themselves are not unacquainted with this sort of bird。 As soon；
therefore； as Moses was come to the land which was the breeder of
these serpents； he let loose the ibes； and by their means
repelled the serpentine kind； and used them for his assistants
before the army came upon that ground。 When he had therefore
proceeded thus on his journey； he came upon the Ethiopians before
they expected him； and； joining battle with them； he beat them；
and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the
Egyptians； and went on in overthrowing their cities； and indeed
made a great slaughter of these Ethiopians。 Now when the Egyptian
army had once tasted of this prosperous success； by the means of
Moses； they did not slacken their diligence； insomuch that the
Ethiopians were in danger of being reduced to slavery； and all
sorts of destruction； and at length they retired to Saba； which
was a royal city of Ethiopia； which Cambyses afterwards named
Mero； after the name of his own sister。 The place was to be
besieged with very great difficulty； since it was both
encompassed by the Nile quite round； and the other rivers；
Astapus and Astaboras； made it a very difficult thing for such as
attempted to pass over them； for the city was situate in a
retired place； and was inhabited after the manner of an island；
being encompassed with a strong wall； and having the rivers to
guard them from their enemies； and having great ramparts between
the wall and the rivers； insomuch； that when the waters come with
the greatest violence； it can never be drowned； which ramparts
make it next to impossible for even such as are gotten over the
rivers to take the city。 However； while Moses was uneasy at the
army's lying idle； （for the enemies durst not come to a battle；）
this accident happened： … Tharbis was the daughter of the king of
the Ethiopians： she happened to see Moses as he led the army near
the walls； and fought with great courage； and admiring the
subtility of his undertakings； and believing him to be the author
of the Egyptians' success； when they had before despaired of
recovering their liberty； and to be the occasion of the great
danger the Ethiopians were in； when they had before boasted of
their great achievements； she fell deeply in love with him； and
upon the prevalency of that passion； sent to him the most
faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their
marriage。 He thereupon accepted the offer； on condition she would
procure the delivering up of the city； and gave her the assurance
of an oath to take her to his wife； and that when he had once
taken possession of the city； he would not break his oath to her。
No sooner was the agreement made； but it took effect immediately；
and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians； he gave thanks to God；
and consummated his marriage； and led the Egyptians back to their
own land。
CHAPTER 11。
How Moses Fled Out Of Egypt Into Midian。
1。 Now the Egyptians； after they had been preserved by Moses；
entertained a hatred to him； and were very eager in compassing
their designs against him； as suspecting that he would take
occasion； from his good success； to raise a sedition； and bring
innovations into Egypt； and told the king he ought to be slain。
The king had also some intentions of himself to the same purpose；
and this as well out of envy at his glorious expedition at the
head of his army； as out of fear of being brought low by him and
being instigated by the sacred scribes； he was ready to undertake
to kill Moses： but when he had learned beforehand what plots
there were against him； he went away privately； and because the
public roads were watched； he took his flight through the
deserts； and where his enemies could not suspect he would travel；
and； though he was destitute of food； he went on； and despised
that difficulty courageously； and when he came to the city
Midian； which lay upon the Red Sea； and was so denominated from
one of Abraham's sons by Keturah； he sat upon a certain well； and
rested himself there after his laborious journey； and the
affliction he had been in。 It was not far from the city； and the
time of the day was noon； where he had an occasion offered him by
the custom of the country of doing what recommended his virtue；
and afforded him an opportunity of bettering his circumstances。
2。 For that country having but little water； the shepherds used
to seize on the wells before others came； lest their flocks
should want water； and lest it should be spent by others before
they came。 There were now come； therefore； to this well seven
sisters that were virgins； the daughters of Raguel； a priest； and
one thought worthy by the people of the country of great honor。
These virgins； who took care of their father's flocks； which sort
of work it was customary and very familiar for women to do in the
country of the Troglodytes； they came first of all； and drew
water out of the well in a quantity sufficient for their flocks；
into troughs； which were made for the reception of that water；
but when the shepherds came upon the maidens； and drove them
away； that they might have the command of the water themselves；
Moses； thinking it would be a terrible reproach upon him if he
overlooked the young women under unjust oppression； and should
suffer the violence of the men to prevail over the right of the
maidens； he drove away the men； who had a mind to more than their
share； and afforded a proper assistance to the women； who； when
they had received such a benefit from him； came to their father；
and told him how they had been affronted by the shepherds； and
assisted by a stranger； and entreated that he would not let this
generous action be done in vain； nor go without a reward。 Now the
father took it well from his daughters that they were so desirous
to reward their benefactor； and bid them bring Moses into his
presence； that he might be rewarded as he deserved。 And when
Moses came； he told him what testimony his daughters bare to him；
that he had assisted them； and that； as he admired him for his
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