was impossible to be accomplished？ for the event did not succeed。 And what pretense could there be to suppose that the gods would not be seen by reason of the people's maims in their bodies； or leprosy？ for the gods are not angry at the imperfection of bodies； but at wicked practices； and as to eighty thousand lepers； and those in an ill state also； how is it possible to have them gathered together in one day？ nay； how came the king not to comply with the prophet？ for his injunction was； that those that were maimed should be expelled out of Egypt； while the king only sent them to work in the quarries； as if he were rather in want of laborers； than intended to purge his country。 He says further； that〃 this prophet slew himself； as foreseeing the anger of the gods； and those events which were to come upon Egypt afterward； and that he left this prediction for the king in writing。〃 Besides； how came it to pass that this prophet did not foreknow his own death at the first？ nay； how came he not to contradict the king in his desire to see the gods immediately？ how came that unreasonable dread upon him of judgments that were not to happen in his lifetime？ or what worse thing could he suffer； out of the fear of which he made haste to kill himself？ But now let us see the silliest thing of all： … The king； although he had been informed of these things； and terrified with the fear of what was to come； yet did not he even then eject these maimed people out of his country； when it had been foretold him that he was to clear Egypt of them； but； as Manetho says； 〃he then； upon their request； gave them that city to inhabit； which had formerly belonged to the shepherds； and was called Avaris； whither when they were gone in crowds；〃 he says； 〃they chose one that had formerly been priest of Hellopolls； and that this priest first ordained that they should neither worship the gods； nor abstain from those animals that were worshipped by the Egyptians； but should kill and eat them all； and should associate with nobody but those that had conspired with them； and that he bound the multitude by oaths to be sure to continue in those laws； and that when he had built a wall about Avaris； he made war against the king。〃 Manetho adds also； that 〃this priest sent to Jerusalem to invite that people to come to his assistance； and promised to give them Avaris； for that it had belonged to the forefathers of those that were coming from Jerusalem； and that when they were come； they made a war immediately against the king； and got possession of all Egypt。〃 He says also that 〃the Egyptians came with an army of two hundred thousand men； and that Amenophis； the king of Egypt； not thinking that he ought to fight against the gods； ran away presently into Ethiopia； and committed Apis and certain other of their sacred animals to the priests； and commanded them to take care of preserving them。〃 He says further； that〃 the people of Jerusalem came accordingly upon the Egyptians； and overthrew their cities； and burnt their temples； and slew their horsemen； and； in short； abstained from no sort of wickedness nor barbarity； and for that priest who settled their polity and their laws；〃 he says；〃 he was by birth of Hellopolis； and his name was Osarsiph； from Osyris the god of Hellopolis； but that he changed his name； and called himself Moses。〃 He then says that 〃on the thirteenth year afterward； Amenophis； according to the fatal time of the duration of his misfortunes； came upon them out of Ethiopia with a great army； and joining battle with the shepherds and with the polluted people； overcame them in battle； and slew a great many of them； and pursued them as far as the bounds of Syria。〃
29。 Now Manetho does not reflect upon the improbability of his lie； for the leprous people； and the multitude that was with them； although they might formerly have been angry at the king； and at those that had treated them so coarsely； and this according to the prediction of the prophet； yet certainly； when they were come out of the mines； and had received of the king a city； and a country； they would have grown milder towards him。 However； had they ever so much hated him in particular； they might have laid a private plot against himself； but would hardly have made war against all the Egyptians； I mean this on the account of the great kindred they who were so numerous must have had among them。 Nay still； if they had resolved to fight with the men； they would not have had impudence enough to fight with their gods； nor would they have ordained laws quite contrary to those of their own country； and to those in which they had been bred up themselves。 Yet are we beholden to Manethe； that he does not lay the principal charge of this horrid transgression upon those that came from Jerusalem； but says that the Egyptians themselves were the most guilty； and that they were their priests that contrived these things； and made the multitude take their oaths for doing so。 But still how absurd is it to suppose that none of these people's own relations or friends should be prevailed with to revolt； nor to undergo the hazards of war with them； while these polluted people were forced to send to Jerusalem； and bring their auxiliaries from thence！ What friendship； I pray； or what relation was there formerly between them that required this assistance？ On the contrary； these people were enemies； and greatly differed from them in their customs。 He says； indeed； that they complied immediately； upon their praising them that they should conquer Egypt； as if they did not themselves very well know that country out of which they had been driven by force。 Now had these men been in want； or lived miserably； perhaps they might have undertaken so hazardous an enterprise； but as they dwelt in a happy city； and had a large country； and one better than Egypt itself； how came it about that； for the sake of those that had of old been their enemies； of those that were maimed in their bodies； and of those whom none of their own relations would endure； they should run such hazards in assisting them？ For they could not foresee that the king would run away from them： on the contrary； he saith himself that 〃Amenophis's son had three hundred thousand men with him； and met them at Pelusium。〃 Now； to be sure； those that came could not be ignorant of this； but for the king's repentance and flight； how could they possibly guess at it？ He then says； that 〃those who came from Jerusalem； and made this invasion； got the granaries of Egypt into their possession； and perpetrated many of the most horrid actions there。〃 And thence he reproaches them； as though he had not himself introduced them as enemies； or as though he might accuse such as were invited from another place for so doing； when the natural Egyptians themselves had done the same things before their coming； and had taken oaths so to do。 However； 〃Amenophis； some time afterward； came upon them； and conquered them in battle； and slew his enemies； and drove them before him as far as Syria。〃 As if Egypt were so easily taken by people that came from any place whatsoever； and as if those that had conquered it by war； when they were informed that Amenophis was alive； did neither fortify the avenues out of Ethiopia into it； although they had great advantages for doing it； nor did get their other forces ready for their defense！ but that he followed them over the sandy desert； and slew them as far as Syria； while yet it is rot an easy thing for an army to pass over that country； even without fighting。
30。 Our nation； therefore； according to Manetho； was not derived from Egypt； nor were any of the Egyptians mingled with us。 For it is to be supposed that many of the leprous and distempered people were dead in the mines； since they had been there a long time； and in so ill a condition； many others must be dead in the battles that happened afterward； and more still in the last battle and flight after it。
31。 It now remains that I debate with Manetho about Moses。 Now the Egyptians acknowledge him to have been a wonderful and a divine person； nay； they would willingly lay claim to him themselves； though after a most abusive and incredible manner； and pretend that he was of Heliopolis； and one of the priests of that place； and was ejected out of it among the rest； on account of his leprosy； although it had been demonstrated out of their records that he lived five hundred and eighteen years earlier； and then brought our forefathers out of Egypt into the country that is now inhabited by us。 But now that he was not subject in his body to any such calamity； is evident from what he himself tells us； for he forbade those that had the leprosy either to continue in a city； or to inhabit in a village； but commanded that they should go about by themselves with their clothes rent； and declares that such as either touch them； or live under the same roof with them； should be esteemed unclean； nay； more； if any one of their disease be healed； and he recover his natural constitution again； he appointed them certain purifications； and washings with spring water； and the shaving off all their hair； and enjoins that they shall offer many sacrifices； and those of several kinds； and then at length to be admitted into the holy city； although it were to be expected that； on the contrary； if he had been under the same calamity； he should have taken care of such persons beforehand； and have had them treated after a kinder manner； as affected with a concern for those that were to be under the like misfortunes with himself。 Nor ；was it only those leprous people for whose sake he made these laws； but also for such as should be maimed in the smallest part of their body； who yet are not permitted by him to officiate as priests； nay； although any priest； already initiated； should have such a calamity fall upon him afterward； he ordered him to be deprived of his honor of officiating。 How can it then be supposed that Moses should ordain such laws against himself； to his own reproach and damage who so ordained them？ Nor indeed is that other notion of Manetho at all probable； wherein he relates the change of his name； and says that 〃he was formerly called Osarsiph；〃 and this a name no way agreeable to the other； while his true name was Mosses； and si