both all in general； and each person in particular； and when they
had conquered them； should overturn their city to the very
foundations； and； if possible； should not leave the least
footsteps of such madness： but that if they were not able to take
such vengeance； they should still demonstrate that what was done
was contrary to their wills。 So the multitude bound themselves by
oath so to do。
46。 Moses taught them also by what means their sacrifices might
be the most acceptable to God； and how they should go forth to
war； making use of the stones （in the high priest's breastplate）
for their direction； （35） as I have before signified。 Joshua also
prophesied while Moses was present。 And when Moses had
recapitulated whatsoever he had done for the preservation of the
people； both in their wars and in peace； and had composed them a
body of laws； and procured them an excellent form of government；
he foretold； as God had declared to him 〃That if they
transgressed that institution for the worship of God； they should
experience the following miseries： … Their land should be full of
weapons of war from their enemies； and their cities should be
overthrown； and their temple should be burnt that they should be
sold for slaves； to such men as would have no pity on them in
their afflictions； that they would then repent； when that
repentance would no way profit them under their sufferings。
〃Yet；〃 said he； 〃will that God who founded your nation； restore
your cities to your citizens； with their temple also； and you
shall lose these advantages not once only； but often。〃
47。 Now when Moses had encouraged Joshua to lead out the army
against the Canaanites； by telling him that God would assist him
in all his undertakings； and had blessed the whole multitude； he
said； 〃Since I am going to my forefathers； and God has determined
that this should be the day of my departure to them； I return him
thanks while I am still alive and present with you； for that
providence he hath exercised over you； which hath not only
delivered us from the miseries we lay under； but hath bestowed a
state of prosperity upon us； as also； that he hath assisted me in
the pains I took； and in all the contrivances I had in my care
about you； in order to better your condition； and hath on all
occasions showed himself favorable to us； or rather he it was who
first conducted our affairs； and brought them to a happy
conclusion； by making use of me as a vicarious general under him；
and as a minister in those matters wherein he was willing to do
you good： on which account I think it proper to bless that Divine
Power which will take care of you for the time to come； and this
in order to repay that debt which I owe him； and to leave behind
me a memorial that we are obliged to worship and honor him； and
to keep those laws which are the most excellent gift of all those
he hath already bestowed upon us； or which； if he continue
favorable to us； he will bestow upon us hereafter。 Certainly a
human legislator is a terrible enemy when his laws are affronted；
and are made to no purpose。 And may you never experience that
displeasure of God which will be the consequence of the neglect
of these his laws； which he； who is your Creator； hath given
you。〃
48。 When Moses had spoken thus at the end of his life； and had
foretold what would befall to every one of their tribes （36）
afterward； with the addition of a blessing to them； the multitude
fell into tears； insomuch that even the women； by beating their
breasts； made manifest the deep concern they had when he was
about to die。 The children also lamented still more； as not able
to contain their grief； and thereby declared； that even at their
age they were sensible of his virtue and mighty deeds； and truly
there seemed to be a strife betwixt the young and the old who
should most grieve for him。 The old grieved because they knew
what a careful protector they were to be deprived of； and so
lamented their future state； but the young grieved； not only for
that； but also because it so happened that they were to be left
by him before they had well tasted of his virtue。 Now one may
make a guess at the excess of this sorrow and lamentation of the
multitude； from what happened to the legislator himself； for
although he was always persuaded that he ought not to be cast
down at the approach of death； since the undergoing it was
agreeable to the will of God and the law of nature； yet what the
people did so overbore him； that he wept himself。 Now as he went
thence to the place where he was to vanish out of their sight；
they all followed after him weeping； but Moses beckoned with his
hand to those that were remote from him； and bade them stay
behind in quiet； while he exhorted those that were near to him
that they would not render his departure so lamentable。 Whereupon
they thought they ought to grant him that favor； to let him
depart according as he himself desired； so they restrained
themselves； though weeping still towards one another。 All those
who accompanied him were the senate； and Eleazar the high priest；
and Joshua their commander。 Now as soon as they were come to the
mountain called Abarim； （which is a very high mountain； situate
over against Jericho； and one that affords； to such as are upon
it； a prospect of the greatest part of the excellent land of
Canaan；） he dismissed the senate； and as he was going to embrace
Eleazar and Joshua； and was still discoursing with them； a cloud
stood over him on the sudden； and he disappeared in a certain
valley； although he wrote in the holy books that he died； which
was done out of fear； lest they should venture to say that；
because of his extraordinary virtue； he went to God。
49。 Now Moses lived in all one hundred and twenty years； a third
part of which time； abating one month； he was the people's ruler；
and he died on the last month of the year； which is called by the
Macedonians Dystrus； but by us Adar； on the first day of the
month。 He was one that exceeded all men that ever were in
understanding； and made the best use of what that understanding
suggested to him。 He had a very graceful way of speaking and
addressing himself to the multitude； and as to his other
qualifications； he had such a full command of his passions； as if
he hardly had any such in his soul； and only knew them by their
names； as rather perceiving them in other men than in himself。 He
was also such a general of an army as is seldom seen； as well as
such a prophet as was never known； and this to such a degree；
that whatsoever he pronounced； you would think you heard the
voice of God himself。 So the people mourned for him thirty days：
nor did ever any grief so deeply affect the Hebrews as did this
upon the death of Moses： nor were those that had experienced his
conduct the only persons that desired him； but those also that
perused the laws he left behind him had a strong desire after
him； and by them gathered the extraordinary virtue he was master
of。 And this shall suffice for the declaration of the manner of
the death of Moses。
BOOK V。
Containing The Interval Of Four Hundred And Seventy…Six Years。
From The Death Of Moses To The Death Of Eli。
CHAPTER 1。
How Joshua； The Commander Of The Hebrews； Made War With The
Canaanites； And Overcame Them； And Destroyed Them； And Divided
Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel。
1。 When Moses was taken away from among men； in the manner
already described； and when all the solemnities belonging to the
mourning for him were finished； and the sorrow for him was over；
Joshua commanded the multitude to get themselves ready for an
expedition。 He also sent spies to Jericho to discover what forces
they had； and what were their intentions； but he put his camp in
order； as intending soon to pass over Jordan at a proper season。
And calling to him the rulers of the tribe of Reuben； and the
governors of the tribe of Gad； and ＇the half tribe of＇ Manasseh；
for half of this tribe had been permitted to have their
habitation in the country of the Amorites； which was the seventh
part of the land of Canaan； （1） he put them in mind what they had
promised Moses； and he exhorted them that； for the sake of the
care that Moses had taken of them who had never been weary of
taking pains for them no； not when he was dying； and for the sake
of the public welfare； they would prepare themselves； and readily
perform what they had promised； so he took fifty thousand of them
who followed him； and he marched from Abila to Jordan； sixty
furlongs。
2。 Now when he had pitched his camp； the spies came to him
immediately； well acquainted with the whole state of the
Canaanites； for at first； before they were at all discovered；
they took a full view of the city of Jericho without disturbance；
and saw which parts of the walls were strong； and which parts
were otherwise； and indeed insecure； and which of the gates were
so weak as might afford an entrance to their army。 Now those that
met them took no notice of them when they saw them； and supposed
they were only strangers； who used to be very curious in
observing everything in the city； and did not take them for
enemies； but at even they retired to a certain inn that was near
to the wall； whither they went to eat their supper； which supper
when they had done； and were considering how to get away；
information was given to the king as he was at supper； that there
were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp to view the city as
spies； and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab； and were very
solicitous that they might not be discovered。 So he sent
immediately some to them； and commanded to catch them； and bring
them to him； that he might examine them by torture； and learn
what their business was there。 As soon as Rahab understood that
these messengers were coming； she hid the spies under stalks of
flax； which were laid to dry on the top of her house； and said to
the messengers that were sent by the king； that certain unknown
strangers had supped with her a little before sun…setting； and
were gone away； who might easily be taken； if they were any
terror to the city； or likely to bring any danger to the king。 So
these messengers being thus d