procured to himself a greater authority among the Egyptians； and
greater love to the king from them。 Now this law； that they
should pay the fifth part of their fruits as tribute； continued
until their later kings。
CHAPTER 8。
Of The Death Of Jacob And Joseph。
1。 Now when Jacob had lived seventeen years in Egypt； he fell
into a disease； and died in the presence of his sons； but not
till he made his prayers for their enjoying prosperity； and till
he had foretold to them prophetically how every one of them was
to dwell in the land of Canaan。 But this happened many years
afterward。 He also enlarged upon the praises of Joseph （15） how
he had not remembered the evil doings of his brethren to their
disadvantage； nay； on the contrary； was kind to them； bestowing
upon them so many benefits； as seldom are bestowed on men's own
benefactors。 He then commanded his own sons that they should
admit Joseph's sons； Ephraim and Manasses； into their number； and
divide the land of Canaan in common with them； concerning whom we
shall treat hereafter。 However； he made it his request that he
might be buried at Hebron。 So he died； when he had lived full a
hundred and fifty years； three only abated； having not been
behind any of his ancestors in piety towards God； and having such
a recompense for it； as it was fit those should have who were so
good as these were。 But Joseph； by the king's permission； carried
his father's dead body to Hebron； and there buried it； at a great
expense。 Now his brethren were at first unwilling to return back
with him； because they were afraid lest； now their father was
dead； he should punish them for their secret practices against
him； since he was now gone； for whose sake he had been so
gracious to them。 But he persuaded them to fear no harm； and to
entertain no suspicions of him： so he brought them along with
him； and gave them great possessions； and never left off his
particular concern for them。
2。 Joseph also died when he had lived a hundred and ten years；
having been a man of admirable virtue； and conducting all his
affairs by the rules of reason； and used his authority with
moderation； which was the cause of his so great felicity among
the Egyptians； even when he came from another country； and that
in such ill circumstances also； as we have already described。 At
length his brethren died； after they had lived happily in Egypt。
Now the posterity and sons of these men； after some time； carried
their bodies； and buried them at Hebron： but as to the bones of
Joseph； they carried them into the land of Canaan afterward； when
the Hebrews went out of Egypt； for so had Joseph made them
promise him upon oath。 But what became of every one of these men；
and by what toils they got the possession of the land of Canaan；
shall be shown hereafter； when I have first explained upon what
account it was that they left Egypt。
CHAPTER 9。
Concerning The Afflictions That Befell The Hebrews In Egypt；
During Four Hundred Years。 （16）
1。 Now it happened that the Egyptians grew delicate and lazy； as
to pains…taking； and gave themselves up to other pleasures； and
in particular to the love of gain。 They also became very
ill…affected towards the Hebrews； as touched with envy at their
prosperity； for when they saw how the nation of the Israelites
flourished； and were become eminent already in plenty of wealth；
which they had acquired by their virtue and natural love of
labor； they thought their increase was to their own detriment。
And having； in length of time； forgotten the benefits they had
received from Joseph； particularly the crown being now come into
another family； they became very abusive to the Israelites； and
contrived many ways of afflicting them； for they enjoined them to
cut a great number of channels for the river； and to build walls
for their cities and ramparts； that they might restrain the
river； and hinder its waters from stagnating； upon its running
over its own banks： they set them also to build pyramids； （17）
and by all this wore them out； and forced them to learn all sorts
of mechanical arts； and to accustom themselves to hard labor。 And
four hundred years did they spend under these afflictions； for
they strove one against the other which should get the mastery；
the Egyptians desiring to destroy the Israelites by these labors；
and the Israelites desiring to hold out to the end under them。
2。 While the affairs of the Hebrews were in this condition； there
was this occasion offered itself to the Egyptians； which made
them more solicitous for the extinction of our nation。 One of
those sacred scribes； （18） who are very sagacious in foretelling
future events truly； told the king； that about this time there
would a child be born to the Israelites； who； if he were reared；
would bring the Egyptian dominion low； and would raise the
Israelites； that he would excel all men in virtue； and obtain a
glory that would be remembered through all ages。 Which thing was
so feared by the king； that； according to this man's opinion； he
commanded that they should cast every male child； which was born
to the Israelites； into the river； and destroy it； that besides
this； the Egyptian midwives （19） should watch the labors of the
Hebrew women； and observe what is born； for those were the women
who were enjoined to do the office of midwives to them； and by
reason of their relation to the king； would not transgress his
commands。 He enjoined also； that if any parents should disobey
him； and venture to save their male children alive； （20） they and
their families should be destroyed。 This was a severe affliction
indeed to those that suffered it； not only as they were deprived
of their sons； and while they were the parents themselves； they
were obliged to be subservient to the destruction of their own
children； but as it was to be supposed to tend to the extirpation
of their nation； while upon the destruction of their children；
and their own gradual dissolution； the calamity would become very
hard and inconsolable to them。 And this was the ill state they
were in。 But no one can be too hard for the purpose of God；
though he contrive ten thousand subtle devices for that end； for
this child； whom the sacred scribe foretold； was brought up and
concealed from the observers appointed by the king； and he that
foretold him did not mistake in the consequences of his
preservation； which were brought to pass after the manner
following： …
3。 A man whose name was Amram； one of the nobler sort of the
Hebrews； was afraid for his whole nation； lest it should fail； by
the want of young men to be brought up hereafter； and was very
uneasy at it； his wife being then with child； and he knew not
what to do。 Hereupon he betook himself to prayer to God； and
entreated him to have compassion on those men who had nowise
transgressed the laws of his worship； and to afford them
deliverance from the miseries they at that time endured； and to
render abortive their enemies' hopes of the destruction of their
nation。 Accordingly God had mercy on him； and was moved by his
supplication。 He stood by him in his sleep； and exhorted him not
to despair of his future favors。 He said further； that he did not
forget their piety towards him； and would always reward them for
it； as he had formerly granted his favor to their forefathers；
and made them increase from a few to so great a multitude。 He put
him in mind； that when Abraham was come alone out of Mesopotamia
into Canaan； he had been made happy； not only in other respects；
but that when his wife was at first barren； she was afterwards by
him enabled to conceive seed； and bare him sons。 That he left to
Ismael and to his posterity the country of Arabia； as also to his
sons by Ketura； Troglodytis； and to Isaac； Canaan。 That by my
assistance； said he； he did great exploits in war； which； unless
you be yourselves impious； you must still remember。 As for Jacob；
he became well known to strangers also； by the greatness of that
prosperity in which he lived； and left to his sons； who came into
Egypt with no more than seventy souls； while you are now become
above six hundred thousand。 Know therefore that I shall provide
for you all in common what is for your good； and particularly for
thyself what shall make thee famous； for that child； out of dread
of whose nativity the Egyptians have doomed the Israelite
children to destruction； shall be this child of thine； and shall
be concealed from those who watch to destroy him： and when he is
brought up in a surprising way； he shall deliver the Hebrew
nation from the distress they are under from the Egyptians。 His
memory shall be famous while the world lasts； and this not only
among the Hebrews； but foreigners also： … all which shall be the
effect of my favor to thee； and to thy posterity。 He shall also
have such a brother； that he shall himself obtain my priesthood；
and his posterity shall have it after him to the end of the
world。
4。 When the vision had informed him of these things； Amram awaked
and told it to Jochebed who was his wife。 And now the fear
increased upon them on account of the prediction in Amram's
dream； for they were under concern； not only for the child； but
on account of the great happiness that was to come to him also。
However； the mother's labor was such as afforded a confirmation
to what was foretold by God； for it was not known to those that
watched her； by the easiness of her pains； and because the throes
of her delivery did not fall upon her with violence。 And now they
nourished the child at home privately for three months； but after
that time Amram； fearing he should be discovered； and； by falling
under the king's displeasure； both he and his child should
perish； and so he should make the promise of God of none effect；
he determined rather to trust the safety and care of the child to
God； than to depend on his own concealment of him； which he
looked upon as a thing uncertain； and whereby both the child； so
privately to be nourished； and himself should be in imminent
danger； but he believed that God would some way for certain
procure the safety of the child； in order to secure the truth of
his own predictions。 When they had thus de