of them all。
Sihon their king was also slain。 So the Hebrews spoiled the dead
bodies； and took their prey。 The land also which they took was
full of abundance of fruits； and the army went all over it
without fear； and fed their cattle upon it； and they took the
enemies prisoners； for they could no way put a stop to them；
since all the fighting men were destroyed。 Such was the
destruction which overtook the Amorites； who were neither
sagacious in counsel； nor courageous in action。 Hereupon the
Hebrews took possession of their land； which is a country situate
between three rivers； and naturally resembled an island： the
river Arnon being its southern ； the river Jabbok determining its
northern side； which running into Jordan loses its own name； and
takes the other； while Jordan itself runs along by it； on its
western coast。
3。 When matters were come to this state； Og； the king of Gilead
and Gaulanitis； fell upon the Israelites。 He brought an army with
him； and in haste to the assistance of his friend Sihon： but
though he found him already slain； yet did he resolve still to
come and fight the Hebrews； supposing he should be too hard for
them； and being desirous to try their valor； but failing of his
hope； he was both himself slain in the battle； and all his army
was destroyed。 So Moses passed over the river Jabbok； and overran
the kingdom of Og。 He overthrew their cities； and slew all their
inhabitants； who yet exceeded in riches all the men in that part
of the continent； on account of the goodness of the soil； and the
great quantity of their wealth。 Now Og had very few equals；
either in the largeness of his body； or handsomeness of his
appearance。 He was also a man of great activity in the use of his
hands； so that his actions were not unequal to the vast largeness
and handsome appearance of his body。 And men could easily guess
at his strength and magnitude when they took his bed at Rabbath；
the royal city of the Ammonites； its structure was of iron； its
breadth four cubits； and its length a cubit more than double
thereto。 However； his fall did not only improve the circumstances
of the Hebrews for the present； but by his death he was the
occasion of further good success to them； for they presently took
those sixty cities； which were encompassed with excellent walls；
and had been subject to him； and all got both in general and in
particular a great prey。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning Balaam The Prophet And What Kind Of Man He Was；
1。 Now Moses； when he had brought his army to Jordan； pitched his
camp in the great plain over against Jericho。 This city is a very
happy situation； and very fit for producing palm…trees and
balsam。 And now the Israelites began to be very proud of
themselves； and were very eager for fighting。 Moses then； after
he had offered for a few days sacrifices of thanksgiving to God；
and feasted the people； sent a party of armed men to lay waste
the country of the Midianites； and to take their cities。 Now the
occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that
follows ：
2。 When Balak； the king of the Moabites； who had from his
ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites； saw how
great the Israelites were grown； he was much affrighted on
account of his own and his kingdom's danger； for he was not
acquainted with this； that the Hebrews would not meddle with any
other country； but were to be contented with the possession of
the land of Canaan； God having forbidden them to go any farther
（7） So he； with more haste than wisdom； resolved to make an
attempt upon them by words； but he did not judge it prudent to
fight against them； after they had such prosperous successes； and
even became out of ill successes more happy than before； but he
thought to hinder them； if he could； from growing greater； and so
he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them。 Now
these Midianites knowing there was one Balaam； who lived by
Euphrates； and was the greatest of the prophets at that time； and
one that was in friendship with them； sent some of their
honorable princes along with the ambassadors of Balak； to entreat
the prophet to come to them； that he might imprecate curses to
the destruction of the Israelites。 So Balsam received the
ambassadors； and treated them very kindly； and when he had
supped； he inquired what was God's will； and what this matter was
for which the Midianites entreated him to come to them。 But when
God opposed his going； he came to the ambassadors； and told them
that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with
their request； but informed them that God was opposite to his
intentions； even that God who had raised him to great reputation
on account of the truth of his predictions； for that this army；
which they entreated him to come and curse； was in the favor of
God； on which account he advised them to go home again； and not
to persist in their enmity against the Israelites； and when he
had given them that answer； he dismissed the ambassadors。
3。 Now the Midianites； at the earnest request and fervent
entreaties of Balak； sent other ambassadors to Balaam； who；
desiring to gratify the men； inquired again of God； but he was
displeased at ＇second＇ trial （8） and bid him by no means to
contradict the ambassadors。 Now Balsam did not imagine that God
gave this injunction in order to deceive him； so he went along
with the ambassadors； but when the divine angel met him in the
way； when he was in a narrow passage； and hedged in with a wall
on both sides； the ass on which Balaam rode understood that it
was a divine spirit that met him； and thrust Balaam to one of the
walls； without regard to the stripes which Balaam； when he was
hurt by the wall； gave her； but when the ass； upon the angel's
continuing to distress her； and upon the stripes which were given
her； fell down； by the will of God； she made use of the voice of
a man； and complained of Balaam as acting unjustly to her； that
whereas he had no fault find with her in her former servi