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From the Rejection of That Generation to the Death of Moses - Flavius Josephus

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<strong>the</strong>ir servants about <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> defend <strong>the</strong>mselves, in case <strong>Moses</strong> should use<br />

force against <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

2. But he came near, and lifted up his hands <strong>to</strong> heaven, and cried out<br />

with a loud voice, in order <strong>to</strong> be heard by <strong>the</strong> whole multitude, and said, "O<br />

Lord <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> creatures that are in <strong>the</strong> heaven, in <strong>the</strong> earth, and in <strong>the</strong> sea; for<br />

thou art <strong>the</strong> most au<strong>the</strong>ntic witness <strong>to</strong> what I have done, that it has all been<br />

done by thy appointment, and that it was thou that affordedst us assistance<br />

when we attempted any thing, and showedst mercy on <strong>the</strong> Hebrews in all<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir distresses; do thou come now, and hear all that I say, for no action or<br />

thought escapes thy knowledge; so that thou wilt not disdain <strong>to</strong> speak what is<br />

true, for my vindication, without any regard <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> ungrateful imputations <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se men. As for what was done before I was born, thou knowest best, as<br />

not learning <strong>the</strong>m by report, but seeing <strong>the</strong>m, and being present with <strong>the</strong>m<br />

when <strong>the</strong>y were done; but for what has been done <strong>of</strong> late, and which <strong>the</strong>se<br />

men, although <strong>the</strong>y know <strong>the</strong>m well enough, unjustly pretend <strong>to</strong> suspect, be<br />

thou my witness. When I lived a private quiet life, I left those good things<br />

which, by my own diligence, and by thy counsel, I enjoyed with Raguel my<br />

fa<strong>the</strong>r-in-law; and I gave myself up <strong>to</strong> this people, and underwent many<br />

miseries on <strong>the</strong>ir account. I also bore great labors at first, in order <strong>to</strong> obtain<br />

liberty for <strong>the</strong>m, and now in order <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir preservation; and have always<br />

showed myself ready <strong>to</strong> assist <strong>the</strong>m in every distress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irs. Now,<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore, since I am suspected by those very men whose being is owing <strong>to</strong><br />

my labors, come thou, as it is reasonable <strong>to</strong> hope thou wilt; thou, I say, who<br />

showedst me that fire at mount Sinai, and madest me <strong>to</strong> hear its voice, and <strong>to</strong><br />

see <strong>the</strong> several wonders which that place afforded thou who commandedst<br />

me <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> Egypt, and declare thy will <strong>to</strong> this people; thou who disturbest<br />

<strong>the</strong> happy estate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Egyptians, and gavest us <strong>the</strong> opportunity <strong>of</strong> flying<br />

away from our under <strong>the</strong>m, and madest <strong>the</strong> dominion <strong>of</strong> Pharaoh inferior <strong>to</strong><br />

my dominion; thou who didst make <strong>the</strong> sea dry land for us, when we knew<br />

not whi<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> go, and didst overwhelm <strong>the</strong> Egyptians with those destructive<br />

waves which had been divided for us; thou who didst bes<strong>to</strong>w upon us <strong>the</strong><br />

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