The famous and memorable vvorkes of Iosephus, a man of much honour and learning among the Iewes. Faithfully translated out of the Latin, and French, by Tho. Lodge Doctor in Physicke

CHAP. III.

How the authors of the sedition were slaine by Gods iudgement, and the Priesthood confirmed to Aaron and his sonnes. [ M]

THe next day the people reassembled themselues together to assist the sacrifice, and to heare the strife decided amongst the Competitors; neither was this assembly without tumult: For the whole multitude were in suspence in expectation of the euent, and some of them were desirous that Moses might be conuicted of deceit. But such as were of the wiser sort amongst them, desired an end of the sedition: for they feared least the common weale should be vtterly ruinated, if the tumult should proceed any further. The multitude likewise (being natural∣ly

desirous of noueltie, and prone to speake euill of their Magistrates) were diuersly disposed [ A] vpon euerie occurrent. Moses also sent his seruants to Abiram and Dathan, to summon them to appeare (according to the couenants and accord) to attend the issue of the sacrifice. But their answere was, that they would not obey him, neither that they would any longer permit that Moses by his subtill and sinister deuices, should signiorize ouer the people. Which when Moses vnderstood, he tooke diuers of the Elders amongst the people with him, and being no wayes moued with Dathan and his contumacie, he came vnto him (being willingly attended by those who were drawne to accompanie him.) Now when Dathan and his friends vnderstood that Moses with the Nobles came vnto them, both they, their wiues and children assembled them∣selues before the Tabernacle, expecting that which would ensue. They came likewise guarded with their seruants, who were armed to oppose themselues against Moses, if so be he should offer [ B] them any violence: But no sooner drew he neere vnto them, but that lifting vp his hands vnto heauen, he cried out with a loud voice in the hearing of the whole multitude, and prayed after this maner.

O God (said he) thou Lord ouerall that which either heauen, earth, or sea containeth, thou art a sufficient witnesse with me of all mine actions for that I haue managed all things by thy will; and thou art he who hast giuen me power to execute my purposes: thou that alwayes in commiseration of the Hebrewes hast beene my perpetuall helpe and assistance: heare this my prayer. For nothing that is either done, or thought, is hidden from thee: for which cause I hope thou wilt not disdaine to testifie and iustifie my truth, and manifest the ingratitude of these men. Thou doest exactly know the antiquitie of my race, not for that thou hast heard it, but for that thou hast seene and assisted it; in effect, now also testifie the truth for me in those things which [ C] these men (although they know they contrarie) are not ashamed to impute vnto me. At such time as I led a peaceable life, and that by my vertue and thy counsell, and my father in law Raguels fauour, I had sufficient to liue vpon; I forsooke the possession of my goods, and the fruit on of my peace, to ingage my selfe in these miseries, which I haue suffered for these men: and first of all for their libertie, and now likewise for their safetie, I haue most readily vndertaken grieuous trauels. Now therefore since I am growne into suspition amongst those men, who by my care and prouidence haue escaped so manie mischiefes and miseries; thou that appearedst vnto me in that fire on the mountaine of Sinai, and vouchsafedst both to speake vnto me, and to confirme [ D] me by the sight of miracles; that in thy name sentst me a messenger into Aegypt; that hast aba∣ted the great fortunes of the Aegyptians and hast giuen me meanes to escape from their serui∣tude; and hast made Pharaoes power and armie inferiour to my fortunes, that when we were igno∣rant of our way gauedst vs a passage through the sea, in whose bottom and wombe afterward the Aegyptians were drowned; that gauedst vs armes, when we were vnweaponed; that madest the bitter water sauoury and fit to be drunke of; and in our scarcitie of water enforcedst drinke for vs out of the bowels of the hard rocke; when we found no meat on the land, didst send it vs from the sea; moreouer (as a thing neuer before heard of) affoordedst vs meat from heauen, and hast established our estate with lawes and customes: Be thou, ô Lord, my Iudge in all things, and my vnpartiall witnesse, that neither I haue beene corrupted by any bribe of any particular Hebrew, [ E] to fauour iniustice, neither that I haue suffered a poore man in his iust cause to lose his right against a rich aduersarie. And now hauing administred the common weale with all synceritie, I am called in question for a crime, whereof I am altogether guiltlesse, as if I had bestowed thy Priesthood on my brother for priuate affection, and not for thy command sake: make it knowne that all things are dispensed by thy prouidence, and that nothing is brought to effect by casualty, but by thy especiall ordinance: And to expresse that thou hast care of the Hebrewes, testifie the same by thy iust punishment inflicted on Dathan and Abiram, who accuse thee to be insensible and boast that thou art circumuented by my subtilties. But thou shalt make thy reuenge more notorious against the vnbrideled detractors of thy glorie, if they perish after no common ma∣ner, least any man should suspect that they suffer nothing inhumane: but let the earth which [ F] they vnworthily tread vpon, open it selfe and swallow them vp both with their families and fa∣culties. By this means both thy power will manifestly appeare vnto all men, and thou shalt leaue an example to posteritie, that no man hereafter shal dare to thinke otherwise of thy maiesty then becommeth him, & my ministerie shall be approued to proceed from thy direction. But if those crimes be truly vrged which are inforced against me, then let the curses returne and light on mine owne head, and let those whom I haue cursed liue in safetie. And thus exacting a punishment from those that disturbe thy people, keep the rest of the multitude in peace, concord, and obseruation of thy commandements, secure and void of that punishment which is due vnto

wicked men, for that it is contrarie to thy iustice, that the innocent multitude of the Israelites [ G] should answere their misdeeds, and suffer their punishments.

Whilest he spake these words, and intermixed them with teares, the earth instantly trembled, and shaking began to remoue (after such a manner, as when by the violence of the wind a great billow of the sea floateth and walte∣reth.) Hereat were all the people amased. But after that, a horrible and shattering noyse was made about their tents, the earth opened, and swallowed vp both them and all that which they estee∣med deere, which was after a maner so exterminate, as nothing remained of theirs to be beheld. Whereupon in a moment the earth closed againe, and the vast gaping was fast shut, so as there appeared not any signe of that which had hapned. Thus perished they all, leauing behind them an example of Gods power and iudgements. And this accident was the more miserable, in that there were no one, no not of their kinsfolke or allies that had compassion of them: so that all the [ H] people whatsoeuer, forgetting those things which were past, did allow Gods iustice with ioy∣ful acclamations, esteeming them vnworthie to be bemoned, but to be held as the plague & per∣uerters of the people. After that Dathan with his family was extinguished, Moses assembled all those that contended for the Priesthood together, cōmitting again the election of the priesthood vnto God, concluding that the estate should bee ratified to him, whose sacrifice was most ac∣ceptable in Gods sight. For which cause the two hundred and fiftie men assembled themselues, who were both honoured for the vertue of their ancestors, and for their owne abilities farre grea∣ter then theirs: with these also stood Aaron and Chore, and all of them offered with their censors before the Tabernacle, with perfumes such as they brought with them, when sodainly so great a fire shone, as neither the like was euer kindled by mans hand, nor vsually breaketh from the bow∣els [ I] of the burning earth, neyther was euer quickned in the woods, split and borne downe in the sommer time by a southerne brize, but such a one as seemed to be kindled in heauen most bright∣some and flaming, by force and power whereof those two hundreth and fiftie (together with Chore) were so consumed, that there scarce appeared any reliques of their carcasses: Only Aaron remained vntouched, to the end it might appeare that this fire came from heauen. These things thus brought to passe, Moses (intending to leaue a perpetual memory to posteritie of that punish∣ment) to the end they should not be ignorant thereof, commaunded Eleazar the sonne of Aaron to consecrate their censors affixed to the brasen Altar, that by reason of this monument, all men might be terrified, who thinke that the diuine power can be circumuented by humane policy.

Notes

• Rufin. chap. 1. Numb. 16.
• The yeare of the world. 2455. before Christes Natiuity. 1509.
• Dathan and Abiram rebel∣lious.
• Moses prayer vnto God.
• The yeare of the world, 2455. be∣fore Christs birth 1509.
• Dathan and Abiram swal∣lowed vp.
• Chore with two hundreth and fiftie men is consumed with fire.