western coast。
3。 When matters were come to this state； Og； the king of Gilead
and Gaulanitis； fell upon the Israelites。 He brought an army with
him； and in haste to the assistance of his friend Sihon： but
though he found him already slain； yet did he resolve still to
come and fight the Hebrews； supposing he should be too hard for
them； and being desirous to try their valor； but failing of his
hope； he was both himself slain in the battle； and all his army
was destroyed。 So Moses passed over the river Jabbok； and overran
the kingdom of Og。 He overthrew their cities； and slew all their
inhabitants； who yet exceeded in riches all the men in that part
of the continent； on account of the goodness of the soil； and the
great quantity of their wealth。 Now Og had very few equals；
either in the largeness of his body； or handsomeness of his
appearance。 He was also a man of great activity in the use of his
hands； so that his actions were not unequal to the vast largeness
and handsome appearance of his body。 And men could easily guess
at his strength and magnitude when they took his bed at Rabbath；
the royal city of the Ammonites； its structure was of iron； its
breadth four cubits； and its length a cubit more than double
thereto。 However； his fall did not only improve the circumstances
of the Hebrews for the present； but by his death he was the
occasion of further good success to them； for they presently took
those sixty cities； which were encompassed with excellent walls；
and had been subject to him； and all got both in general and in
particular a great prey。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning Balaam The Prophet And What Kind Of Man He Was；
1。 Now Moses； when he had brought his army to Jordan； pitched his
camp in the great plain over against Jericho。 This city is a very
happy situation； and very fit for producing palm…trees and
balsam。 And now the Israelites began to be very proud of
themselves； and were very eager for fighting。 Moses then； after
he had offered for a few days sacrifices of thanksgiving to God；
and feasted the people； sent a party of armed men to lay waste
the country of the Midianites； and to take their cities。 Now the
occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that
follows ：
2。 When Balak； the king of the Moabites； who had from his
ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites； saw how
great the Israelites were grown； he was much affrighted on
account of his own and his kingdom's danger； for he was not
acquainted with this； that the Hebrews would not meddle with any
other country； but were to be contented with the possession of
the land of Canaan； God having forbidden them to go any farther
（7） So he； with more haste than wisdom； resolved to make an
attempt upon them by words； but he did not judge it prudent to
fight against them； after they had such prosperous successes； and
even became out of ill successes more happy than before； but he
thought to hinder them； if he could； from growing greater； and so
he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them。 Now
these Midianites knowing there was one Balaam； who lived by
Euphrates； and was the greatest of the prophets at that time； and
one that was in friendship with them； sent some of their
honorable princes along with the ambassadors of Balak； to entreat
the prophet to come to them； that he might imprecate curses to
the destruction of the Israelites。 So Balsam received the
ambassadors； and treated them very kindly； and when he had
supped； he inquired what was God's will； and what this matter was
for which the Midianites entreated him to come to them。 But when
God opposed his going； he came to the ambassadors； and told them
that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with
their request； but informed them that God was opposite to his
intentions； even that God who had raised him to great reputation
on account of the truth of his predictions； for that this army；
which they entreated him to come and curse； was in the favor of
God； on which account he advised them to go home again； and not
to persist in their enmity against the Israelites； and when he
had given them that answer； he dismissed the ambassadors。
3。 Now the Midianites； at the earnest request and fervent
entreaties of Balak； sent other ambassadors to Balaam； who；
desiring to gratify the men； inquired again of God； but he was
displeased at ＇second＇ trial （8） and bid him by no means to
contradict the ambassadors。 Now Balsam did not imagine that God
gave this injunction in order to deceive him； so he went along
with the ambassadors； but when the divine angel met him in the
way； when he was in a narrow passage； and hedged in with a wall
on both sides； the ass on which Balaam rode understood that it
was a divine spirit that met him； and thrust Balaam to one of the
walls； without regard to the stripes which Balaam； when he was
hurt by the wall； gave her； but when the ass； upon the angel's
continuing to distress her； and upon the stripes which were given
her； fell down； by the will of God； she made use of the voice of
a man； and complained of Balaam as acting unjustly to her； that
whereas he had no fault find with her in her former service to
him； he now inflicted stripes upon her； as not understanding that
she was hindered from serving him in what he was now going about；
by the providence of God。 And when he was disturbed by reason of
the voice of the ass； which was that of a man； the angel plainly
appeared to him； and blamed him for the stripes he had given his
ass； and informed him that the brute creature was not in fault；
but that he was himself come to obstruct his journey； as being
contrary to the will of God。 Upon which Balaam was afraid； and
was preparing to return back again： yet did God excite him to go
on his intended journey； but added this injunction； that he
should declare nothing but what he himself should suggest to his
mind。
4。 When God had given him this charge； he came to Balak； and when
the king had entertained him in a magnificent manner； he desired
him to go to one of the mountains to take a view of the state of
the camp of the Hebrews。 Balak himself also came to the mountain；
and brought the prophet along with him； with a royal attendance。
This mountain lay over their heads； and was distant sixty
furlongs from the camp。 Now when he saw them； he desired the king
to build him seven altars； and to bring him as many bulls and
rams； to which desire the king did presently conform。 He then
slew the sacrifices； and offered them as burnt…offerings； that he
might observe some signal of the flight of the Hebrews。 Then said
he； 〃Happy is this people； on whom God bestows the possession of
innumerable good things； and grants them his own providence to be
their assistant and their guide； so that there is not any nation
among mankind but you will be esteemed superior to them in
virtue； and in the earnest prosecution of the best rules of life；
and of such as are pure from wickedness； and will leave those
rules to your excellent children； and this out of the regard that
God bears to you； and the provision of such things for you as may
render you happier than any other people under the sun。 You shall
retain that land to which he hath sent you； and it shall ever be
under the command of your children； and both all the earth； as
well as the seas； shall be filled with your glory： and you shall
be sufficiently numerous to supply the world in general； and
every region of it in particular； with inhabitants out of your
stock。 However； O blessed army！ wonder that you are become so
many from one father： and truly； the land of Canaan can now hold
you； as being yet comparatively few； but know ye that the whole
world is proposed to be your place of habitation for ever。 The
multitude of your posterity also shall live as well in the
islands as on the continent； and that more in number than are the
stars of heaven。 And when you are become so many； God will not
relinquish the care of you； but will afford you an abundance of
all good things in times of peace； with victory and dominion in
times of war。 May the children of your enemies have an
inclination to fight against you； and may they be so hardy as to
come to arms； and to assault you in battle； for they will not
return with victory； nor will their return be agreeable to their
children and wives。 To so great a degree of valor will you be
raised by the providence of God； who is able to diminish the
affluence of some； and to supply the wants of others。〃
5。 Thus did Balaam speak by inspiration； as not being in his own
power； but moved to say what he did by the Divine Spirit。 But
then Balak was displeased； and said he had broken the contract he
had made； whereby he was to come； as he and his confederates had
invited him； by the promise of great presents： for whereas he
came to curse their enemies； he had made an encomium upon them；
and had declared that they were the happiest of men。 To which
Balaam replied； 〃O Balak； if thou rightly considerest this whole
matter； canst thou suppose that it is in our power to be silent；
or to say any thing； when the Spirit of God seizes upon us？ … for
he puts such words as he pleases in our mouths； and such
discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of。 I well remember
by what entreaties both you and the Midianites so joyfully
brought me hither； and on that account I took this journey。 It
was my prayer； that I might not put any affront upon you； as to
what you desired of me； but God is more powerful than the
purposes I had made to serve you； for those that take upon them
to foretell the affairs of mankind； as from their own abilities；
are entirely unable to do it； or to forbear to utter what God
suggests to them； or to offer violence to his will； for when he
prevents us and enters into us； nothing that we say is our own。 I
then did not intend to praise this army； nor to go over the
several good things which God intended to do to their race； but
since he was so favorable to them； and so ready to bestow upon
them a happy life and eternal glory； he suggested the declaration
of those things to me： but now； because it is my desire to oblige
thee thyself； as well as t