camp, and give
them in charge, that the young men of the Hebrews desire their allow it
them; and when they see they are enamored of them, let them take leaves;
and if they entreat them to stay, let give their consent till they have
persuaded leave off their obedience to their own laws, the worship of
that God who established them to worship the gods of the Midianites
and for by this means God will be angry at them [11]." Accordingly, when
Balaam had suggested counsel to them, he went his way.

7. So when the Midianites had sent their daughters, as Balaam had
exhorted them, the Hebrew men were allured by their beauty, and came
with them, and besought them not to grudge them the enjoyment of
their beauty, nor to deny them their conversation. These daughters of
Midianites received their words gladly, and consented to it, and staid
with them; but when they brought them to be enamored of them, and their
inclinations to them were grown to ripeness, they began to think
of departing from them: then it was that these men became greatly
disconsolate at the women's departure, and they were urgent with them
not to leave them, but begged they would continue there, and become
their wives; and they promised them they should be owned as mistresses
all they had. This they said with an oath, and called God for the
arbitrator of what they promised; and this with tears in their eyes,
and all such marks of concern, as might shew how miserable they thought
themselves without them, and so might move their compassion for them. So
the women, as soon as they perceived they had made their slaves, and had
caught them with their conservation began to speak thus to them:--

8. "O you illustrious young men! we have of our own at home, and great
plenty of good things there, together with the natural, affectionate
parents and friends; nor is it out of our want of any such things that
we came to discourse with you; nor did we admit of your invitation with
design to prostitute the beauty of our bodies for gain; but taking you
for brave and worthy men, we agreed to your request, that we might treat
you with such honors as hospitality required: and now seeing you say
that you have a great affection for us, and are troubled when you think
we are departing, we are not averse to your entreaties; and if we
may receive such assurance of your good-will as we think can be alone
sufficient, we will be glad to lead our lives with you as your wives;
but we are afr