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their conductor。 But afterward he took him to himself； and when
he had him alone； he instructed him in what he ought to do； and
advised him to leave the trouble of lesser causes to others； but
himself to take care of the greater； and of the people's safety；
for that certain others of the Hebrews might be found that were
fit to determine causes； but that nobody but a Moses could take
of the safety of so many ten thousands。 〃Be therefore；〃 says he；
〃insensible of thine own virtue； and what thou hast done by
ministering under God to the people's preservation。 Permit；
therefore； the determination of common causes to be done by
others； but do thou reserve thyself to the attendance on God
only； and look out for methods of preserving the multitude from
their present distress。 Make use of the method I suggest to you；
as to human affairs； and take a review of the army； and appoint
chosen rulers over tens of thousands； and then over thousands；
then divide them into five hundreds； and again into hundreds； and
into fifties； and set rulers over each of them； who may
distinguish them into thirties； and keep them in order； and at
last number them by twenties and by tens： and let there be one
commander over each number； to be denominated from the number of
those over whom they are rulers； but such as the whole multitude
have tried； and do approve of； as being good and righteous men；
（8） and let those rulers decide the controversies they have one
with another。 But if any great cause arise； let them bring the
cognizance of it before the rulers of a higher dignity； but if
any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their
determination； let them send it to thee。 By these means two
advantages will be gained； the Hebrews will have justice done
them； and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on God； and
procure him to be more favorable to the people。〃
2。 This was the admonition of Raguel； and Moses received his
advice very kindly； and acted according to his suggestion。 Nor
did he conceal the invention of this method； nor pretend to it
himself； but informed the multitude who it was that invented it：
nay； he has named Raguel in the books he wrote； as the person who
invented this ordering of the people； as thinking it right to
give a true testimony to worthy persons； although he might have
gotten reputation by ascribing to himself the inventions of other
men； whence we may learn the virtuous disposition of Moses： but
of such his disposition； we shall have proper occasion to speak
in other places of these books。
CHAPTER 5。
How Moses Ascended Up To Mount Sinai； And Received Laws From God；
And Delivered Them To The Hebrews。
1。 Now Moses called the multitude together； and told them that he
was going from them unto mount Sinai to converse with God； to
receive from him； and to bring back with him； a certain oracle；
but he enjoined them to pitch their tents near the mountain； and
prefer the habitation that was nearest to God； before one more
remote。 When he had said this； he ascended up to Mount Sinai；
which is the highest of all the mountains that are in that
country （9） and is not only very difficult to be ascended by men；
on account of its vast altitude； but because of the sharpness of
its precipices also； nay； indeed； it cannot be looked at without
pain of the eyes： and besides this； it was terrible and
inaccessible； on account of the rumor that passed about； that God
dwelt there。 But the Hebrews removed their tents as Moses had
bidden them； and took possession of the lowest parts of the
mountain； and were elevated in their minds； in expectation that
Moses would return from God with promises of the good things he
had proposed to them。 So they feasted and waited for their
conductor； and kept themselves pure as in other respects； and not
accompanying with their wives for three days； as he had before
ordered them to do。 And they prayed to God that he would
favorably receive Moses in his conversing with him； and bestow
some such gift upon them by which they might live well。 They also
lived more plentifully as to their diet； and put on their wives
and children more ornamental and decent clothing than they
usually wore。
2。 So they passed two days in this way of feasting； but on the
third day； before the sun was up； a cloud spread itself over the
whole camp of the Hebrews； such a one as none had before seen；
and encompassed the place where they had pitched their tents； and
while all the rest of the air was clear； there came strong winds；
that raised up large showers of rain； which became a mighty
tempest。 There was also such lightning； as was terrible to those
that saw it； and thunder； with its thunderbolts； were sent down；
and declared God to be there present in a gracious way to such as
Moses desired he should be gracious。 Now； as to these matters；
every one of my readers may think as he pleases； but I am under a
necessity of relating this history as it is described in the
sacred books。 This sight； and the amazing sound that came to
their ears； disturbed the Hebrews to a prodigious degree； for
they were not such as they were accustomed to； and then the rumor
that was spread abroad； how God frequented that mountain； greatly
astonished their minds； so they sorrowfully contained themselves
within their tents； as both supposing Moses to be destroyed by
the Divine wrath； and expecting the like destruction for
themselves。
3。 When they were under these apprehensions； Moses appeared as
joyful and greatly exalted。 When they saw him； they were freed
from their fear； and admitted of more comfortable hopes as to
what was to come。 The air also was become clear and pure of its
former disorders； upon the appearance of Moses； whereupon he
called together the people to a congregation； in order to their
hearing what God would say to them： and when they were gathered
together； he stood on an eminence whence they might all hear him；
and said； 〃God has received me graciously； O Hebrews； as he has
formerly done； and has suggested a happy method of living for
you； and an order of political government； and is now present in
the camp： I therefore charge you； for his sake and the sake of
his works； and what we have done by his means； that you do not
put a low value on what I am going to say； because the commands
have been given by me that now deliver them to you； nor because
it is the tongue of a man that delivers them to you； but if you
have a due regard to the great importance of the things
themselves； you will understand the greatness of Him whose
institutions they are； and who has not disdained to communicate
them to me for our common advantage； for it is not to be supposed
that the author of these institutions is barely Moses； the son of
Amram and Jochebed； but He who obliged the Nile to run bloody for
your sakes； and tamed the haughtiness of the Egyptians by various
sorts of judgments； he who provided a way through the sea for us；
he who contrived a method of sending us food from heaven； when we
were distressed for want of it； he who made the water to issue
out of a rock； when we had very little of it before； he by whose
means Adam was made to part