3.  But  God  stood  by  him,  and  called  to  him
twice  by  his  name ;  and  when  he  asked  who  he
was,  God  said,  "No,  sure;  it  is  not  just  that
thou,  Jacob,  shouldst  be  unacquainted  with  that
God  who  has  been  ever  a  protector  and  a  helper
to  thy  forefathers,  and  after  them  to  thyself  :
for  when  thy  father  would  have  deprived  thee
of  the  dominion,  I  gave  it  thee ;  and  by  my
kindness  it  was  that,  when  thou  wast  sent  into
Mesopotamia  all  alone,  thou  obtainedst  good
wives,  and  returnedst  with  many  children,  and
much  wealth.  Thy  whole  family  also  has  been
preserved  by  my  j)rovidence;  and  it  was  I  who
conducted  Joseph,  thy  son,  whom  thou  gavest
uj)  for  lost,  to  the  enjoyment  of  great  prosperity.
I  also  made  him  lord  of  Egypt,  so  that  he  differs
but  little  from  a  king.  Accordingly,  I  come
now  as  a  eiiido  to  thee  in  this  journey ;  and  fore-


54


ANTIQUITIES  OF  THE  JEWS.
[book  ir.
tell  to  thee,  that  thou  slialt  die  in  the  arms  of
Joseph;  and  I  inform  thee  that  thy  j)t)sterity
shall  be  many  ages  in  authority  and  glory,  and
that  I  will  settle  them  in  the  Lxnd  which  I  have
promised  them."

4.  Jacob,  encouraged  oy  this  dream,  went  on
more  clieerfully  for  Egypt  with  his  sons,  and
all  belonging  to  them.  Now  they  were  in  all
seventy.  I  once,  indeed,  thought  it  best  not  to
set  down  the  names  of  this  family,  especially
because  of  their  difficult  pronunciation,  [by  the
Greeks ;]  but,  u2:)on  the  whole,  I  thudi  it  neces-
sary to  mention  those  names,  that  I  may  dis-
l^rove  such  as  believe  that  we  came  not  origin-
ally from  Mesopotamia,  but  are  Egyptians.
