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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Two
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 the greatest
support to him; and bid him make use of those signs, in order to
obtain belief among all men, that "thou art sent by me, and dost
all things according to my commands. Accordingly I enjoin thee
to make no more delays, but to make haste to Egypt, and to
travel night and day, and not to draw out the time, and so make
the slavery of the Hebrews and their sufferings to last the
longer."
4. Moses having now seen and heard these wonders that assured
him of the truth of these promises of God, had no room left him
to disbelieve them: he entreated him to grant him that power
when he should be in Egypt; and besought him to vouchsafe him
the knowledge of his own name; and since he had heard and seen
him, that he would also tell him his name, that when he offered
sacrifice he might invoke him by such his name in his oblations.
Whereupon God declared to him his holy name, which had never
been discovered to men before; concerning which it is not lawful
for me to say any more (24) Now these signs accompanied Moses,
not then only, but always when he prayed for them: of all which
signs he attributed the firmest assent to the fire in the bush;
and believing that God would be a gracious supporter to him, he
hoped he should be able to deliver his own nation, and bring
calamities on the Egyptians.
Continue on to
Book
Two,
Chapter 13,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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