Chapter 11.
HOW MOSES FLED OUT OF EGYPT INTO MIDIAN.FJAJ 2.67
1. Now the Egyptians, after they had been preserved by Moses, entertained
a hatred to him, and were very eager in compassing their designs against
him, as suspecting that he would take occasion, from his good success,
to raise a sedition, and bring innovations into Egypt; and told the king
he ought to be slain
The king had also some intentions of himself to the
same purpose, and this as well out of envy at his glorious expedition at
the head of his army, as out of fear of being brought low by him and being
instigated by the sacred scribes, he was ready to undertake to kill Moses:
but when he had learned beforehand what plots there were against him, he
went away privately; and because the public roads were watched, he took
his flight through the deserts, and where his enemies could not suspect
he would travel; and, though he was destitute of food, he went on, and
despised that difficulty courageously; and when he came to the city Midian,
which lay upon the Red Sea, and was so denominated from one of Abraham's
sons by Keturah, he sat upon a certain well, and rested himself there after
his laborious journey, and the affliction he had been in
It was not far
from the city, and the time of the day was noon, where he had an occasion
offered him by the custom of the country of doing what recommended his
virtue, and afforded him an opportunity of bettering his circumstances.FJAJ 2.68
2. For that country having but little water, the shepherds used to seize
on the wells before others came, lest their flocks should want water, and
lest it should be spent by others before they came
There were now come,
therefore, to this well seven sisters that were virgins, the daughters
of Raguel, a priest, and one thought worthy by the people of the country
of great honor
These virgins, who took care of their father's flocks,
which sort of work it was customary and very familiar for women to do in
the country of the Troglodytes, they came first of all, and drew water
out of the well in a quantity sufficient for their flocks, into troughs,
which were made for the reception of that water; but when the shepherds
came upon the maidens, and drove them away, that they might have the command
of the water themselves, Moses, thinking it would be a terrible reproach
upon him if he overlooked the young women under unjust oppression, and
should suffer the violence of the men to prevail over the right of the
maidens, he drove away the men, who had a mind to more than their share,
and afforded a proper assistance to the women; who, when they had received
such a benefit from him, came to their father, and told him how they had
been affronted by the shepherds, and assisted by a stranger, and entreated
that he would not let this generous action be done in vain, nor go without
a reward
Now the father took it well from his daughters that they were
so desirous to reward their benefactor; and bid them bring Moses into his
presence, that he might be rewarded as he deserved
And when Moses came,
he told him what testimony his daughters bare to him, that he had assisted
them; and that, as he admired him for his virtue, he said that Moses had
bestowed such his assistance on persons not insensible of benefits, but
where they were both able and willing to return the kindness, and even
to exceed the measure of his generosity
So he made him his son, and gave
him one of his daughters in marriage; and appointed him to be the guardian
and superintendent over his cattle; for of old, all the wealth of the barbarians
was in those cattle.FJAJ 2.69