"The Antiquities of the Jews", by Flavius JosephusReturn to The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents The Antiquities of the Jews Book Four Fight Of The Hebrews With The Canaanites Without The Consent Of Moses; And Their Defeat 1. Now this life of the Hebrews in the wilderness was so
disagreeable and troublesome to them, and they were so uneasy at
it, that although God had forbidden them to meddle with the
Canaanites, yet could they not be persuaded to be obedient to
the words of Moses, and to be quiet; but supposing they should
be able to beat their enemies, without his approbation, they
accused him, and suspected that he made it his business to keep
in a distressed condition, that they might always stand in need
of his assistance. Accordingly they resolved to fight with the
Canaanites, and said that God gave them his assistance, not out
of regard to Moses's intercessions, but because he took care of
their entire nation, on account of their forefathers, whose
affairs he took under his own conduct; as also, that it was on
account of their own virtue that he had formerly procured them
their liberty, and would be assisting to them, now they were
willing to take pains for it. They also said that they were
possessed of abilities sufficient for the conquest of their
enemies, although Moses should have a mind to alienate God from
them; that, however, it was for their advantage to be their own
masters, and not so far to rejoice in their deliverance from the
indignities they endured under the Egyptians, as to bear the
tyranny of Moses over them, and to suffer themselves to be
deluded, and live according to his pleasure, as though God did
only foretell what concerns us out of his kindness to him, as if
they were not all the posterity of Abraham; that God made him
alone the author of all the knowledge we have, and we must still
learn it from him; that it would be a piece of prudence to
oppose his arrogant pretenses, and to put their confidence in
God, and to resolve to take possession of that land which he had
promised them, and not to give ear to him, who on this account,
and under the pretense of Divine authority, forbade them so to
do. Considering, therefore, the distressed state they were in at
present, and that in those desert places they were still to
expect things would be worse with them, they resolved to fight
with the Canaanites, as submitting only to God, their supreme
Commander, and not waiting for any assistance from their
legislator.
Continue on to Book Four, Chapter 2, 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
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