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1. Now this life of the Hebrews in the wilderness was so
disagreeable and troublesome to them, and they were so uneasy at
it, that although God had forbidden them to meddle with the
Canaanites, yet could they not be persuaded to be obedient to the
words of Moses, and to be quiet; but supposing they should be
able to beat their enemies, without his approbation, they accused
him, and suspected that he made it his business to keep in a
distressed condition, that they might always stand in need of his
assistance. Accordingly they resolved to fight with the
Canaanites, and said that God gave them his assistance, not out
of regard to Moses's intercessions, but because he took care of
their entire nation, on account of their forefathers, whose
affairs he took under his own conduct; as also, that it was on
account of their own virtue that he had formerly procured them
their liberty, and would be assisting to them, now they were
willing to take pains for it. They also said that they were
possessed of abilities sufficient for the conquest of their
enemies, although Moses should have a mind to alienate God from
them; that, however, it was for their advantage to be their own
masters, and not so far to rejoice in their deliverance from the
indignities they endured under the Egyptians, as to bear the
tyranny of Moses over them, and to suffer themselves to be
deluded, and live according to his pleasure, as though God did
only foretell what concerns us out of his kindness to him, as if
they were not all the posterity of Abraham; that God made him
alone the author of all the knowledge we have, and we must still
learn it from him; that it would be a piece of prudence to oppose
his arrogant pretenses, and to put their confidence in God, and
to resolve to take possession of that land which he had promised
them, and not to give ear to him, who on this account, and under
the pretense of Divine authority, forbade them so to do.
Considering, therefore, the distressed state they were in at
present, and that in those desert places they were still to
expect things would be worse with them, they resolved to fight
with the Canaanites, as submitting only to God, their supreme
Commander, and not waiting for any assistance from their
legislator.
2. When, therefore, they had come to this resolution, as being
best for them, they went against their enemies; but those enemies
were not dismayed either at the attack itself, or at the great
multitude that made it, and received them with great courage.
Many of the Hebrews were slain; and the remainder of the army,
upon the disorder of their troops, were pursued, and fled, after
a shameful manner, to their camp. Whereupon this unexpected
misfortune made them quite despond; and they hoped for nothing
that was good; as gathering from it, that this affliction came
from the wrath of God, because they rashly went out to war
without his approbation.
3. But when Moses saw how deeply they were affected with this
defeat, and being afraid lest the enemies should grow insolent
upon this victory, and should be desirous of gaining still
greater glory, and should attack them, he resolved that it was
proper to withdraw the army into the wilderness to a further
distance from the Canaanites: so the multitude gave themselves up
again to his conduct, for they were sensible that, without his
care for them, their affairs could not be in a good condition;
and he caused the host to remove, and he went further into the
wilderness, as intending there to let them rest, and not to
permit them to fight the Canaanites before God should afford them
a more favorable opportunity.
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