t were very old; he by whose means
Jacob was adorned with twelve virtuous sons; he by whose means Joseph
became a potent lord over the Egyptians; he it is who conveys these
instructions to you by me as his interpreter. And let them be to
you venerable, and contended for more earnestly by you than your own
children and your own wives; for if you will follow them, you will lead
a happy life you will enjoy the land fruitful, the sea calm, and the
fruit of the womb born complete, as nature requires; you will be also
terrible to your enemies for I have been admitted into the presence of
God and been made a hearer of his incorruptible voice so great is his
concern for your nation, and its duration."

4. When he had said this, he brought the people, with their wives
and children, so near the mountain, that they might hear God himself
speaking to them about the precepts which they were to practice; that
the energy of what should be spoken might not be hurt by its utterance
by that tongue of a man, which could but imperfectly deliver it to their
understanding. And they all heard a voice that came to all of them from
above, insomuch that no one of these words escaped them, which Moses
wrote on two tables; which it is not lawful for us to set down directly,
but their import we will declare [10]

5. The first commandment teaches us that there is but one God, and that
we ought to worship him only. The second commands us not to make the
image of any living creature to worship it. The third, that we must
not swear by God in a false matter. The fourth, that we must keep the
seventh day, by resting from all sorts of work. The fifth, that we
must honor our parents. The sixth that we must abstain from murder. The
seventh that we must not commit adultery. The eighth, that we must not
be guilty of theft. The ninth, that we must not bear false witness.
The tenth, that we must not admit of the desire of any thing that is
another's.

6. Now when the multitude had heard God himself giving those precepts
which Moses had discoursed of, they rejoiced at what was said; and the
congregation was dissolved: but on the following days they came to
his tent, and desired him to bring them, besides, other laws from God.
Accordingly he appointed such laws, and afterwards informed them in what
manner they should act in all cases; which laws I shall make mention of
in their proper time; but I shall reserve most of those laws for another
work, [11] and make