procure the safety of the child； in order to secure the truth of
his own predictions。 When they had thus determined； they made an
ark of bulrushes； after the manner of a cradle； and of a bigness
sufficient for an infant to be laid in； without being too
straitened： they then daubed it over with slime； which would
naturally keep out the water from entering between the bulrushes；
and put the infant into it； and setting it afloat upon the river；
they left its preservation to God； so the river received the
child； and carried him along。 But Miriam； the child's sister；
passed along upon the bank over against him； as her mother had
bid her； to see whither the ark would be carried； where God
demonstrated that human wisdom was nothing； but that the Supreme
Being is able to do whatsoever he pleases： that those who； in
order to their own security； condemn others to destruction； and
use great endeavors about it； fail of their purpose； but that
others are in a surprising manner preserved； and obtain a
prosperous condition almost from the very midst of their
calamities； those； I mean； whose dangers arise by the appointment
of God。 And； indeed； such a providence was exercised in the case
of this child； as showed the power of God。
5。 Thermuthis was the king's daughter。 She was now diverting
herself by the banks of the river； and seeing a cradle borne
along by the current； she sent some that could swim； and bid them
bring the cradle to her。 When those that were sent on this errand
came to her with the cradle； and she saw the little child； she
was greatly in love with it； on account of its largeness and
beauty； for God had taken such great care in the formation of
Moses； that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up；
and providing for； by all those that had taken the most fatal
resolutions； on account of the dread of his nativity； for the
destruction of the rest of the Hebrew nation。 Thermuthis bid them
bring her a woman that might afford her breast to the child； yet
would not the child admit of her breast； but turned away from it；
and did the like to many other women。 Now Miriam was by when this
happened； not to appear to be there on purpose； but only as
staying to see the child； and she said； 〃It is in vain that thou；
O queen； callest for these women for the nourishing of the child；
who are no way of kin to it； but still； if thou wilt order one of
the Hebrew women to be brought； perhaps it may admit the breast
of one of its own nation。〃 Now since she seemed to speak well；
Thermuthis bid her procure such a one； and to bring one of those
Hebrew women that gave suck。 So when she had such authority given
her； she came back and brought the mother； who was known to
nobody there。 And now the child gladly admitted the breast； and
seemed to stick close to it； and so it was； that； at the queen's
desire； the nursing of the child was entirely intrusted to the
mother。
6。 Hereupon it was that Thermuthis imposed this name Mouses upon
him； from what had happened when he was put into the river； for
the Egyptians call water by the name of Mo； and such as are saved
out of it； by the name of Uses： so by putting these two words
together； they imposed this name upon him。 And he was； by the
confession of all； according to God's prediction； as well for his
greatness of mind as for his contempt of difficulties； the best
of all the Hebrews； for Abraham was his ancestor of the seventh
generation。 For Moses was the son of Amram； who was the son of
Caath； whose father Levi was the son of Jacob； who was the son of
Isaac； who was the son of Abraham。 Now Moses's understanding
became superior to his age； nay； far beyond that standard； and
when he was taught； he discovered greater quickness of
apprehension than was usual at his age； and his actions at that
time promised greater； when he should come to the age of a man。
God did also give him that tallness； when he was but three years
old； as was wonderful。 And as for his beauty； there was nobody so
unpolite as； when they saw Moses； they were not greatly surprised
at the beauty of his countenance； nay； it happened frequently；
that those that met him as he was carried along the road； were
obliged to turn again upon seeing the child； that they left what
they were about； and stood still a great while to look on him；
for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him
on many accounts； that it detained the spectators； and made them
stay longer to look upon him。
7。 Thermuthis therefore perceiving him to be so remarkable a
child； adopted him for her son； having no child of her own。 And
when one time had carried Moses to her father； she showed him to
him； and said she thought to make him her successor； if it should
please God she should have no legitimate child of her own； and to
him； 〃I have brought up a child who is of a divine form； （21） and
of a generous mind； and as I have received him from the bounty of
the river； in ； I thought proper to adopt him my son； and the
heir of thy kingdom。〃 And she had said this； she put the infant
into her father's hands： so he took him； and hugged him to his
breast； and on his daughter's account； in a pleasant way； put his
diadem upon his head； but Moses threw it down to the ground； and；
in a puerile mood； he wreathed it round； and trod upon his feet；
which seemed to bring along with evil presage concerning the
kingdom of Egypt。 But when the sacred scribe saw this； （he was
the person who foretold that his nativity would the dominion of
that kingdom low；） he made a violent attempt to kill him； and
crying out in a frightful manner； he said； 〃This； O king！ this
child is he of whom God foretold； that if we kill him we shall be
in no danger； he himself affords an attestation to the prediction
of the same thing； by his trampling upon thy government； and
treading upon thy diadem。 Take him； therefore； out of the way；
and deliver the Egyptians from the fear they are in about him；
and deprive the Hebrews of the hope they have of being encouraged
by him。〃 But Thermuthis prevented him； and snatched the child
away。 And the king was not hasty to slay him； God himself； whose
providence protected Moses； inclining the king to spare him。 He
was； therefore； educated with great care。 So the Hebrews depended
on him； and were of good hopes great things would be done by him；
but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his
education。 Yet because； if Moses had been slain； there was no
one； either akin or adopted； that had any oracle on his side for
pretending to the crown of Egypt； and likely to be of greater
advantage to them； they abstained from killing him。
CHAPTER 10。
How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians；
1。 Moses； therefore； when he was born； and brought up in the
foregoing manner； and came to the age of maturity； made his
virtue manifest to the Egyptians； and showed that he was born for
the bringing them down； and raising the Israelites。 And the
occasion he laid hold of was this： … The Ethiopians； who are next
neighbors to the Egyptians； made an inroad into their country；
which they seized upon； and carried off the effects of the
Egyptians； who； in their rage； fought against them； and revenged
the affronts they had received from them； but being overcome in
battle； some of them were slain； and the rest ran away in a
shameful manner； and by that means saved themselves； whereupon
the Ethiopians followed after them in the pursuit； and thinking
that it would be a mark of cowardice if they did not subdue all
Egypt； they went on to subdue the rest with greater vehemence；
and when they had tasted the sweets of the country； they never
left off the prosecution of the war： and as the nearest parts had
not courage enough at first to fight with them； they proceeded as
far as Memphis； and the sea itself； while not one of the cities
was able to oppose them。 The Egyptians； under this sad
oppression； betook themselves to their oracles and prophecies；
and when God had given them this counsel； to make use of Moses
the Hebrew； and take his assistance； the king commanded his
daughter to produce him； that he might be the general （22） of
their army。 Upon which； when she had made him swear he would do
him no harm； she delivered him to the king； and supposed his
assistance would be of great advantage to them。 She withal
reproached the priest； who； when they had before admonished the
Egyptians to kill him； was not ashamed now to own their want of
his help。
2。 So Moses； at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king
himself； cheerfully undertook the business： and the sacred
scribes of both nations were glad； those of the Egyptians； that
they should at once overcome their enemies by his valor； and that
by the same piece of management Moses would be slain； but those
of the Hebrews； that they should escape from the Egyptians；
because Moses was to be their general。 But Moses prevented the
enemies； and took and led his army before those enemies were
apprized of his attacking them； for he did not march by the
river； but by land； where he gave a wonderful demonstration of
his sagacity； for when the ground was difficult to be passed
over； because of the multitude of serpents； （which it produces in
vast numbers； and； indeed； is singular in some of those
productions； which other countries do not breed； and yet such as
are worse than others in power and mischief； and an unusual
fierceness of sight； some of which ascend out of the ground
unseen； and also fly in the air； and so come upon men at
unawares； and do them a mischief；） Moses invented a wonderful
stratagem to preserve the army safe； and without hurt； for he
made baskets； like unto arks； of sedge； and filled them with
ibes； （23） and carried them along with them； which animal is the
greatest enemy to serpents imaginable； for they fly from them
when they come near them； and as they fly they are caught and
devoured by them； as if it were done by the harts； but the ibes
are tame creatures； and only enemies to the serpentine kind： but
about these ibes I say no more at present； since the Greeks
themselves are not unacquainted with this sort of bird。 As soon；
therefore； as Moses was come to the land which