Jethro and the Exodus

the wife and the sons; and having learned all the wonder-working of God concerning the Egyptians from him, he was struck with amazement, and he glorified God. And this man, as they say, was a descendant of Abraham, born of one of those begotten to him from Hetur; for from Jezan came Dadan, Raguel, Jethor, and Obab. Therefore, Moses, having held him in high regard, sent him to his own homes. And Moses, having legislated many things for the benefit of the Hebrews, ended his life, having lived 120 years. And Joshua the son of Nun succeeds to his leadership, and leads the people out of the wilderness, having wandered in it for 40 years, upon which the traces of the habitation of the Jews are still preserved. For, thanks to the history, those arriving at the places report that the types of the tents still stand, existing in myriads, and that Mount Sinai is seen, at which Moses received the legislations, and each of those things written in detail.

The Hebrews sojourned in Egypt for 430 and 40 years, not 210 and 200; the record of the years is sufficient at 430, but the Scripture says 430 and 40. For it says, 'the seed of Abraham shall be a sojourner in a foreign land for 430 years' (Genesis 15:13). First, therefore, it must be noted that it did not say 'in Egypt,' but 'in a foreign land shall the seed of Abraham be a sojourner'; and a foreign land indeed existed, namely the Canaanite land, in which Isaac sojourned, the seed of Abraham himself being above all an exceptional one, for he was a son. It is therefore evident that before inheriting the land of the foreign tribes, they were sojourners for 430 years, just as the Apostle also says: 'a covenant having been proclaimed by God after 430 years, in order to bring forth the promise' (Galatians 3:17); and he adds: 'To Abraham, through a promise, God granted' (Genesis 12:7). It is therefore probable that they sojourned in Canaan for 430, and in Egypt for 430, which is the same as 430 years.

When Joshua led the people and the ark of the Covenant through the Jordan, the waters stood apart as a single heap, having stood far off; but that which was descending into the sea of the waves went down, until it vanished completely, and all crossed on dry land, and they are encamped at Jericho. And this city was fortified against the greatest with walls.

They circled it for six days by God's command; and on the seventh at dawn they circled it seven times, and the priests, having blown the trumpets, roused the people to shout together with a great cry; and as they helped, the wall fell immediately, and the city was captured, and all became a devoted thing to the Lord. Then Ai was besieged, and they took it and burned it, and having hung its king on a tree, they crucified him by the command of Joshua. And as the sun was setting, they threw his body into a ravine and covered it with a heap of stones.

But the Gibeonites, inquiring about these sieges (for they had spies), craftily deceived the Israelites. For if they had not reached their city first, they would have met them wearing worn-out clothes and sandals, having put on torn garments and sacks of dry bread and barley, and having put on old sacks, saying to them: 'Our city was greatly divided from us; for we prepared these fresh loaves, and the clothes we wear are new, and we gave new sandals to those walking; and all this the length of the road wore out and aged. Therefore make peace with us, and make our friends.' And the blessed Joshua pledged peace to them by oaths.

Later, having recognized their craftiness, he refrained from them because of the oath, but commanded that they should be beaten and carry water for the Israelites instead of the deceit. Then the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Bezek, being angry at the Gibeonites acting alone, took allies from the nearby regions—the king of Hebron, Aila, the Fidon of Jerimuth, Ziphah of Lachish, and even Dad of Sodom—and marched against them and besieged Gibeon. The Gibeonites, being pursued, sent ambassadors to Joshua. He, being at Galgal, opposed them, and when battle occurred, the foreigners were routed; some were destroyed by the sword, others by hail. For as they fled, God rained hail upon them, which killed more of the adversaries than the war did. So that Joshua might completely destroy them, he prayed...