Chapter 1.
FIGHT OF THE HEBREWS WITH THE CANAANITES WITHOUT THE CONSENT
OF MOSES; AND THEIR DEFEAT.FJAJ 4.3
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.FJAJ 4.4
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.FJAJ 4.5
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.FJAJ 4.6