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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 Six
Chapter 2
The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The
Hebrews And The Hebrews' Victory Under The Conduct Of Samuel The
Prophet, Who Was Their General
1. Now while the city of Kirjathjearim had the ark with them,
the whole body of the people betook themselves all that time to
offer prayers and sacrifices to God, and appeared greatly
concerned and zealous about his worship. So Samuel the prophet,
seeing how ready they were to do their duty, thought this a
proper time to speak to them, while they were in this good
disposition, about the recovery of their liberty, and of the
blessings that accompanied the same. Accordingly he used such
words to them as he thought were most likely to excite that
inclination, and to persuade them to attempt it: "O you
Israelites," said he, "to whom the Philistines are still
grievous enemies, but to whom God begins to be gracious, it
behooves you not only to be desirous of liberty, but to take the
proper methods to obtain it. Nor are you to be contented with an
inclination to get clear of your lords and masters, while you
still do what will procure your continuance under them. Be
righteous then, and cast wickedness out of your souls, and by
your worship supplicate the Divine Majesty with all your hearts,
and persevere in the honor you pay to him; for if you act thus,
you will enjoy prosperity; you will be freed from your slavery,
and will get the victory over your enemies: which blessings it
is not possible you should attain, either by weapons of war, or
by the strength of your bodies, or by the multitude of your
assistants; for God has not promised to grant these blessings by
those means, but by being good and righteous men; and if you
will be such, I will be security to you for the performance of
God's promises." When Samuel had said thus, the multitude
applauded his discourse, and were pleased with his exhortation
to them, and gave their consent to resign themselves up to do
what was pleasing to God. So Samuel gathered them together to a
certain city called Mizpeh, which, in the Hebrew tongue,
signifies a watch-tower; there they drew water, and poured it
out to God, and fasted all day, and betook themselves to their
prayers.
2. This their assembly did not escape the notice of the
Philistines: so when they had learned that so large a company
had met together, they fell upon the Hebrews with a great army
and mighty forces, as hoping to assault them when they did not
expect it, nor were prepared for it. This thing affrighted the
Hebrews, and put them into disorder and terror; so they came
running to Samuel, and said that their souls were sunk by their
fears, and by the former defeat they had received, and "that
thence it was that we lay still, lest we should excite the power
of our enemies against us. Now while thou hast brought us hither
to offer up our prayers and sacrifices, and take oaths [to be
obedient], our enemies are making an expedition against us,
while we are naked and unarmed; wherefore we have no other hope
of deliverance but that by thy means, and by the assistance God
shall afford us upon thy prayers to him, we shall obtain
deliverance from the Philistines." Hereupon Samuel bade them be
of good cheer, and promised them that God would assist them; and
taking a sucking lamb, he sacrificed it for the multitude, and
besought God to hold his protecting hand over them when they
should fight with the Philistines, and not to overlook them, nor
suffer them to come under a second misfortune. Accordingly God
hearkened to his prayers, and accepting their sacrifice with a
gracious intention, and such as was disposed to assist them, he
granted them victory and power over their enemies. Now while the
altar had the sacrifice of God upon it, and had not yet consumed
it wholly by its sacred fire, the enemy's army marched out of
their camp, and was put in order of battle, and this in hope
that they should be conquerors, since the Jews (5) were caught
in distressed circumstances, as neither having their weapons
with them, nor being assembled there in order to fight. But
things so fell out, that they would hardly have been credited
though they had been foretold by anybody: for, in the first
place, God disturbed their enemies with an earthquake, and moved
the ground under them to such a degree, that he caused it to
tremble, and made them to shake, insomuch that by its trembling,
he made some unable to keep their feet, and made them fall down,
and by opening its chasms, he caused that others should be
hurried down into them; after which he caused such a noise of
thunder to come among them, and made fiery lightning shine so
terribly round about them, that it was ready to burn their
faces; and he so suddenly shook their weapons out of their
hands, that he made them fly and return home naked. So Samuel
with the multitude pursued them to Bethcar, a place so called;
and there he set up a stone as a boundary of their victory and
their enemies' flight, and called it the Stone of Power, as a
signal of that power God had given them against their enemies.
3. So the Philistines, after this stroke, made no more
expeditions against the Israelites, but lay still out of fear,
and out of remembrance of what had befallen them; and what
courage the Philistines had formerly against the Hebrews, that,
after this victory, was transferred to the Hebrews. Samuel also
made an expedition against the Philistines, and slew many of
them, and entirely humbled their proud hearts, and took from
them that country, which, when they were formerly conquerors in
battle, they had cut off from the Jews, which was the country
that extended from the borders of Gath to the city of Ekron: but
the remains of the Canaanites were at this time in friendship
with the Israelites.
Continue on to
Book
Six,
Chapter 3,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
Return to
The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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