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of the creatures which men have seen； though Moses said he had
seen such beings near the throne of God。 In this ark he put the
two tables whereon the ten commandments were written； five upon
each table； and two and a half upon each side of them； and this
ark he placed in the most holy place。
6。 But in the holy place he placed a table； like those at Delphi。
Its length was two cubits； and its breadth one cubit； and its
height three spans。 It had feet also； the lower half of which
were complete feet； resembling those which the Dorians put to
their bedsteads； but the upper parts towards the table were
wrought into a square form。 The table had a hollow towards every
side； having a ledge of four fingers' depth； that went round
about like a spiral； both on the upper and lower part of the body
of the work。 Upon every one of the feet was there also inserted a
ring； not far from the cover； through which went bars of wood
beneath； but gilded； to be taken out upon occasion； there being a
cavity where it was joined to the rings； for they were not entire
rings； but before they came quite round they ended in acute
points； the one of which was inserted into the prominent part of
the table； and the other into the foot； and by these it was
carried when they journeyed： Upon this table； which was placed on
the north side of the temple； not far from the most holy place；
were laid twelve unleavened loaves of bread； six upon each heap；
one above another： they were made of two tenth…deals of the
purest flour； which tenth…deal ＇an omer＇ is a measure of the
Hebrews； containing seven Athenian cotyloe； and above those
loaves were put two vials full of frankincense。 Now after seven
days other loaves were brought in their stead； on the day which
is by us called the Sabbath； for we call the seventh day the
Sabbath。 But for the occasion of this intention of placing loaves
here； we will speak to it in another place。
7。 Over against this table； near the southern wall； was set a
candlestick of cast gold； hollow within； being of the weight of
one hundred pounds； which the Hebrews call Chinchares ；。 if it be
turned into the Greek language； it denotes a talent。 It was' made
with its knops； and lilies； and pomegranates； and bowls （which
ornaments amounted to seventy in all）； by which means the shaft
elevated itself on high from a single base； and spread itself
into as many branches as there are planets； including the sun
among them。 It terminated in seven heads； in one row； all
standing parallel to one another； and these branches carried
seven lamps； one by one； in imitation of the number of the
planets。 These lamps looked to the east and to the south； the
candlestick being situate obliquely。
8。 Now between this candlestick and the table； which； as we said；
were within the sanctuary； was the altar of incense； made of wood
indeed； but of the same wood of which the foregoing vessels were
made； such as was not liable to corruption； it was entirely
crusted over with a golden plate。 Its breadth on each side was a
cubit； but the altitude double。 Upon it was a grate of gold； that
was extant above the altar； which had a golden crown encompassing
it round about； whereto belonged rings and bars； by which the
priests carried it when they journeyed。 Before this tabernacle
there was reared a brazen altar； but it was within made of wood；
five cubits by measure on each side； but its height was but
three； in like manner adorned with brass plates as bright as
gold。 It had also a brazen hearth of network； for the ground
underneath received the fire from the hearth； because it had no
basis to receive it。 Hard by this altar lay the basins； and the
vials； and the censers； and the caldrons； made of gold； but the
other vessels； made for the use of the sacrifices； were all of
brass。 And such was the construction of the tabernacle； and these
were the vessels thereto belonging。
CHAPTER 7。
Concerning The Garments Of The Priests； And Of The High Priest。
1。 There were peculiar garments appointed for the priests； and
for all the rest； which they call Cohanoeoe ＇…priestly＇ garments；
as also for the high priests； which they call Cahanoeoe Rabbae；
and denote the high priest's garments。 Such was therefore the
habit of the rest。 But when the priest approaches the sacrifices；
he purifies himself with the purification which the law
prescribes； and； in the first place； he puts on that which is
called Machanase； which means somewhat that is fast tied。 It is a
girdle； composed of fine twined linen； and is put about the privy
parts； the feet being to be inserted into them in the nature of
breeches； but above half of it is cut off； and it ends at the
thighs； and is there tied fast。
2。 Over this he wore a linen vestment； made of fine flax doubled：
it is called Chethone； and denotes linen； for we call linen by
the name of Chethone。 This vestment reaches down to the feet； and
sits close to the body； and has sleeves that are tied fast to the
arms： it is girded to the breast a little above the elbows； by a
girdle often going round； four fingers broad； but so loosely
woven； that you would think it were the skin of a serpent。 It is
embroidered with flowers of scarlet； and purple； and blue； and
fine twined linen； but the warp was nothing but fine linen。 The
beginning of its circumvolution is at the breast； and when it has
gone often round； it is there tied； and hangs loosely there down
to the ankles： I mean this； all the time the priest is not about
any laborious service； for in this position it appears in the
most agreeable manner to the spectators； but when he is obliged
to assist at the offering sacrifices； and to do the appointed
service； that he may not be hindered in his operations by its
motion； he throws it to the left； and bears it on his shoulder。
Moses indeed calls this belt Albaneth； but we have learned from
the Babylonians to call it Emia； for so it is by them called。
This vestment has no loose or hollow parts any where in it； but
only a narrow aperture about the neck； and it is tied with
certain strings hanging down from the edge over the breast and
back； and is fastened above each shoulder： it is called
Massabazanes。
3。 Upon his head he wears a cap； not brought to a conic form nor
encircling the whole head； but still covering more than the half
of it； which is called Masnaemphthes； and its make is such that
it seems to be a crown； being made of thick swathes； but the
contexture is of linen； and it is doubled round many times； and
sewed together； besides which； a piece of fine linen covers the
whole cap from the upper part； and reaches down to the forehead；
and hides the seams of the swathes； which would otherwise appear
indecently： this adheres closely upon the solid part of the head；
and is thereto so firmly fixed； that it may not fall off during
the sacred service about the sacrifices。 So we have now shown you
what is the habit of the generality of the priests。
4。 The high priest is indeed adorned with the same garments that
we have described； without abating one； only over these he puts
on a vestment of a blue color。 This also is a long robe； reaching
to his feet； ＇in our language it is called 。Meeir；＇ and is tied
round with a girdle； embroidered with the same colors and flowers
as the former； with a mixture of gold interwoven。 To the bottom
of which garment are hung fringes； in color like pomegranates；
with golden bells （13） by a curious and beautiful contrivance； so
that between two bells hangs a pomegranate； and between two
pomegranates a bell。 Now this vesture was not composed of two
pieces； nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and the
sides； but it was one long vestment so woven as to have an
aperture for the neck； not an oblique one； but parted all along
the breast and the back。 A border also was sewed to it； lest the
aperture should look too indecently： it was also parted where the
hands were to come out。
5。 Besides these； the high priest put on a third garment； which
was called the Ephod； which resembles the Epomis of the Greeks。
Its make was after this manner： it was woven to the depth of a
cubit； of several colors； with gold intermixed； and embroidered；
but it left the middle of the breast uncovered： it was made with
sleeves also； nor did it appear to be at all differently made
from a short coat。 But in the void place of this garment there
was inserted a piece of the bigness of a span； embroidered with
gold； and the other colors of the ephod； and was called Essen；
＇the breastplate；＇ 。which in the Greek language signifies the
Oracle。 This piece exactly filled up the void space in the ephod。
It was united to it by golden rings at every corner； the like
rings being annexed to the ephod； and a blue riband was made use
of to tie them together by those rings； and that the space
between the rings might not appear empty； they contrived to fill
it up with stitches of blue ribands。 There were also two
sardonyxes upon the ephod； at the shoulders； to fasten it in the
nature of buttons； having each end running to the sardonyxes of
gold； that they might be buttoned by them。 On these were engraven
the names of the sons of Jacob； in our own