Return to
The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Three
Chapter 15
How Moses Was Displeased At This, And
Foretold That God Was Angry And That They Should Continue In The
Wilderness For Forty Years And Not, During That Time, Either
Return Into Egypt Or Take Possession Of Canaan
1. Moses came now boldly to the multitude, and informed them
that God was moved at their abuse of him, and would inflict
punishment upon them, not indeed such as they deserved for their
sins, but such as parents inflict on their children, in order to
their correction. For, he said, that when he was in the
tabernacle, and was bewailing with ears that destruction which
was coming upon them God put him in mind what things he had done
for them, and what benefits they had received from him, and yet
how ungrateful they had been to him that just now they had been
induced, through the timorousness of the spies, to think that
their words were truer than his own promise to them; and that on
this account, though he would not indeed destroy them all, nor
utterly exterminate their nation, which he had honored more than
any other part of mankind, yet he would not permit them to take
possession of the land of Canaan, nor enjoy its happiness; but
would make them wander in the wilderness, and live without a
fixed habitation, and without a city, for forty years together,
as a punishment for this their transgression; but that he had
promised to give that land to our children, and that he would
make them the possessors of those good things which, by your
ungoverned passions, you have deprived yourselves of.
2. When Moses had discoursed thus to them according to the
direction of God, the multitude, grieved, and were in
affliction; and entreated Most to procure their reconciliation
to God, and to permit them no longer to wander in the
wilderness, but bestow cities upon them. But he replied, that
God would not admit of any such trial, for that God was not
moved to this determination from any human levity or anger, but
that he had judicially condemned them to that punishment. Now we
are not to disbelieve that Moses, who was but a single person,
pacified so many ten thousands when they werre in anger, and
converted them to a mildness temper; for God was with him, and
prepared way to his persuasions of the multitude; and as they
had often been disobedient, they were now sensible that such
disobedience was disadvantageous to them and that they had still
thereby fallen into calamities.
3. But this man was admirable for his virtue, and powerful in
making men give credit to what he delivered, not only during the
time of his natural life, but even there is still no one of the
Hebrews who does not act even now as if Moses were present, and
ready to punish him if he should do any thing that is indecent;
nay, there is no one but is obedient to what laws he ordained,
although they might be concealed in their transgressions. There
are also many other demonstrations that his power was more than
human, for still some there have been, who have come from the
parts beyond Euphrates, a journey of four months, through many
dangers, and at great expenses, in honor of our temple; and yet,
when they had offered their oblations, could not partake of
their own sacrifices, because Moses had forbidden it, by
somewhat in the law that did not permit them, or somewhat that
had befallen them, which our ancient customs made inconsistent
therewith; some of these did not sacrifice at all, and others
left their sacrifices in an imperfect condition; many were not
able, even at first, so much as to enter the temple, but went
their ways in this as preferring a submission to the laws of
Moses before the fulfilling of their own inclinations, they had
no fear upon them that anybody could convict them, but only out
of a reverence to their own conscience. Thus this legislation,
which appeared to be divine, made this man to be esteemed as one
superior to his own nature. Nay, further, a little before the
beginning of this war, when Claudius was emperor of the Romans,
and Ismael was our high priest, and when so great a famine (27)
was come upon us, that one tenth deal [of wheat] was sold for
four drachmae, and when no less than seventy cori of flour were
brought into the temple, at the feast of unleavened bread,
(these cori are thirty-one Sicilian, but forty-one Athenian
medimni,) not one of the priests was so hardy as to eat one
crumb of it, even while so great a distress was upon the land;
and this out of a dread of the law, and of that wrath which God
retains against acts of wickedness, even when no one can accuse
the actors. Whence we are not to wonder at what was then done,
while to this very day the writings left by Moses have so great
a force, that even those that hate us do confess, that he who
established this settlement was God, and that it was by the
means of Moses, and of his virtue; but as to these matters, let
every one take them as he thinks fit.
Continue on to
Book
Four,
Chapter 1,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
Return to
The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
Return to the
Christians Standing with Israel
*******************************************************************
Christians Standing with Israel
About Christians Standing with Israel
Israel Resources
Israel Media
Israel News
Israel Blog
Israel Pictures
Friends of Israel
Contact Christians Standing with Israel
site map
http://www.christiansstandingwithisrael.com/