itude looked upon him. He died in the same year wherein he
lost his sister, having lived in all a hundred twenty and three years.
He died on the first day of that lunar month which is called by the
Athenians Hecatombaeon, by the Macedonians Lous, but by the Hebrews
Abba.

CHAPTER 5. How Moses Conquered Sihon And Og Kings Of The Amorites, And
Destroyed Their Whole Army And Then Divided Their Land By Lot To Two
Tribes And A Half Of The Hebrews.

1. The people mourned for Aaron thirty days, and when this mourning
was over, Moses removed the army from that place, and came to the
river Arnon, which, issuing out of the mountains of Arabia, and running
through all that wilderness, falls into the lake Asphaltitis, and
becomes the limit between the land of the Moabites and the land of the
Amorites. This land is fruitful, and sufficient to maintain a great
number of men, with the good things it produces. Moses therefore sent
messengers to Sihon, the king of this country, desiring that he would
grant his army a passage, upon what security he should please to
require; he promised that he should be no way injured, neither as to
that country which Sihon governed, nor as to its inhabitants; and
that he would buy his provisions at such a price as should be to their
advantage, even though he should desire to sell them their very water.
But Sihon refused his offer, and put his army into battle array, and was
preparing every thing in order to hinder their passing over Arnon.

2. When Moses saw that the Amorite king was disposed to enter upon
hostilities with them, he thought he ought not to bear that insult; and,
determining to wean the Hebrews from their indolent temper, and prevent
the disorders which arose thence, which had been the occasion of their
former sedition, [nor indeed were they now thoroughly easy in their
minds,] he inquired of God, whether he would give him leave to fight?
which when he had done, and God also promised him the victory, he was
himself very courageous, and ready to proceed to fighting. Accordingly
he encouraged the soldiers; and he desired of them that they would take
the pleasure of fighting, now God gave them leave so to do. They then,
upon the receipt of this permission, which they so much longed for,
put on their whole armor, and set about the work without delay. But the
Amorite king was not now like to himself when the Hebrews were ready to
attack him; but both he himself was affrighted at the