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[166]
At this time it was that the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the
half tribe of Manasseh, abounded in a multitude of cattle, as well as in
all other kinds of prosperity; whence they had a meeting, and in a body
came and besought Moses to give them, as their peculiar portion, that land
of the Amorites which they had taken by right of war, because it was fruitful,
and good for feeding of cattle; but Moses, supposing that they were afraid
of fighting with the Canaanites, and invented this provision for their
cattle as a handsome excuse for avoiding that war, he called them arrant
cowards, and said they had only contrived a decent excuse for that
cowardice; and that they had a mind to live in luxury and ease, while all
the rest were laboring with great pains to obtain the land they were desirous
to have; and that they were not willing to march along, and undergo the
remaining hard service, whereby they were, under the Divine promise, to
pass over Jordan, and overcome those our enemies which God had shown them,
and so obtain their land. But these tribes, when they saw that Moses was
angry with them, and when they could not deny but he had a just cause to
be displeased at their petition, made an apology for themselves; and said,
that it was not on account of their fear of dangers, nor on account of
their laziness, that they made this request to him, but that they might
leave the prey they had gotten in places of safety, and thereby might be
more expedite, and ready to undergo difficulties, and to fight battles.
They added this also, that when they had built cities, wherein they might
preserve their children, and wives, and possessions, if he would bestow
them upon them, they would go along with the rest of the army. Hereupon
Moses was pleased with what they said; so he called for Eleazar the high
priest, and Joshua, and the chief of the tribes, and permitted these tribes
to possess the land of the Amorites; but upon this condition, that they
should join with their kinsmen in the war until all things were settled.
Upon which condition they took possession of the country, and built them
strong cities, and put into them their children and their wives, and whatsoever
else they had that might be an impediment to the labors of their future
marches.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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