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 the women； that he would not overlook them； but
procure some way or other for their deliverance。 He therefore
betook himself to prayer to God； that he would change the water
from its present badness； and make it fit for drinking。 And when
God had granted him that favor； he took the top of a stick that
lay down at his feet； and divided it in the middle； and made the
section lengthways。 He then let it down into the well； and
persuaded the Hebrews that God had hearkened to his prayers； and
had promised to render the water such as they desired it to be；
in case they would be subservient to him in what he should enjoin
them to do； and this not after a remiss or negligent manner。 And
when they asked what they were to do in order to have the water
changed for the better； he bid the strongest men among them that
stood there； to draw up water （2） and told them； that when the
greatest part was drawn up； the remainder would be fit to drink。
So they labored at it till the water was so agitated and purged
as to be fit to drink。
3。 And now removing from thence they came to Elim； which place
looked well at a distance； for there was a grove of palm…trees；
but when they came near to it； it appeared to be a bad place； for
the palm…trees were no more than seventy； and they were ill…grown
and creeping trees； by the want of water； for the country about
was all parched； and no moisture sufficient to water them； and
make them hopeful and useful； was derived to them from the
fountains； which were in number twelve： they were rather a few
moist places than springs； which not breaking out of the ground；
nor running over； could not sufficiently water the trees。 And
when they dug into the sand； they met with no water； and if they
took a few drops of it into their hands； they found it to be
useless； on account of its mud。 The trees were too weak to bear
fruit； for want of being sufficiently cherished and enlivened by
the water。 So they laid the blame on their conductor； and made
heavy complaints against him； and said that this their miserable
state； and the experience they had of adversity； were owing to
him； for that they had then journeyed an entire thirty days； and
had spent all the provisions they had brought with them； and
meeting with no relief； they were in a very desponding condition。
And by fixing their attention upon nothing but their present
misfortunes； they were hindered from remembering what
deliverances they had received from God； and those by the virtue
and wisdom of Moses also； so they were very angry at their
conductor； and were zealous in their attempt to stone him； as the
direct occasion of their present miseries。
4。 But as for Moses himself； while the multitude were irritated
and bitterly set against him； he cheerfully relied upon God； and
upon his consciousness of the care he had taken of these his own
people； and he came into the midst of them； even while they
clamored against him； and had stones in their hands in order to
despatch him。 Now he was of an agreeable presence； and very able
to persuade the people by his speeches； accordingly he began to
mitigate their anger； and exhorted them not to be over…mindful of
their present adversities； lest they should thereby suffer the
benefits that had formerly been bestowed on them to slip out of
their memories； and he desired them by no means； on account of
their present uneasiness； to cast those great and wonderful
favors and gifts； which they had obtained of God； out of their
minds； but to expect deliverance out of those their present
troubles which they could not free themselves from； and this by
the means of that Divine Providence which watched over them。
Seeing it is probable that God tries their virtue； and exercises
their patience by these adversities； that it may appear what
fortitude they have； and what memory they retain of his former
wonderful works in their favor； and whether they will not think
of them upon occasion of the miseries they now feel。 He told
them； it appeared they were not really good men； either in
patience； or in remembering what had been successfully done for
them； sometimes by contemning God and his commands； when by those
commands they left the land of Egypt； and sometimes by behaving
themselves ill towards him who was the servant of God； and this
when he had never deceived them； either in what he said； or had
ordered them to do by God's command。 He also put them in mind of
all that had passed； how the Egyptians were destroyed when they
attempted to detain them； contrary to the command of God； and
after what manner the very same river was to the others bloody；
and not fit for drinking； but was to them sweet； and fit for
drinking； and how they went a new road through the sea； which
fled a long way from them； by which very means they were
themselves preserved； but saw their enemies destroyed； and that
when they were in want of weapons； God gave them plenty of them；
… and so he recounted all the particular instances； how when they
were； in appearance； just going to be destroyed； God had saved
them in a surprising manner； and that he had still the same
power； and that they ought not even now to despair of his
providence over them； and accordingly he exhorted them to
continue quiet； and to consider that help would not come too
late； though it come not immediately； if it be present with them
before they suffer any great misfortune； that they ought to
reason thus： that God delays to assist them； not because he has
no regard to them； but because he will first try their fortitude；
and the pleasure they take in their freedom； that he may learn
whether you have souls great enough to bear want of food； and
scarcity of water； on its account； or whether you rather love to
be slaves； as cattle are slaves to such as own them； and feed
them liberally； but only in order to make them more useful in
their service。 That as for himself； he shall not be so much
concerned for his own preservation； for if he die unjustly； he
shall not reckon it any affliction； but that he is concerned for
them； lest； by casting stones at him； they should be thought to
condemn God himself。
5。 By this means Moses pacified the people； and restrained them
from stoning him； and brought them to repent of what they were
going to do。 And because he thought the necessity they were under
made their passion less unjustifiable； he thought he ought to
apply himself to God by prayer and supplication； and going up to
an eminence； he requested of God for some succor for the people；
and some way of deliverance from the want they were in； because
in him； and in him alone； was their hope of salvation； and he
desired that he would forgive what necessity had forced the
people to do； since such was the nature of mankind； hard to
please； and very complaining under adversities。 Accordingly God
promised he would take care of them； and afford them the succor
they were desirous of。 Now when Moses had heard this from God； he
came down to the multitude。 But as soon as they saw him joyful at
the promises he had received from God； they changed their sad
countenances into gladness。 So he placed himself in the midst of
them； and told them he came to bring them from God a deliverance
from their present distresses。 Accordingly a little after came a
vast number of quails； which is a bird more plentiful in this
Arabian Gulf than any where else； flying over the sea； and
hovered over them； till wearied with their laborious flight； and；
indeed； as usual； flying very near to the earth； they fell down
upon the Hebrews； who caught them； and satisfied their hunger
with them； and supposed that this was the method whereby God
meant to supply them with food。 Upon which Moses returned thanks
to God for affording them his assistance so suddenly； and sooner
than he had promised them。
6。 But presently after this first supply of food； he sent them a
second； for as Moses was lifting up his hands in prayer； a dew
fell down； and Moses； when he found it stick to his hands；
supposed this was also come for food from God to them。 He tasted
it； and perceiving that the people knew not what it was； and
thought it snowed； and that it was what usually fell at that time
of the year； he informed them that this dew did not fall from
heaven after the manner they imagined； but came for their
preservation and sustenance。 So he tasted it； and gave them some
of it； that they might be satisfied about what he told them。 They
also imitated their conductor； and were pleased with the food；
for it was like honey in sweetness and pleasant taste； but like
in its body to bdellium； one of the sweet spices； and in bigness
equal to coriander seed。 And very earnest they were in gathering
it； but they were enjoined to gather it equally （3） … the measure
of an omer for each one every day； because this food should not
come in too small a quantity； lest the weaker might not be able
to get their share； by reason of the overbearing of the strong in
collecting it。 However； these strong men； when they had gathered
more than the measure appointed for them； had no more than
others； but only tired themselves more in gathering it； for they
found no more than an omer apiece； and the advantage they got by
what was superfluous was none at all； it corrupting； both by the
worms breeding in it； and by its bitterness。 So divine and
wonderful a food was this！ It also supplied the want of other
sorts of food to those that fed on it。 And even now； in all that
place； this manna comes down in rain； （4） according to what Moses
then obtained of God； to send it to the people for their
sustenance。 Now the Hebrews call this food manna： for the
particle man； in our language； is the asking of a question。 What
is this ？ So the Hebrews were very joyful at what was sent them
from heaven。 Now they made use of this food for forty years； or
as long as they were in the wilderness。
7。 As soon as they were removed thence； they came to Rephidim；
being distressed to the last degree by thirst； and while in the
foregoing days they had li