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time appointed for them； they perform their sacrifices； the
priests distribute them before God。
6。 But if any one suspect that his wife has been guilty of
adultery； he was to bring a tenth deal of barley flour； they then
cast one handful to God and gave the rest of it to the priests
for food。 One of the priests set the woman at the gates that are
turned towards the temple； and took the veil from her head； and
wrote the name of God on parchment； and enjoined her to swear
that she had not at all injured her husband； and to wish that； if
she had violated her chastity； her right thigh might be put out
of joint； that her belly might swell； and that she might die
thus： but that if her husband； by the violence of his affection；
and of the jealousy which arose from it； had been rashly moved to
this suspicion； that she might bear a male child in the tenth
month。 Now when these oaths were over； the priest wiped the name
of God out of the parchment； and wrung the water into a vial。 He
also took some dust out of the temple； if any happened to be
there； and put a little of it into the vial； and gave it her to
drink； whereupon the woman； if she were unjustly accused；
conceived with child； and brought it to perfection in her womb：
but if she had broken her faith of wedlock to her husband； and
had sworn falsely before God； she died in a reproachful manner；
her thigh fell off from her； and her belly swelled with a dropsy。
And these are the ceremonies about sacrifices； and about the
purifications thereto belonging； which Moses provided for his
countrymen。 He also prescribed the following laws to them： …
CHAPTER 12。
Several Laws。
1。 As for adultery； Moses forbade it entirely； as esteeming it a
happy thing that men should be wise in the affairs of wedlock；
and that it was profitable both to cities and families that
children should be known to be genuine。 He also abhorred men's
lying with their mothers； as one of the greatest crimes； and the
like for lying with the father's wife； and with aunts； and
sisters； and sons' wives； as all instances of abominable
wickedness。 He also forbade a man to lie with his wife when she
was defiled by her natural purgation： and not to come near brute
beasts； nor to approve of the lying with a male； which was to
hunt after unlawful pleasures on account of beauty。 To those who
were guilty of such insolent behavior； he ordained death for
their punishment。
2。 As for the priests； he prescribed to them a double degree of
purity （25） for he restrained them in the instances above； and
moreover forbade them to marry harlots。 He also forbade them to
marry a slave； or a captive； and such as got their living by
cheating trades； and by keeping inns； as also a woman parted from
her husband； on any account whatsoever。 Nay； he did not think it
proper for the high priest to marry even the widow of one that
was dead； though he allowed that to the priests； but he permitted
him only to marry a virgin； and to retain her。 Whence it is that
the high priest is not to come near to one that is dead； although
the rest are not prohibited from coming near to their brethren；
or parents； or children； when they are dead； but they are to be
unblemished in all respects。 He ordered that the priest who had
any blemish； should have his portion indeed among the priests；
but he forbade him to ascend the altar； or to enter into the holy
house。 He also enjoined them； not only to observe purity in their
sacred ministrations； but in their daily conversation； that it
might be unblamable also。 And on this account it is that those
who wear the sacerdotal garments are without spot； and eminent
for their purity and sobriety： nor are they permitted to drink
wine so long as they wear those garments。 （26） Moreover； they
offer sacrifices that are entire； and have no defect whatsoever。
3。 And truly Moses gave them all these precepts； being such as
were observed during his own lifetime； but though he lived now in
the wilderness； yet did he make provision how they might observe
the same laws when they should have taken the land of Canaan。 He
gave them rest to the land from ploughing and planting every
seventh year； as he had prescribed to them to rest from working
every seventh day； and ordered； that then what grew of its own
accord out of the earth should in common belong to all that
pleased to use it； making no distinction in that respect between
their own countrymen and foreigners： and he ordained； that they
should do the same after seven times seven years； which in all
are fifty years； and that fiftieth year is called by the Hebrews
The Jubilee； wherein debtors are freed from their debts； and
slaves are set at liberty； which slaves became such； though they
were of the same stock； by transgressing some of those laws the
punishment of which was not capital； but they were punished by
this method of slavery。 This year also restores the land to its
former possessors in the manner following： … When the Jubilee is
come； which name denotes liberty； he that sold the land； and he
that bought it； meet together； and make an estimate； on one hand；
of the fruits gathered； and； on the other hand； of the expenses
laid out upon it。 If the fruits gathered come to more than the
expenses laid out； he that sold it takes the land again； but if
the expenses prove more than the fruits； the present possessor
receives of the former owner the difference that was wanting； and
leaves the land to him； and if the fruits received； and the
expenses laid out； prove equal to one another； the present
possessor relinquishes it to the former owners。 Moses would have
the same law obtain as to those houses also which were sold in
villages； but he made a different law for such as were sold in a
city； for if he that sold it tendered the purchaser his money
again within a year； he was forced to restore it； but in case a
whole year had intervened； the purchaser was to enjoy what he had
bought。 This was the constitution of the laws which Moses learned
of God when the camp lay under Mount Sinai； and this he delivered
in writing to the Hebrews。
4。 Now when this settlement of laws seemed to be well over； Moses
thought fit at length to take a review of the host； as thinking
it proper to settle the affairs of war。 So he charged the heads
of the tribes； excepting the tribe of Levi； to take an exact
account of the number of those that were able to go to war； for
as to the Levites； they were holy； and free from all such
burdens。 Now when the people had been numbered； there were found
six hundred thousand that were able to go to war； from twenty to
fifty years of age； besides three thousand six hundred and fifty。
Instead of Levi； Moses took Manasseh； the son of Joseph； among
the heads of tribes； and Ephraim instead of Joseph。 It was indeed
the desire of Jacob himself to Joseph； that he would give him his
sons to be his own by adoption； as I have before related。
5。 When they set up the tabernacle； they received it into the
midst of their camp； three of the tribes pitching their tents on
each side of it； and roads were cut through the midst of these
tents。 It was like a well…appointed market； and every thing was
there ready for sale in due order； and all sorts of artificers
were in the shops； and it resembled nothing so much as a city
that sometimes was movable； and sometimes fixed。 The priests had
the first places about the tabernacle； then the Levites； who；
because their whole multitude was reckoned from thirty days old；
were twenty…three thousand eight hundred and eighty males； and
during the time that the cloud stood over the tabernacle； they
thought proper to stay in the same place； as supposing that God
there inhabited among them； but when that removed； they journeyed
also。
6。 Moreover； Moses was the inventor of the form of their trumpet；
which was made of silver。 Its description is this： … In length it
was little less than a cubit。 It was composed of a narrow tube；
somewhat thicker than a flute； but with so much breadth as was
sufficient for admission of the breath of a man's mouth： it ended
in the form of a bell； like common trumpets。 Its sound was called
in the Hebrew tongue Asosra。 Two of these being made； one of them
was sounded when they required the multitude to come together to
congregations。 When the first of them gave a signal； the heads of
the tribes were to assemble； and consult about the affairs to
them properly belonging； but when they gave the signal by both of
them； they called the multitude together。 Whenever the tabernacle
was removed； it was done in this solemn order： … At the first
alarm of the trumpet； those whose tents were on the east quarter
prepared to remove； when the second signal was given； those that
were on the south quarter did the like； in the next place； the
tabernacle was taken to pieces； and was carried in the midst of
six tribes that went before； and of six that followed； all the
Levites assisting about the tabernacle； when the third signal was
given； that part which had their tents towards the west put
themselves in motion； and at the fourth signal those on the north
did so likewise。 They also made use of these trumpets in thei