The Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, gives us glimpses into just that kind of world. Today, we're diving into a story of kings, armies, and a very clever young sorcerer.

Our tale begins with the King of Africa, who, for reasons unexplained in this brief excerpt, shows surprising restraint when he encounters the city of Benevento. He doesn't inflict harsh measures, because, we're told, the city "belonged to the land of Kittim at that time." Kittim, often associated with the descendants of Japheth in biblical genealogy (Genesis 10:4), is frequently interpreted as referring to Cyprus, Greece, or even Italy. So, Benevento had some kind of affiliation with this Mediterranean power.

But peace doesn't last.

Soon, raiding parties from Africa, led by a captain named Zepho, begin making incursions into the land of Kittim. It's a low-level conflict, a simmering tension. Meanwhile, King Agnias, the ruler of Africa, travels to Pozimana to marry Yaniah, bringing her back to his capital as his queen. Life, it seems, goes on – even amidst the raids.

However, Zepho has bigger plans. He relentlessly pushes King Agnias to invade Egypt, to wage war against the sons of Jacob – the Israelites. Finally, Agnias relents and agrees to consider the idea. A mighty army is prepared, ready to march on Egypt.

Now, here's where the story gets really interesting. Among the shield-bearers is a fifteen-year-old boy named Balaam, the son of Beor. Yes, that Balaam, the one who later appears in the Book of Numbers! Even as a youth, Balaam is described as wise and "an adept in magic." King Agnias, understandably anxious about the impending war, asks Balaam to use his skills to foresee the outcome.

So, what does young Balaam do? He takes wax and molds figures of men, representing both the African army and the Egyptian army. Then, he plunges these figures into "magic water" and watches them swim. The result? The African army, Agnias' army, is subdued by the Egyptians.

Based on this magical divination, Agnias calls off the campaign. Imagine the frustration of Zepho! He's been working so hard to instigate this war, and now it's all for naught. Seeing that he can't persuade his king to attack the Israelites, Zepho makes a drastic decision: he flees the country and goes to Kittim.

What does this tell us? It's a fascinating glimpse into a world where political decisions were influenced by both military strategy and magical omens. A world where a teenager's sorcery could avert a war. And, perhaps, it's a reminder that even the most ambitious plans can be thwarted by unexpected forces. What motivates Zepho? Is it strategic advantage, or something more personal? The text doesn't say, leaving us to wonder about the motivations of this captain who would rather flee than accept peace. Perhaps, in Zepho's mind, some conflicts are simply unavoidable.