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 Hebrews, and his army, which before had
showed themselves to be of good courage, were then found to be
timorous: so they could not sustain the first onset, nor bear up
against the Hebrews, but fled away, as thinking this would afford
them a more likely way for their escape than fighting, for they
depended upon their cities, which were strong, from which yet
they reaped no advantage when they were forced to fly to them;
for as soon as the Hebrews saw them giving ground, they
immediately pursued them close; and when they had broken their
ranks, they greatly terrified them, and some of them broke off
from the rest, and ran away to the cities. Now the Hebrews
pursued them briskly, and obstinately persevered in the labors
they had already undergone; and being very skillful in slinging,
and very dexterous in throwing of darts, or any thing else of