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Oracle。 Now this breastplate； and this sardonyx； left off shining
two hundred years before I composed this book； God having been
displeased at the transgressions of his laws。 Of which things we
shall further discourse on a fitter opportunity； but I will now
go on with my proposed narration。
10。 The tabernacle being now consecrated； and a regular order
being settled for the priests； the multitude judged that God now
dwelt among them； and betook themselves to sacrifices and praises
to God as being now delivered from all expectation of evils and
as entertaining a hopeful prospect of better times hereafter。
They offered also gifts to God some as common to the whole
nation； and others as peculiar to themselves； and these tribe by
tribe； for the heads of the tribes combined together； two by two；
and brought a waggon and a yoke of oxen。 These amounted to six；
and they carried the tabernacle when they journeyed。 Besides
which； each head of a tribe brought a bowl； and a charger； and a
spoon； of ten darics； full of incense。 Now the charger and the
bowl were of silver； and together they weighed two hundred
shekels； but the bowl cost no more than seventy shekels； and
these were full of fine flour mingled with oil； such as they used
on the altar about the sacrifices。 They brought also a young
bullock； and a ram； with a lamb of a year old； for a whole
burnt…offering； as also a goat for the forgiveness of sins。 Every
one of the heads of the tribes brought also other sacrifices；
called peace…offerings； for every day two bulls； and five rams；
with lambs of a year old； and kids of the goats。 These heads of
tribes were twelve days in sacrificing； one sacrificing every
day。 Now Moses went no longer up to Mount Sinai； but went into
the tabernacle； and learned of God what they were to do； and what
laws should be made； which laws were preferable to what have been
devised by human understanding； and proved to be firmly observed
for all time to come； as being believed to be the gift of God；
insomuch that the Hebrews did not transgress any of those laws；
either as tempted in times of peace by luxury； or in times of war
by distress of affairs。 But I say no more here concerning them；
because I have resolved to compose another work concerning our
laws。
CHAPTER 9。
The Manner Of Our Offering Sacrifices。
1。 I Will now； however； make mention of a few of our laws which
belong to purifications； and the like sacred offices； since I am
accidentally come to this matter of sacrifices。 These sacrifices
were of two sorts； of those sorts one was offered for private
persons； and the other for the people in general； and they are
done in two different ways。 In the one case； what is slain is
burnt； as a whole burnt…offering； whence that name is given to
it； but the other is a thank…offering； and is designed for
feasting those that sacrifice。 I will speak of the former。
Suppose a private man offer a burnt…offering； he must slay either
a bull； a lamb； or a kid of the goats； and the two latter of the
first year； though of bulls he is permitted to sacrifice those of
a greater age； but all burnt…offerings are to be of males。 When
they are slain； the priests sprinkle the blood round about the
altar； they then cleanse the bodies； and divide them into parts；
and salt them with salt； and lay them upon the altar； while the
pieces of wood are piled one upon another； and the fire is
burning； they next cleanse the feet of the sacrifices； and the
inwards； in an accurate manner and so lay them to the rest to be
purged by the fire； while the priests receive the hides。 This is
the way of offering a burnt…offering。
2。 But those that offer thank…offerings do indeed sacrifice the
same creatures； but such as are unblemished； and above a year
old； however； they may take either males or females。 They also
sprinkle the altar with their blood； but they lay upon the altar
the kidneys and the caul； and all the fat； and the lobe of the
liver； together with the rump of the lamb； then； giving the
breast and the right shoulder to the priests； the offerers feast
upon the remainder of the flesh for two days； and what remains
they burn。
3。 The sacrifices for sins are offered in the same manner as is
the thank…offering。 But those who are unable to purchase complete
sacrifices； offer two pigeons； or turtle doves； the one of which
is made a burnt…offering to God； the other they give as food to
the priests。 But we shall treat more accurately about the
oblation of these creatures in our discourse concerning
sacrifices。 But if a person fall into sin by ignorance； he offers
an ewe lamb； or a female kid of the goats； of the same age； and
the priests sprinkle the blood at the altar； not after the former
manner； but at the corners of it。 They also bring the kidneys and
the rest of the fat； together with the lobe of the liver； to the
altar； while the priests bear away the hides and the flesh； and
spend it in the holy place； on the same day； （23） for the law
does not permit them to leave of it until the morning。 But if any
one sin； and is conscious of it himself； but hath nobody that can
prove it upon him； he offers a ram； the law enjoining him so to
do； the flesh of which the priests eat； as before； in the holy
place； on the same day。 And if the rulers offer sacrifices for
their sins； they bring the same oblations that private men do；
only they so far differ； that they are to bring for sacrifices a
bull or a kid of the goats； both males。
4。 Now the law requires； both in private and public sacrifices；
that the finest flour be also brought； for a lamb the measure of
one tenth deal； … for a ram two； … and for a bull three。 This
they consecrate upon the altar； when it is mingled with oil； for
oil is also brought by those that sacrifice； for a bull the half
of an hin； and for a ram the third part of the same measure； and
one quarter of it for a lamb。 This hin is an ancient Hebrew
measure； and is equivalent to two Athenian choas （or congiuses）。
They bring the same quantity of oil which they do of wine； and
they pour the wine about the altar； but if any one does not offer
a complete sacrifice of animals； but brings fine flour only for a
vow； he throws a handful upon the altar as its first…fruits；
while the priests take the rest for their food； either boiled or
mingled with oil； but made into cakes of bread。 But whatsoever it
be that a priest himself offers； it must of necessity be all
burnt。 Now the law forbids us to sacrifice any animal at the same
time with its dam； and； in other cases； not till the eighth day
after its birth。 Other sacrifices there are also appointed for
escaping distempers； or for other occasions； in which
meat…offerings are consumed； together with the animals that are
sacrificed； of which it is not lawful to leave any part till the
next day； only the priests are to take their own share。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning The Festivals； And How Each Day Of Such Festival Is To
Be Observed。
1。 The law requires； that out of the public expenses a lamb of
the first year be killed every day； at the beginning and at the
ending of the day； but on the seventh day； which is called the
Sabbath； they kill two； and sacrifice them in the same manner。 At
the new moon； they both perform the daily sacrifices； and slay
two bulls； with seven lambs of the first year； and a kid of the
goats also； for the expiation of sins； that is； if they have
sinned through ignorance。
2。 But on the seventh month； which the Macedonians call
Hyperberetaeus； they make an addition to those already mentioned；
and sacrifice a bull； a ram； and seven lambs； and a kid of the
goats； for sins。
3。 On the tenth day of the same lunar month； they fast till the
evening； and this day they sacrifice a bull； and two rams； and
seven lambs； and a kid of the goats； for sins。 And； besides
these； they bring two kids of the goats； the one of which is sent
alive out of the limits of the camp into the wilderness for the
scapegoat； and to be an expiation for the sins of the whole
multitude； but the other is brought into a place of great
cleanness； within the limits of the camp； and is there burnt；
with its skin； without any sort of cleansing。 With this goat was
burnt a bull； not brought by the people； but by the high priest；
at his own charges； which； when it was slain； he brought of the
blood into the holy place； together with the blood of the kid of
the goats； and sprinkled the ceiling with his finger seven times；
as also its pavement； and again as often toward the most holy
place； and about the golden altar： he also at last brings it into
the open court； and sprinkles it about the great altar。 Besides
this； they set the extremities； and the kidneys； and the fat；
with the lobe of the liver； upon the altar。 The high priest
likewise presents a ram to God as a burnt…offering。
4。 Upon the fifteenth day of the same month； when the season of
the year is changing for winter； the law enjoins us to pitch
tabernacles in every one of our houses； so that we preserve
ourselves from the cold of that time of the year； as also that
when we should arrive at our own country； and come to that city
which we should have then for our