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sacrifices； and he it is that must put up prayers for you to God；
who will readily hear them； not only because he is himself
solicitous for your nation； but also because he will receive them
as offered by one that he hath himself chosen to this office。〃
The Hebrews were pleased with what was said； and they gave their
approbation to him whom God had ordained； for Aaron was of them
all the most deserving of this honor； on account of his own stock
and gift of prophecy； and his brother's virtue。 He had at that
time four sons； Nadab； Abihu； Eleazar； and Ithamar。
2。 Now Moses commanded them to make use of all the utensils which
were more than were necessary to the structure of the tabernacle；
for covering the tabernacle itself； the candlestick； and altar of
incense； and the other vessels； that they might not be at all
hurt when they journeyed； either by the rain； or by the rising of
the dust。 And when he had gathered the multitude together again；
he ordained that they should offer half a shekel for every man；
as an oblation to God； which shekel is a piece among the Hebrews；
and is equal to four Athenian drachmae。 （18） Whereupon they
readily obeyed what Moses had commanded； and the number of the
offerers was six hundred and five thousand five hundred and
fifty。 Now this money that was brought by the men that were free；
was given by such as were about twenty years old； but under
fifty； and what was collected was spent in the uses of the
tabernacle。
3。 Moses now purified the tabernacle and the priests； which
purification was performed after the following manner： … He
commanded them to take five hundred shekels of choice myrrh； an
equal quantity of cassia； and half the foregoing weight of
cinnamon and calamus （this last is a sort of sweet spice）； to
beat them small； and wet them with an bin of oil of olives （an
hin is our own country measure； and contains two Athenian choas；
or congiuses）； then mix them together； and boil them； and prepare
them after the art of the apothecary； and make them into a very
sweet ointment； and afterward to take it to anoint and to purify
the priests themselves； and all the tabernacle； as also the
sacrifices。 There were also many； and those of various kinds； of
sweet spices； that belonged to the tabernacle； and such as were
of very great price； and were brought to the golden altar of
incense； the nature of which I do not now describe； lest it
should be troublesome to my readers； but incense （19） was to be
offered twice a…day； both before sun…rising and at sun…setting。
They were also to keep oil already purified for the lamps； three
of which were to give light all day long； （20） upon the sacred
candlestick； before God； and the rest were to be lighted at the
evening。
4。 Now all was finished。 Besaleel and Aholiab appeared to be the
most skillful of the workmen； for they invented finer works than
what others had done before them； and were of great abilities to
gain notions of what they were formerly ignorant of； and of
these； Besaleel was judged to be the best。 Now the whole time
they were about this work was the interval of seven months； and
after this it was that was ended the first year since their
departure out of Egypt。 But at the beginning of the second year；
on the month Xanthicus； as the Macedonians call it； but on the
month Nisan； as the Hebrews call it； on the new moon； they
consecrated the tabernacle； and all its vessels； which I have
already described。
5。 Now God showed himself pleased with the work of the Hebrews；
and did not permit their labors to be in vain； nor did he disdain
to make use of what they had made； but he came and sojourned with
them； and pitched his tabernacle in the holy house。 And in the
following manner did he come to it： … The sky was clear； but
there was a mist over the tabernacle only； encompassing it； but
not with such a very deep and thick cloud as is seen in the
winter season； nor yet in so thin a one as men might be able to
discern any thing through it； but from it there dropped a sweet
dew； and such a one as showed the presence of God to those that
desired and believed it。
6。 Now when Moses had bestowed such honorary presents on the
workmen； as it was fit they should receive； who had wrought so
well； he offered sacrifices in the open court of the tabernacle；
as God commanded him； a bull； a ram； and a kid of the goats； for
a sin…offering。 Now I shall speak of what we do in our sacred
offices in my discourse about sacrifices； and therein shall
inform men in what cases Moses bid us offer a whole
burnt…offering； and in what cases the law permits us to partake
of them as of food。 And when Moses had sprinkled Aaron's
vestments； himself； and his sons； with the blood of the beasts
that were slain； and had purified them with spring waters and
ointment； they became God's priests。 After this manner did he
consecrate them and their garments for seven days together。 The
same he did to the tabernacle； and the vessels thereto belonging；
both with oil first incensed； as I said； and with the blood of
bulls and of rams； slain day by day one； according to its kind。
But on the eighth day he appointed a feast for the people； and
commanded them to offer sacrifice according to their ability。
Accordingly they contended one with another； and were ambitious
to exceed each other in the sacrifices which they brought； and so
fulfilled Moses's injunctions。 But as the sacrifices lay upon the
altar； a sudden fire was kindled from among them of its own
accord； and appeared to the sight like fire from a flash of
lightning； and consumed whatsoever was upon the altar。
7。 Hereupon an affliction befell Aaron； considered as a man and a
father； but was undergone by him with true fortitude； for he had
indeed a firmness of soul in such accidents； and he thought this
calamity came upon him according to God's will： for whereas he
had four sons； as I said before； the two elder of them； Nadab and
Abihu； did not bring those sacrifices which Moses bade them
bring； but which they used to offer formerly； and were burnt to
death。 Now when the fire rushed upon them； and began to burn
them； nobody could quench it。 Accordingly they died in this
manner。 And Moses bid their father and their brethren to take up
their bodies； to carry them out of the camp； and to bury them
magnificently。 Now the multitude lamented them； and were deeply
affected at this their death； which so unexpectedly befell them。
But Moses entreated their brethren and their father not to be
troubled for them； and to prefer the honor of God before their
grief about them； for Aaron had already put on his sacred
garments。
8。 But Moses refused all that honor which he saw the multitude
ready to bestow upon him； and attended to nothing else but the
service of God。 He went no more up to Mount Sinai； but he went
into the tabernacle； and brought back answers from God for what
he prayed for。 His habit was also that of a private man； and in
all other circumstances he behaved himself like one of the common
people； and was desirous to appear without distinguishing himself
from the multitude； but would have it known that he did nothing
else but take care of them。 He also set down in writing the form
of their government； and those laws by obedience whereto they
would lead their lives so as to please God； and so as to have no
quarrels one among another。 However； the laws he ordained were
such as God suggested to him； so I shall now discourse concerning
that form of government； and those laws。
9。 I will now treat of what I before omitted； the garment of the
high priest： for he ＇Moses＇ left no room for the evil practices
of ＇false＇ prophets； but if some of that sort should attempt to
abuse the Divine authority； he left it to God to be present at
his sacrifices when he pleased； and when he pleased to be absent。
（21） And he was willing this should be known； not to the Hebrews
only； but to those foreigners also who were there。 For as to
those stones； （22） which we told you before； the high priest bare
on his shoulders； which were sardonyxes； （and I think it needless
to describe their nature； they being known to every body；） the
one of them shined out when God was present at their sacrifices；
I mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right
shoulder； bright rays darting out thence； and being seen even by
those that were most remote； which splendor yet was not before
natural to the stone。 This has appeared a wonderful thing to such
as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy； as to
despise Divine revelation。 Yet will I mention what is still more
wonderful than this： for God declared beforehand； by those twelve
stones which the high priest bare on his breast； and which were
inserted into his breastplate； when they should be victorious in
battle； for so great a splendor shone forth from them before the
army began to march； that all the people were sensible of God's
being present for their assistance。 Whence it came to pass that
those Greeks； who had a veneration for our laws； because they
could not possibly contradict this； called that breastplate the
Oracle。 Now this breastplate； and this sardonyx； left off shining