from his wicked temper to a sounder mind； for he gave leave for
the Hebrews themselves to depart。 But when the plague thereupon
ceased； he thought it proper to require that they should leave
their children and wives behind them； as pledges of their return；
whereby he provoked God to be more vehemently angry at him； as if
he thought to impose on his providence； and as if it were only
Moses； and not God； who punished the Egyptians for the sake of
the Hebrews： for he filled that country full of various sorts of
pestilential creatures； with their various properties； such
indeed as had never come into the sight of men before； by whose
means the men perished themselves； and the land was destitute of
husbandmen for its cultivation； but if any thing escaped
destruction from them； it was killed by a distemper which the men
underwent also。
4。 But when Pharaoh did not even then yield to the will of God；
but； while he gave leave to the husbands to take their wives with
them； yet insisted that the children should be left behind； God
presently resolved to punish his wickedness with several sorts of
calamities； and those worse than the foregoing； which yet had so
generally afflicted them； for their bodies had terrible boils；
breaking forth with blains； while they were already inwardly
consumed； and a great part of the Egyptians perished in this
manner。 But when the king was not brought to reason by this
plague； hail was sent down from heaven； and such hail it was； as
the climate of Egypt had never suffered before； nor was it like
to that which falls in other climates in winter time； （26） but
was larger than that which falls in the middle of spring to those
that dwell in the northern and north…western regions。 This hail
broke down their boughs laden with fruit。 After this a tribe of
locusts consumed the seed which was not hurt by the hail； so that
to the Egyptians all hopes of the future fruits of the ground
were entirely lost。
5。 One would think the forementioned calamities might have been
sufficient for one that was only foolish； without wickedness； to
make him wise； and to make him Sensible what was for his
advantage。 But Pharaoh； led not so much by his folly as by his
wickedness； even when he saw the cause of his miseries； he still
contested with God； and willfully deserted the cause of virtue；
so he bid Moses take the Hebrews away； with their wives and
children； to leave their cattle behind； since their own cattle
were destroyed。 But when Moses said that what he desired was
unjust； since they were obliged to offer sacrifices to God of
those cattle； and the time being prolonged on this account； a
thick darkness； without the least light； spread itself over the
Egyptians； whereby their sight being obstructed； and their
breathing hindered by the thickness of the air； they died
miserably； and under a terror lest they should be swallowed up by
the dark cloud。 Besides this； when the darkness； after three days
and as many nights； was dissipated； and when Pharaoh did not
still repent and let the Hebrews go； Moses came to him and said；
〃How long wilt thou be disobedient to the command of God？ for he
enjoins thee to let the Hebrews go； nor is there any other way of
being freed from the calamities are under； unless you do so。〃 But
the king angry at what he said； and threatened to cut off his
head if he came any more to trouble him these matters。 Hereupon
Moses said he not speak to him any more about them； for he
himself； together with the principal men among the Egyptians；
should desire the Hebrews away。 So when Moses had said this； he
his way。
6。 But when God had signified； that with one plague he would
compel the Egyptians to let Hebrews go； he commanded Moses to
tell the people that they should have a sacrifice ready； and they
should prepare themselves on the tenth day of the month
Xanthicus； against the fourteenth； （which month is called by the
Egyptians Pharmuth； Nisan by the Hebrews； but the Macedonians
call it Xanthicus；） and that he should carry the Hebrews with all
they had。 Accordingly； he having got the Hebrews ready for their
departure； and having sorted the people into tribes； he kept them
together in one place： but when the fourteenth day was come； and
all were ready to depart they offered the sacrifice； and purified
their houses with the blood； using bunches of hyssop for that
purpose； and when they had supped； they burnt the remainder of
the flesh； as just ready to depart。 Whence it is that we do still
offer this sacrifice in like manner to this day； and call this
festival Pascha which signifies the feast of the passover；
because on that day God passed us over； and sent the plague upon
the Egyptians； for the destruction of the first…born came upon
the Egyptians that night； so that many of the Egyptians who lived
near the king's palace； persuaded Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go。
Accordingly he called for Moses； and bid them be gone； as
supposing； that if once the Hebrews were gone out of the country；
Egypt should be freed from its miseries。 They also honored the
Hebrews with gifts； （27） some； in order to get them to depart
quickly； and others on account of their neighborhood； and the
friendship they had with them。
CHAPTER 15。
How The Hebrews Under The Conduct Of Moses Left Egypt。
1。 So the Hebrews went out of Egypt； while the Egyptians wept；
and repented that they had treated them so hardly。 … Now they
took their journey by Letopolis； a place at that time deserted；
but where Babylon was built afterwards； when Cambyses laid Egypt
waste： but as they went away hastily； on the third day they came
to a place called Beelzephon； on the Red Sea； and when they had
no food out of the land； because it was a desert； they eat of
loaves kneaded of flour； only warmed by a gentle heat； and this
food they made use of for thirty days； for what they brought with
them out of Egypt would not suffice them any longer time； and
this only while they dispensed it to each person； to use so much
only as would serve for necessity； but not for satiety。 Whence it
is that； in memory of the want we were then in； we keep a feast
for eight days； which is called the feast of unleavened bread。
Now the entire multitude of those that went out； including the
women and children； was not easy to be numbered； but those that
were of an age fit for war； were six hundred thousand。
2。 They left Egypt in the month Xanthicus； on the fifteenth day
of the lunar month； four hundred and thirty years after our
forefather Abraham came into Canaan； but two hundred and fifteen
years only after Jacob removed into Egypt。 （28） It was the
eightieth year of the age of Moses； and of that of Aaron three
more。 They also carried out the bones of Joesph with them； as he
had charged his sons to do。
3。 But the Egyptians soon repented that the Hebrews were gone；
and the king also was mightily concerned that this had been
procured by the magic arts of Moses； so they resolved to go after
them。 Accordingly they took their weapons； and other warlike
furniture； and pursued after them； in order to bring them back；
if once they overtook them； because they would now have no
pretense to pray to God against them； since they had already been
permitted to go out； and they thought they should easily overcome
them； as they had no armor； and would be weary with their
journey； so they made haste in their pursuit； and asked of every
one they met which way they were gone。 And indeed that land was
difficult to be traveled over； not only by armies； but by single
persons。 Now Moses led the Hebrews this way； that in case the
Egyptians should repent and be desirous to pursue after them；
they might undergo the punishment of their wickedness； and of the
breach of those promises they had made to them。 As also he led
them this way on account of the Philistines； who had quarreled
with them； and hated them of old； that by all means they might
not know of their departure； for their country is near to that of
Egypt； and thence it was that Moses led them not along the road
that tended to the land of the Philistines； but he was desirous
that they should go through the desert； that so after a long
journey； and after many afflictions； they might enter upon the
land of Canaan。 Another reason of this was； that God commanded
him to bring the people to Mount Sinai； that there they might
offer him sacrifices。 Now when the Egyptians had overtaken the
Hebrews； they prepared to fight them； and by their multitude they
drove them into a narrow place； for the number that pursued after
them was six hundred chariots； with fifty thousand horsemen； and
two hundred thousand foot…men； all armed。 They also seized on the
passages by which they imagined the Hebrews might fly； shutting
them up （29） between inaccessible precipices and the sea； for
there was ＇on each side＇ a ＇ridge of＇ mountains that terminated
at the sea； which were impassable by reason of their roughness；
and obstructed their flight； wherefore they there pressed upon
the Hebrews with their army； where ＇the ridges of＇ the mountains
were closed with the sea； which army they placed at the chops of
the mountains； that so they might deprive them of any passage
into the plain。
4。 When the Hebrews； therefore； were neither able to bear up；
being thus； as it were； besieged； because they wanted provisions；
nor saw any possible way of escaping； and if they should have
thought of fighting； they had no weapons； they expected a
universal destruction； unless they delivered themselves up to the
Egyptians。 So they laid the blame on Moses； and forgot all the
signs that had been wrought by God for the recovery of their
freedom； and this so far； that their incredulity prompted them to
throw stones at the prophet； while he encouraged them and
promised them deliverance； and they resolved that they would
deliver themselves up to the Egyptians。 So there was sorrow and
lamentation among the women and children； who had nothing but
destruction before their eyes； while they were encompassed with
mountains； the sea； and their enemies； and discerned no way of
flying from them。
5。 But Moses； though the multitude looked fiercely at him； did
not； however； giv