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the camp of the Hebrews。 Balak himself also came to the mountain；
and brought the prophet along with him； with a royal attendance。
This mountain lay over their heads； and was distant sixty
furlongs from the camp。 Now when he saw them； he desired the king
to build him seven altars； and to bring him as many bulls and
rams； to which desire the king did presently conform。 He then
slew the sacrifices； and offered them as burnt…offerings； that he
might observe some signal of the flight of the Hebrews。 Then said
he； 〃Happy is this people； on whom God bestows the possession of
innumerable good things； and grants them his own providence to be
their assistant and their guide； so that there is not any nation
among mankind but you will be esteemed superior to them in
virtue； and in the earnest prosecution of the best rules of life；
and of such as are pure from wickedness； and will leave those
rules to your excellent children； and this out of the regard that
God bears to you； and the provision of such things for you as may
render you happier than any other people under the sun。 You shall
retain that land to which he hath sent you； and it shall ever be
under the command of your children； and both all the earth； as
well as the seas； shall be filled with your glory： and you shall
be sufficiently numerous to supply the world in general； and
every region of it in particular； with inhabitants out of your
stock。 However； O blessed army！ wonder that you are become so
many from one father： and truly； the land of Canaan can now hold
you； as being yet comparatively few； but know ye that the whole
world is proposed to be your place of habitation for ever。 The
multitude of your posterity also shall live as well in the
islands as on the continent； and that more in number than are the
stars of heaven。 And when you are become so many； God will not
relinquish the care of you； but will afford you an abundance of
all good things in times of peace； with victory and dominion in
times of war。 May the children of your enemies have an
inclination to fight against you； and may they be so hardy as to
come to arms； and to assault you in battle； for they will not
return with victory； nor will their return be agreeable to their
children and wives。 To so great a degree of valor will you be
raised by the providence of God； who is able to diminish the
affluence of some； and to supply the wants of others。〃
5。 Thus did Balaam speak by inspiration； as not being in his own
power； but moved to say what he did by the Divine Spirit。 But
then Balak was displeased； and said he had broken the contract he
had made； whereby he was to come； as he and his confederates had
invited him； by the promise of great presents： for whereas he
came to curse their enemies； he had made an encomium upon them；
and had declared that they were the happiest of men。 To which
Balaam replied； 〃O Balak； if thou rightly considerest this whole
matter； canst thou suppose that it is in our power to be silent；
or to say any thing； when the Spirit of God seizes upon us？ … for
he puts such words as he pleases in our mouths； and such
discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of。 I well remember
by what entreaties both you and the Midianites so joyfully
brought me hither； and on that account I took this journey。 It
was my prayer； that I might not put any affront upon you； as to
what you desired of me； but God is more powerful than the
purposes I had made to serve you； for those that take upon them
to foretell the affairs of mankind； as from their own abilities；
are entirely unable to do it； or to forbear to utter what God
suggests to them； or to offer violence to his will； for when he
prevents us and enters into us； nothing that we say is our own。 I
then did not intend to praise this army； nor to go over the
several good things which God intended to do to their race； but
since he was so favorable to them； and so ready to bestow upon
them a happy life and eternal glory； he suggested the declaration
of those things to me： but now； because it is my desire to oblige
thee thyself； as well as the Midianites； whose entreaties it is
not decent for me to reject； go to； let us again rear other
altars； and offer the like sacrifices that we did before； that I
may see whether I can persuade God to permit me to bind these men
with curses。〃 Which； when Balak had agreed to； God would not；
even upon second sacrifices； consent to his cursing the
Israelites。 （9） Then fell Balaam upon his face； and foretold what
calamities would befall the several kings of the nations； and the
most eminent cities； some of which of old were not so much as
inhabited； which events have come to pass among the several
people concerned； both in the foregoing ages； and in this； till
my own memory； both by sea and by land。 From which completion of
all these predictions that he made； one may easily guess that the
rest will have their completion in time to come。
6。 But Balak being very angry that the Israelites were not
cursed； sent away Balaam without thinking him worthy of any
honor。 Whereupon； when he was just upon his journey； in order to
pass the Euphrates； he sent for Balak； and for the princes of the
Midianites； and spake thus to them： … 〃O Balak； and you
Midianites that are here present； （for I am obliged even without
the will of God to gratify you；） it is true no entire destruction
can seize upon the nation of the Hebrews； neither by war； nor by
plague； nor by scarcity of the fruits of the earth； nor can any
other unexpected accident be their entire ruin； for the
providence of God is concerned to preserve them from such a
misfortune； nor will it permit any such calamity to come upon
them whereby they may all perish； but some small misfortunes； and
those for a short time； whereby they may appear to be brought
low； may still befall them； but after that they will flourish
again； to the terror of those that brought those mischiefs upon
them。 So that if you have a mind to gain a victory over them for
a short space of time； you will obtain it by following my
directions： … Do you therefore set out the handsomest of such of
your daughters as are most eminent for beauty； （10） and proper to
force and conquer the modesty of those that behold them； and
these decked and trimmed to the highest degree able。 Then do you
send them to be near camp； and give them in charge； that the
young men of the Hebrews desire their allow it them； and when
they see they are enamored of them； let them take leaves； and if
they entreat them to stay； let give their consent till they have
persuaded leave off their obedience to their own laws； the
worship of that God who established them to worship the gods of
the Midianites and for by this means God will be angry at them
（11）。 Accordingly； when Balaam had suggested counsel to them； he
went his way。
7。 So when the Midianites had sent their daughters；as Balaam had
exhorted them； the Hebrew men were allured by their beauty； and
came with them； and besought them not to grudge them the
enjoyment of their beauty； nor to deny them their conversation。
These daughters of Midianites received their words gladly； and
consented to it；