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8。 〃O you illustrious young men！ we have of our own at home； and
great plenty of good things there； together with the natural；
affectionate parents and friends； nor is it out of our want of
any such things that we came to discourse with you； nor did we
admit of your invitation with design to prostitute the beauty of
our bodies for gain； but taking you for brave and worthy men； we
agreed to your request； that we might treat you with such honors
as hospitality required： and now seeing you say that you have a
great affection for us； and are troubled when you think we are
departing； we are not averse to your entreaties； and if we may
receive such assurance of your good…will as we think can be alone
sufficient； we will be glad to lead our lives with you as your
wives； but we are afraid that you will in time be weary of our
company； and will then abuse us； and send us back to our parents；
after an ignominious manner。〃 And they desired that they would
excuse them in their guarding against that danger。 But the young
men professed they would give them any assurance they should
desire； nor did they at all contradict what they requested； so
great was the passion they had for them。 〃If then；〃 said they；
〃this be your resolution； since you make use of such customs and
conduct of life as are entirely different from all other men；
（12） insomuch that your kinds of food are peculiar to yourselves；
and your kinds of drink not common to others； it will be
absolutely necessary； if you would have us for your wives； that
you do withal worship our gods。 Nor can there be any other
demonstration of the kindness which you say you already have； and
promise to have hereafter to us； than this； that you worship the
same gods that we do。 For has any one reason to complain； that
now you are come into this country； you should worship the proper
gods of the same country？ especially while our gods are common to
all men； and yours such as belong to nobody else but yourselves。〃
So they said they must either come into such methods of divine
worship as all others came into； or else they must look out for
another world； wherein they may live by themselves； according to
their own laws。
9。 Now the young men were induced by the fondness they had for
these women to think they spake very well； so they gave
themselves up to what they persuaded them； and transgressed their
own laws； and supposing there were many gods； and resolving that
they would sacrifice to them according to the laws of that
country which ordained them； they both were delighted with their
strange food； and went on to do every thing that the women would
have them do； though in contradiction to their own laws； so far
indeed that this transgression was already gone through the whole
army of the young men； and they fell into a sedition that was
much worse than the former； and into danger of the entire
abolition of their own institutions； for when once the youth had
tasted of these strange customs； they went with insatiable
inclinations into them； and even where some of the principal men
were illustrious on account of the virtues of their fathers； they
also were corrupted together with the rest。
10。 Even Zimri； the head of the tribe of Simeon accompanied with
Cozbi； a Midianitish women； who was the daughter of Sur； a man of
authority in that country； and being desired by his wife to
disregard the laws of Moses； and to follow those she was used to；
he complied with her； and this both by sacrificing after a manner
different from his own； and by taking a stranger to wife。 When
things were thus； Moses was afraid that matters should grow
worse； and called the people to a congregation； but then accused
nobody by name； as unwilling to drive those into despair who； by
lying concealed； might come to repentance； but he said that they
did not do what was either worthy of themselves； or of their
fathers； by preferring pleasure to God； and to the living
according to his will； that it was fit they should change their
courses while their affairs were still in a good state； and think
that to be true fortitude which offers not violence to their
laws； but that which resists their lusts。 And besides that； he
said it was not a reasonable thing； when they had lived soberly
in the wilderness； to act madly now when they were in prosperity；
and that they ought not to lose； now they have abundance； what
they had gained when they had little： … and so did he endeavor；
by saying this； to correct the young inert； and to bring them to
repentance for what they had done。
11。 But Zimri arose up after him； and said； 〃Yes； indeed； Moses；
thou art at liberty to make use of such laws as thou art so fond
of； and hast； by accustoming thyself to them； made them firm；
otherwise； if things had not been thus； thou hadst often been
punished before now； and hadst known that the Hebrews are not
easily put upon； but thou shalt not have me one of thy followers
in thy tyrannical commands； for thou dost nothing else hitherto；
but； under pretense of laws； and of God； wickedly impose on us
slavery； and gain dominion to thyself； while thou deprivest us of
the sweetness of life； which consists in acting according to our
own wills； and is the right of free…men； and of those that have
no lord over them。 Nay； indeed； this man is harder upon the
Hebrews then were the Egyptians themselves； as pretending to
punish； according to his laws； every one's acting what is most
agreeable to himself； but thou thyself better deservest to suffer
punishment； who presumest to abolish what every one acknowledges
to be what is good for him； and aimest to make thy single opinion
to have more force than that of all the rest； and what I now do；
and think to be right； I shall not hereafter deny to be according
to my own sentiments。 I have married； as thou sayest rightly； a
strange woman； and thou hearest what I do from myself as from one
that is free； for truly I did not intend to conceal myself。 I
also own that I sacrificed to those gods to whom you do not think
it fit to sacrifice； and I think it right to come at truth by
inquiring of many people； and not like one that lives under
tyranny； to suffer the whole hope of my life to depend upon one
man； nor shall any one find cause to rejoice who declares himself
to have more authority over my actions than myself。〃
12。 Now when Zimri had said these things； about what he and some
others had wickedly done； the people held their peace； both out
of fear of what might come upon them； and because they saw that
their legislator was not willing to bring his insolence before
the public any further； or openly to contend with him； for he
avoided that； lest many should imitate the impudence of his
language； and thereby disturb the multitude。 Upon this the
assembly was dissolved。 However； the mischievous attempt had
proceeded further； if Zimri had not been first slain； which came
to pass on the following occasion： … Phineas； a man in other
respects better than the rest of the young men； and also one that
surpassed his contemporaries in the dignity of his father； （for
he was the son of Eleazar the high priest； and the grandson of
＇Aaron＇ Moses's brother；） who was greatly troubled at what was
done by Zimri； he resolved in earnest to inflict punishment on
him； before his unworthy behavior should grow stronger by
impunity； and in order to prevent this transgression from
proceeding further； which would happen if the ringleaders were
not punished。 He was of so great magnanimity； both in strength of
mind and body； that when he undertook any very dangerous attempt；
he did not leave it off till he overcame it； and got an entire
victory。 So he came into Zimri's tent； and slew him with his
javelin； and with it he slew Cozbi also； Upon which all those
young men that had a regard to virtue； and aimed to do a glorious
action； imitated Phineas's boldness； and slew those that were
found to be guilty of the same crime with Zimri。 Accordingly many
of those that had transgressed perished by the magnanimous valor
of these young men； and the rest all perished by a plague； which
distemper God himself inflicted upon them； so that all those
their kindred； who； instead of hindering them from such wicked
actions； as they ought to have done； had persuaded them to go on；
were esteemed by God as partners in their wickedness； and died。
Accordingly there perished out of the army no fewer than fourteen
（13） ＇twenty…four＇ thousand at this time。
13。 This was the cause why Moses was provoked to send an army to
destroy the Midianites； concerning which expedition we shall
speak presently； when we have first related what we have omitted；
for it is but just not to pass over our legislator's due
encomium； on account of his conduct here； because； although this
Balaam； who was sent for by the Midianites to curse the Hebrews；
and when he was hindered from doing it by Divine Providence； did
still suggest that advice to them； by making use of which our
enemies had well nigh corrupted the whole multitude of the
Hebrews with their wiles； till some of them were deeply infected
with their opinions； yet did he do him great honor； by setting
down his prophecies