按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
promise； to pass over Jordan； and overcome those our enemies
which God had shown them； and so obtain their land。 But these
tribes； when they saw that Moses was angry with them； and when
they could not deny but he had a just cause to be displeased at
their petition； made an apology for themselves； and said； that it
was not on account of their fear of dangers； nor on account of
their laziness； that they made this request to him； but that they
might leave the prey they had gotten in places of safety； and
thereby might be more expedite； and ready to undergo
difficulties； and to fight battles。 They added this also； that
when they had built cities； wherein they might preserve their
children； and wives； and possessions； if he would bestow them
upon them； they would go along with the rest of the army。
Hereupon Moses was pleased with what they said； so he called for
Eleazar the high priest； and Joshua； and the chief of the tribes；
and permitted these tribes to possess the land of the Amorites；
but upon this condition； that they should join with their kinsmen
in the war until all things were settled。 Upon which condition
they took possession of the country； and built them strong
cities； and put into them their children and their wives； and
whatsoever else they had that might be an impediment to the
labors of their future marches。
4。 Moses also now built those ten cities which were to be of the
number of the forty…eight ＇for the Levites；＇； three of which he
allotted to those that slew any person involuntarily； and fled to
them； and he assigned the same time for their banishment with
that of the life of that high priest under whom the slaughter and
flight happened； after which death of the high priest he
permitted the slayer to return home。 During the time of his
exile； the relations of him that was slain may； by this law； kill
the manslayer； if they caught him without the bounds of the city
to which he fled； though this permission was not granted to any
other person。 Now the cities which were set apart for this flight
were these： Bezer； at the borders of Arabia； Ramoth； of the land
of Gilead； and Golan； in the land of Bashan。 There were to be
also； by Moses's command； three other cities allotted for the
habitation of these fugitives out of the cities of the Levites；
but not till after they should be in possession of the land of
Canaan。
5。 At this time the chief men of the tribe of Manasseh came to
Moses； and informed him that there was an eminent man of their
tribe dead； whose name was Zelophehad； who left no male children；
but left daughters； and asked him whether these daughters might
inherit his land or not。 He made this answer； That if they shall
marry into their own tribe； they shall carry their estate along
with them； but if they dispose of themselves in marriage to men
of another tribe； they shall leave their inheritance in their
father's tribe。 And then it was that Moses ordained； that every
one's inheritance should continue in his own tribe。
CHAPTER 8。
The Polity Settled By Moses； And How He Disappeared From Among
Mankind。
1。 When forty years were completed； within thirty days； Moses
gathered the congregation together near Jordan； where the city
Abila now stands； a place full of palm…trees； and all the people
being come together； he spake thus to them： …
2。 〃O you Israelites and fellow soldiers； who have been partners
with me in this long and uneasy journey； since it is now the will
of God； and the course of old age； at a hundred and twenty；
requires it that I should depart out of this life； and since God
has forbidden me to be a patron or an assistant to you in what
remains to be done beyond Jordan； I thought it reasonable not to
leave off my endeavors even now for your happiness； but to do my
utmost to procure for you the eternal enjoyment of good things；
and a memorial for myself； when you shall be in the fruition of
great plenty and prosperity。 Come； therefore； let me suggest to
you by what means you may he happy； and may leave an eternal
prosperous possession thereof to your children after you； and
then let me thus go out of the world； and I cannot but deserve to
be believed by you； both on account of the great things I have
already done for you； and because； when souls are about to leave
the body； they speak with the sincerest freedom。 O children of
Israel！ there is but one source of happiness for all mankind； the
favor of God （15） for he alone is able to give good things to
those that deserve them； and to deprive those of them that sin
against him； towards whom； if you behave yourselves according to
his will； and according to what I； who well understand his mind；
do exhort you to； you will both be esteemed blessed； and will be
admired by all men； and will never come into misfortunes； nor
cease to be happy： you will then preserve the possession of the
good things you already have； and will quickly obtain those that
you are at present in want of； … only do you be obedient to those
whom God would have you to follow。 Nor do you prefer any other
constitution of government before the laws now given you； neither
do you disregard that way of Divine worship which you now have；
nor change it for any other form： and if you do this； you will be
the most courageous of all men； in undergoing the fatigues of
war； and will not be easily conquered by any of your enemies； for
while God is present with you to assist you； it is to be expected
that you will be able to despise the opposition of all mankind；
and great rewards of virtue are proposed for you； if you preserve
that virtue through your whole lives。 Virtue itself is indeed the
principal and the first reward； and after that it bestows
abundance of others； so that your exercise of virtue towards
other men will make your own lives happy； and render you more
glorious than foreigners can be； and procure you an undisputed
reputation with posterity。 These blessings you will be able to
obtain； in case you hearken to and observe those laws which； by
Divine revelation； I have ordained for you； that is； in case you
withal meditate upon the wisdom that is in them。 I am going from
you myself； rejoicing in the good things you enjoy； and I
recommend you to the wise conduct of your law； to the becoming
order of your polity； and to the virtues of your commanders； who
will take care of what is for your advantage。 And that God； who
has been till now your Leader； and by whose goodwill I have
myself been useful to you； will not put a period now to his
providence over you； but as long as you desire to have him your
Protector in your pursuits after virtue； so long will you enjoy
his care over you。 Your high priest also Eleazar； as well as
Joshua； with the senate； and chief of your tribes； will go before
you； and suggest the best advices to you； by following which
advices you will continue to be happy： to whom do you give ear
without reluctance； as sensible that all such as know well how to
be governed； will also know how to govern； if they be promoted to
that authority themselves。 And do not you esteem liberty to
consist in opposing such directions as your governors think fit
to give