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the Egyptians call water by the name of Mo； and such as are saved
out of it； by the name of Uses： so by putting these two words
together； they imposed this name upon him。 And he was； by the
confession of all； according to God's prediction； as well for his
greatness of mind as for his contempt of difficulties； the best
of all the Hebrews； for Abraham was his ancestor of the seventh
generation。 For Moses was the son of Amram； who was the son of
Caath； whose father Levi was the son of Jacob； who was the son of
Isaac； who was the son of Abraham。 Now Moses's understanding
became superior to his age； nay； far beyond that standard； and
when he was taught； he discovered greater quickness of
apprehension than was usual at his age； and his actions at that
time promised greater； when he should come to the age of a man。
God did also give him that tallness； when he was but three years
old； as was wonderful。 And as for his beauty； there was nobody so
unpolite as； when they saw Moses； they were not greatly surprised
at the beauty of his countenance； nay； it happened frequently；
that those that met him as he was carried along the road； were
obliged to turn again upon seeing the child； that they left what
they were about； and stood still a great while to look on him；
for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him
on many accounts； that it detained the spectators； and made them
stay longer to look upon him。
7。 Thermuthis therefore perceiving him to be so remarkable a
child； adopted him for her son； having no child of her own。 And
when one time had carried Moses to her father； she showed him to
him； and said she thought to make him her successor； if it should
please God she should have no legitimate child of her own； and to
him； 〃I have brought up a child who is of a divine form； （21） and
of a generous mind； and as I have received him from the bounty of
the river； in ； I thought proper to adopt him my son； and the
heir of thy kingdom。〃 And she had said this； she put the infant
into her father's hands： so he took him； and hugged him to his
breast； and on his daughter's account； in a pleasant way； put his
diadem upon his head； but Moses threw it down to the ground； and；
in a puerile mood； he wreathed it round； and trod upon his feet；
which seemed to bring along with evil presage concerning the
kingdom of Egypt。 But when the sacred scribe saw this； （he was
the person who foretold that his nativity would the dominion of
that kingdom low；） he made a violent attempt to kill him； and
crying out in a frightful manner； he said； 〃This； O king！ this
child is he of whom God foretold； that if we kill him we shall be
in no danger； he himself affords an attestation to the prediction
of the same thing； by his trampling upon thy government； and
treading upon thy diadem。 Take him； therefore； out of the way；
and deliver the Egyptians from the fear they are in about him；
and deprive the Hebrews of the hope they have of being encouraged
by him。〃 But Thermuthis prevented him； and snatched the child
away。 And the king was not hasty to slay him； God himself； whose
providence protected Moses； inclining the king to spare him。 He
was； therefore； educated with great care。 So the Hebrews depended
on him； and were of good hopes great things would be done by him；
but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his
education。 Yet because； if Moses had been slain； there was no
one； either akin or adopted； that had any oracle on his side for
pretending to the crown of Egypt； and likely to be of greater
advantage to them； they abstained from killing him。
CHAPTER 10。
How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians；
1。 Moses； therefore； when he was born； and brought up in the
foregoing manner； and came to the age of maturity； made his
virtue manifest to the Egyptians； and showed that he was born for
the bringing them down； and raising the Israelites。 And the
occasion he laid hold of was this： … The Ethiopians； who are next
neighbors to the Egyptians； made an inroad into their country；
which they seized upon； and carried off the effects of the
Egyptians； who； in their rage； fought against them； and revenged
the affronts they had received from them； but being overcome in
battle； some of them were slain； and the rest ran away in a
shameful manner； and by that means saved themselves； whereupon
the Ethiopians followed after them in the pursuit； and thinking
that it would be a mark of cowardice if they did not subdue all
Egypt； they went on to subdue the rest with greater vehemence；
and when they had tasted the sweets of the country； they never
left off the prosecution of the war： and as the nearest parts had
not courage enough at first to fight with them； they proceeded as
far as Memphis； and the sea itself； while not one of the cities
was able to oppose them。 The Egyptians； under this sad
oppression； betook themselves to their oracles and prophecies；
and when God had given them this counsel； to make use of Moses
the Hebrew； and take his assistance； the king commanded his
daughter to produce him； that he might be the general （22） of
their army。 Upon which； when she had made him swear he would do
him no harm； she delivered him to the king； and supposed his
assistance would be of great advantage to them。 She withal
reproached the priest； who； when they had before admonished the
Egyptians to kill him； was not ashamed now to own their want of
his help。
2。 So Moses； at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king
himself； cheerfully undertook the business： and the sacred
scribes of both nations were glad； those of the Egyptians； that
they should at once overcome their enemies by his valor； and that
by the same piece of management Moses would be slain； but those
of the Hebrews； that they should escape from the Egyptians；
because Moses was to be their general。 But Moses prevented the
enemies； and took and led his army before those enemies were
apprized of his attacking them； for he did not march by the
river； but by land； where he gave a wonderful demonstration of
his sagacity； for when the ground was difficult to be passed
over； because of the multitude of serpents； （which it produces in
vast numbers； and； indeed； is singular in some of those
productions； which other countries do not breed； and yet such as
are worse than others in power and mischief； and an unusual
fierceness of sight； some of which ascend out of the ground
unseen； and also fly in the air； and so come upon men at
unawares； and do them a mischief；） Moses invented a wonderful
stratagem to preserve the army safe； and without hurt； for he
made baskets； like unto arks； of sedge； and filled them with
ibes； （23） and carried them along with them； which animal is the
greatest enemy to serpents imaginable； for they fly from them
when they come near them； and as they fly they are caught and
devoured by them； as if it were done by the harts； but the ibes
are tame creatures； and only enemies to the serpentine kind： but
about these ibes I say no more at present； since the Greeks
themselves are not unacquainted with this sort of bird。 As soon；
therefore； as Moses was come to the land which was the b