flying from them。
5。 But Moses； though the multitude looked fiercely at him； did
not； however； give over the care of them； but despised all
dangers； out of his trust in God； who； as he had afforded them
the several steps already taken for the recovery of their
liberty； which he had foretold them； would not now suffer them to
be subdued by their enemies； to be either made slaves or be slain
by them； and； standing in midst of them； he said； 〃It is not just
of us to distrust even men； when they have hitherto well managed
our affairs； as if they would not be the same hereafter； but it
is no better than madness； at this time to despair of the
providence of God； by whose power all those things have been
performed he promised； when you expected no such things： I mean
all that I have been concerned in for deliverance and escape from
slavery。 Nay； when we are in the utmost distress； as you see we
ought rather to hope that God will succor us； by whose operation
it is that we are now this narrow place； that he may out of such
difficulties as are otherwise insurmountable and out of which
neither you nor your enemies expect you can be delivered； and may
at once demonstrate his own power and his providence over us。 Nor
does God use to give his help in small difficulties to those whom
he favors； but in such cases where no one can see how any hope in
man can better their condition。 Depend； therefore； upon such a
Protector as is able to make small things great； and to show that
this mighty force against you is nothing but weakness； and be not
affrighted at the Egyptian army； nor do you despair of being
preserved； because the sea before； and the mountains behind；
afford you no opportunity for flying； for even these mountains；
if God so please； may be made plain ground for you； and the sea
become dry land。〃
CHAPTER 16。
How The Sea Was Divided Asunder For The Hebrews； When They Were
Pursued By The Egyptians； And So Gave Them An Opportunity Of
Escaping From Them。
1。 When Moses had said this； he led them to the sea； while the
Egyptians looked on； for they were within sight。 Now these were
so distressed by the toil of their pursuit； that they thought
proper to put off fighting till the next day。 But when Moses was
come to the sea…shore； he took his rod； and made supplication to
God； and called upon him to be their helper and assistant； and
said 〃Thou art not ignorant； O Lord； that it is beyond human
strength and human contrivance to avoid the difficulties we are
now under； but it must be thy work altogether to procure
deliverance to this army； which has left Egypt at thy
appointment。 We despair of any other assistance or contrivance；
and have recourse only to that hope we have in thee； and if there
be any method that can promise us an escape by thy providence； we
look up to thee for it。 And let it come quickly； and manifest thy
power to us； and do thou raise up this people unto good courage
and hope of deliverance； who are deeply sunk into a disconsolate
state of mind。 We are in a helpless place； but still it is a
place that thou possessest； still the sea is thine； the mountains
also that enclose us are thine； so that these mountains will open
themselves if thou commandest them； and the sea also； if thou
commandest it； will become dry land。 Nay； we might escape by a
flight through the air； if thou shouldst determine we should have
that way of salvation。〃
2。 When Moses had thus addressed himself to God； he smote the sea
with his rod； which parted asunder at the stroke； and receiving
those waters into itself； left the ground dry； as a road and a
place of flight for the Hebrews。 Now when Moses saw this
appearance of God； and that the sea went out of its own place；
and left dry land； he went first of all into it； and bid the
Hebrews to follow him along that divine road； and to rejoice at
the danger their enemies that followed them were in； and gave
thanks to God for this so surprising a deliverance which appeared
from him。
3。 Now； while these Hebrews made no stay； but went on earnestly；
as led by God's presence with them； the Egyptians supposed first
that they were distracted； and were going rashly upon manifest
destruction。 But when they saw that they were going a great way
without any harm； and that no obstacle or difficulty fell in
their journey； they made haste to pursue them； hoping that the
sea would be calm for them also。 They put their horse foremost；
and went down themselves into the sea。 Now the Hebrews； while
these were putting on their armor； and therein spending their
time； were beforehand with them； and escaped them； and got first
over to the land on the other side without any hurt。 Whence the
others were encouraged； and more courageously pursued them； as
hoping no harm would come to them neither： but the Egyptians were
not aware that they went into a road made for the Hebrews； and
not for others； that this road was made for the deliverance of
those in danger； but not for those that were earnest to make use
of it for the others' destruction。 As soon； therefore； as ever
the whole Egyptian army was within it； the sea flowed to its own
place； and came down with a torrent raised by storms of wind；
（30） and encompassed the Egyptians。 Showers of rain also came
down from the sky； and dreadful thunders and lightning； with
flashes of fire。 Thunderbolts also were darted upon them。 Nor was
there any thing which used to be sent by God upon men； as
indications of his wrath； which did not happen at this time； for
a dark and dismal night oppressed them。 And thus did all these
men perish； so that there was not one man left to be a messenger
of this calamity to the rest of the Egyptians。
4。 But the Hebrews were not able to contain themselves for joy at
their wonderful deliverance； and destruction of their enemies；
now indeed supposing themselves firmly delivered； when those that
would have forced them into slavery were destroyed； and when they
found they had God so evidently for their protector。 And now
these Hebrews having escaped the danger they were in； after this
manner； and besides that； seeing their enemies punished in such a
way as is never recorded of any other men whomsoever； were all
the night employed in singing of hymns； and in mirth。 （31） Moses
also composed a song unto God； containing his praises； and a
thanksgiving for his kindness； in hexameter verse。 （32）
5。 As for myself； I have delivered every part of this history as
I found it in the sacred books； nor let any one wonder at the
strangeness of the narration if a way were discovered to those
men of old time； who were free from the wickedness of the modern
ages； whether it happened by the will of God or whether it
happened of its own accord； … while； for the sake of those that
accompanied Alexander； king of Macedonia； who yet lived；
comparatively but a little while ago； the Pamphylian Sea retired
and afforded them a passage （33） through itself； had no other way
to go； I mean； when it was the will of God to destroy the
monarchy of the Persians： and this is confessed to be true by all
that have written about the actions of Alexander。 But as to these
events； let every one determine as he pleases。
6。 On the next day Moses gathered together the weapons of the
Egyptians； which were brought to the camp of the Hebrews by the
current of the sea； and the force of the winds resisting it； and
he conjectured that this also happened by Divine Providence； that
so they might not be destitute of weapons。 So when he had ordered
the Hebrews to arm themselves with them； he led them to Mount
Sinai； in order to offer sacrifice to God； and to render
oblations for the salvation of the multitude； as he was charged
to do beforehand。
BOOK III。
Containing The Interval Of Two Years。
From The Exodus Out Of Egypt； To The Rejection Of That
Generation。
CHAPTER 1。
How Moses When He Had Brought The People Out Of Egypt Led Them To
Mount Sinai； But Not Till They Had Suffered Much In Their
Journey。
1。 When the Hebrews had obtained such a wonderful deliverance；
the country was a great trouble to them； for it was entirely a
desert； and without
sustenance for them； and also had exceeding little water； so that
it not only was not at all sufficient for the men； but not enough
to feed any of the cattle； for it was parched up； and had no
moisture that might afford nutriment to the vegetables； so they
were forced to travel over this country； as having no other
country but this to travel in。 They had indeed carried water
along with them from the land over which they had traveled
before； as their conductor had bidden them； but when that was
spent； they were obliged to draw water out of wells； with pain；
by reason of the hardness of the soil。 Moreover； what water they
found was bitter； and not fit for drinking； and this in small
quantities also； and as they thus traveled； they came late in the
evening to a place called Marah； （1） which had that name from the
badness of its water； for Mar denotes bitterness。 Thither they
came afflicted both by the tediousness of their journey； and by
their want of food； for it entirely failed them at that time。 Now
here was a well； which made them choose to stay in the place；
which； although it were not sufficient to satisfy so great an
army； did yet afford them some comfort； as found in such desert
places； for they heard from those who had been to search； that
there was nothing to be found； if they traveled on farther。 Yet
was this water bitter； and not fit for men to drink； and not only
so； but it was intolerable even to the cattle themselves。
2。 When Moses saw how much the people were cast down； and that
the occasion of it could not be contradicted； for the people were
not in the nature of a complete army of men； who might oppose a
manly fortitude to the necessity that distressed them； the
multitude of the children； and of the women also； being of too
weak capacities to be persuaded by reason； blunted the courage of
the men themselves； … he was therefore in great difficulties； and
made everybody's calamity his own； for they ran all of them to
him； and begged of him； the women begged for their infants； and
the men for t