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gold； that they might be buttoned by them。 On these were engraven
the names of the sons of Jacob； in our own country letters； and
in our own tongue； six on each of the stones； on either side； and
the elder sons' names were on the right shoulder。 Twelve stones
also there were upon the breast…plate； extraordinary in largeness
and beauty； and they were an ornament not to be purchased by men；
because of their immense value。 These stones； however； stood in
three rows； by four in a row； and were inserted into the
breastplate itself； and they were set in ouches of gold； that
were themselves inserted in the breastplate； and were so made
that they might not fall out low the first three stones were a
sardonyx； a topaz； and an emerald。 The second row contained a
carbuncle； a jasper； and a sapphire。 The first of the third row
was a ligure； then an amethyst； and the third an agate； being the
ninth of the whole number。 The first of the fourth row was a
chrysolite； the next was an onyx； and then a beryl； which was the
last of all。 Now the names of all those sons of Jacob were
engraven in these stones； whom we esteem the heads of our tribes；
each stone having the honor of a name； in the order according to
which they were born。 And whereas the rings were too weak of
themselves to bear the weight of the stones； they made two other
rings of a larger size； at the edge of that part of the
breastplate which reached to the neck； and inserted into the very
texture of the breastplate； to receive chains finely wrought；
which connected them with golden bands to the tops of the
shoulders； whose extremity turned backwards； and went into the
ring； on the prominent back part of the ephod； and this was for
the security of the breastplate； that it might not fall out of
its place。 There was also a girdle sewed to the breastplate；
which was of the forementioned colors； with gold intermixed；
which； when it had gone once round； was tied again upon the seam；
and hung down。 There were also golden loops that admitted its
fringes at each extremity of the girdle； and included them
entirely。
6。 The high priest's mitre was the same that we described before；
and was wrought like that of all the other priests； above which
there was another； with swathes of blue embroidered； and round it
was a golden crown polished； of three rows； one above another；
out of which arose a cup of gold； which resembled the herb which
we call Saccharus； but those Greeks that are skillful in botany
call it Hyoscyamus。 Now； lest any one that has seen this herb；
but has not been taught its name； and is unacquainted with its
nature； or； having known its name； knows not the herb when he
sees it； I shall give such ；as these are a description of it。
This herb is oftentimes in tallness above three spans； but its
root is like that of a turnip （for he that should compare it
thereto would not be mistaken）； but its leaves are like the
leaves of mint。 Out of its branches it sends out a calyx；
cleaving。 to the branch； and a coat encompasses it； which it
naturally puts off when it is changing； in order to produce its
fruit。 This calyx is of the bigness of the bone of the little
finger； but in the compass of its aperture is like a cup。 This I
will further describe； for the use of those that are unacquainted
with it。 Suppose a sphere be divided into two parts； round at the
bottom； but having another segment that grows up to a
circumference from that bottom； suppose it become narrower by
degrees； and that the cavity of that part grow decently smaller；
and then gradually grow wider again at the brim； such as we see
in the navel of a pomegranate； with its notches。 And indeed such
a coat grows over this plant as renders it a hemisphere； and
that； as one may say； turned accurately in a lathe； and having
its notches extant above it； which； as I said； grow like a
pomegranate； only that they are sharp； and end in nothing but
prickles。 Now the fruit is preserved by this coat of the calyx；
which fruit is like the seed of the herb Sideritis： it sends out
a flower that may seem to resemble that of poppy。 Of this was a
crown made； as far from the hinder part of the head to each of
the temples； but this Ephielis； for so this calyx may be called；
did not cover the forehead； but it was covered with a golden
plate； （14） which had inscribed upon it the name of God in sacred
characters。 And such were the ornaments of the high priest。
7。 Now here one may wonder at the ill…will which men bear to us；
and which they profess to bear on account of our despising that
Deity which they pretend to honor； for if any one do but consider
the fabric of the tabernacle； and take a view of the garments of
the high priest； and of those vessels which we make use of in our
sacred ministration； he will find that our legislator was a
divine man； and that we are unjustly reproached by others； for if
any one do without prejudice； and with judgment； look upon these
things； he will find they were every one made in way of imitation
and representation of the universe。 When Moses distinguished the
tabernacle into three parts； （15） and allowed two of them to the
priests； as a place accessible and common； he denoted the land
and the sea； these being of general access to all； but he set
apart the third division for God； because heaven is inaccessible
to men。 And when he ordered twelve loaves to be set on the table；
he denoted the year； as distinguished into so many months。 By
branching out the candlestick into seventy parts； he secretly
intimated the Decani； or seventy divisions of the planets； and as
to the seven lamps upon the candlesticks； they referred to the
course of the planets； of which that is the number。 The veils；
too； which were composed of four things； they declared the four
elements； for the fine linen was proper to signify the earth；
because the flax grows out of the earth； the purple signified the
sea； because that color is dyed by the blood of a sea shell…fish；
the blue is fit to signify the air； and the scarlet will
naturally be an indication of fire。 Now the vestment of the high
priest being made of linen； signified the earth； the blue denoted
the sky； being like lightning in its pomegranates； and in the
noise of the bells resembling thunder。 And for the ephod； it
showed that God had made the universe of four elements； and as
for the gold interwoven； I suppose it related to the splendor by
which all things are enlightened。 He also appointed the
breastplate to be placed in the middle of the ephod； to resemble
the earth； for that has the very middle place of the world。 And
the girdle which encompassed the high priest round； signified the
ocean； for that goes round about and includes the universe。 Each
of the sardonyxes declares to us the sun and the moon； those； I
mean； that were in the nature of buttons on the high priest's
shoulders。 And for the twelve stones； whether we understand by
them the months； or whether we understand the like number of the
signs of that circle which the Greeks call the Zodiac； we shall
not be mistaken in their meaning。 And for the mitre； which was of
a blue color； it seems to me to mean heaven； for how otherwise
could the name of God be inscribed upon it？ That it was also
illustrated with a crown； and that of gold also； is because of
that splendor with which God is pleased。 Let this explication
（16） suffice at present； since the course of my narration will
often； and on many occasions； afford me the opportunity of
enlarging upon the virtue of our legislator。
CHAPTER 8。
Of The Priesthood Of Aaron。
1。 When what has been described was brought to a conclusion；
gifts not being yet presented； God appeared to Moses； and
enjoined him to bestow the high priesthood upon Aaron his
brother； as upon him that best of them all deserved to obtain
that honor； on account of his virtue。 And when he had gathered
the multitude together； he gave them an account of Aaron's
virtue； and of his good…will to them； and of the dangers he had
undergone for their sakes。 Upon which； when they had given
testimony to him in all respects； and showed their readiness to
receive him； Moses said to them； 〃O you Israelites； this work is
already brought to a conclusion； in a manner most acceptable to
God； and according to our abilities。 And now since you see that
he is received into this tabernacle； we shall first of all stand
in need of one that may officiate for us； and may minister to the
sacrifices； and to the prayers that are to be put up for us。 And
indeed had the inquiry after such a person been left to me； I
should have thought myself worthy of this honor； both because all
men are naturally fond of themselves； and because I am conscious
to myself that I have taken a great deal of pains for your
deliverance； but now God himself has determined that Aaron is
worthy of this honor； and has chosen him for his priest； as
knowing him to be the most righteous person among you。 So that he
is to put on the vestments which are consecrated to God； he is to
have the care of the altars； and to make provision for the
sacrifices； and he it is that must put up prayers for you to God；
who will readily hear them； not only beca