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were in。 But no one can be too hard for the purpose of God；
though he contrive ten thousand subtle devices for that end； for
this child； whom the sacred scribe foretold； was brought up and
concealed from the observers appointed by the king； and he that
foretold him did not mistake in the consequences of his
preservation； which were brought to pass after the manner
following： …
3。 A man whose name was Amram； one of the nobler sort of the
Hebrews； was afraid for his whole nation； lest it should fail； by
the want of young men to be brought up hereafter； and was very
uneasy at it； his wife being then with child； and he knew not
what to do。 Hereupon he betook himself to prayer to God； and
entreated him to have compassion on those men who had nowise
transgressed the laws of his worship； and to afford them
deliverance from the miseries they at that time endured； and to
render abortive their enemies' hopes of the destruction of their
nation。 Accordingly God had mercy on him； and was moved by his
supplication。 He stood by him in his sleep； and exhorted him not
to despair of his future favors。 He said further； that he did not
forget their piety towards him； and would always reward them for
it； as he had formerly granted his favor to their forefathers；
and made them increase from a few to so great a multitude。 He put
him in mind； that when Abraham was come alone out of Mesopotamia
into Canaan； he had been made happy； not only in other respects；
but that when his wife was at first barren； she was afterwards by
him enabled to conceive seed； and bare him sons。 That he left to
Ismael and to his posterity the country of Arabia； as also to his
sons by Ketura； Troglodytis； and to Isaac； Canaan。 That by my
assistance； said he； he did great exploits in war； which； unless
you be yourselves impious； you must still remember。 As for Jacob；
he became well known to strangers also； by the greatness of that
prosperity in which he lived； and left to his sons； who came into
Egypt with no more than seventy souls； while you are now become
above six hundred thousand。 Know therefore that I shall provide
for you all in common what is for your good； and particularly for
thyself what shall make thee famous； for that child； out of dread
of whose nativity the Egyptians have doomed the Israelite
children to destruction； shall be this child of thine； and shall
be concealed from those who watch to destroy him： and when he is
brought up in a surprising way； he shall deliver the Hebrew
nation from the distress they are under from the Egyptians。 His
memory shall be famous while the world lasts； and this not only
among the Hebrews； but foreigners also： … all which shall be the
effect of my favor to thee； and to thy posterity。 He shall also
have such a brother； that he shall himself obtain my priesthood；
and his posterity shall have it after him to the end of the
world。
4。 When the vision had informed him of these things； Amram awaked
and told it to Jochebed who was his wife。 And now the fear
increased upon them on account of the prediction in Amram's
dream； for they were under concern； not only for the child； but
on account of the great happiness that was to come to him also。
However； the mother's labor was such as afforded a confirmation
to what was foretold by God； for it was not known to those that
watched her； by the easiness of her pains； and because the throes
of her delivery did not fall upon her with violence。 And now they
nourished the child at home privately for three months； but after
that time Amram； fearing he should be discovered； and； by falling
under the king's displeasure； both he and his child should
perish； and so he should make the promise of God of none effect；
he determined rather to trust the safety and care of the child to
God； than to depend on his own concealment of him； which he
looked upon as a thing uncertain； and whereby both the child； so
privately to be nourished； and himself should be in imminent
danger； but he believed that God would some way for certain
procure the safety of the child； in order to secure the truth of
his own predictions。 When they had thus determined； they made an
ark of bulrushes； after the manner of a cradle； and of a bigness
sufficient for an infant to be laid in； without being too
straitened： they then daubed it over with slime； which would
naturally keep out the water from entering between the bulrushes；
and put the infant into it； and setting it afloat upon the river；
they left its preservation to God； so the river received the
child； and carried him along。 But Miriam； the child's sister；
passed along upon the bank over against him； as her mother had
bid her； to see whither the ark would be carried； where God
demonstrated that human wisdom was nothing； but that the Supreme
Being is able to do whatsoever he pleases： that those who； in
order to their own security； condemn others to destruction； and
use great endeavors about it； fail of their purpose； but that
others are in a surprising manner preserved； and obtain a
prosperous condition almost from the very midst of their
calamities； those； I mean； whose dangers arise by the appointment
of God。 And； indeed； such a providence was exercised in the case
of this child； as showed the power of God。
5。 Thermuthis was the king's daughter。 She was now diverting
herself by the banks of the river； and seeing a cradle borne
along by the current； she sent some that could swim； and bid them
bring the cradle to her。 When those that were sent on this errand
came to her with the cradle； and she saw the little child； she
was greatly in love with it； on account of its largeness and
beauty； for God had taken such great care in the formation of
Moses； that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up；
and providing for； by all those that had taken the most fatal
resolutions； on account of the dread of his nativity； for the
destruction of the rest of the Hebrew nation。 Thermuthis bid them
bring her a woman that might afford her breast to the child； yet
would not the child admit of her breast； but turned away from it；
and did the like to many other women。 Now Miriam was by when this
happened； not to appear to be there on purpose； but only as
staying to see the child； and she said； 〃It is in vain that thou；
O queen； callest for these women for the nourishing of the child；
who are no way of kin to it； but still； if thou wilt order one of
the Hebrew women to be brought； perhaps it may admit the breast
of one of its own nation。〃 Now since she seemed to speak well；
Thermuthis bid her procure such a one； and to bring one of those
Hebrew women that gave suck。 So when she had such authority given
her； she came back and brought the mother； who was known to
nobody there。 And now the child gladly admitted the breast； and
seemed to stick close to it； and so it was； that； at the queen's
desire； the nursing of the child was entirely intrusted to the
mother。
6。 Hereupon it was that Thermuthis imposed this name Mouses upon
him； from what had happened when he was put into the river； for
the Egyptians call water by the name of Mo； and such as are saved
out of it； by the name of Uses：