按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
priesthood to his brother so firmly； that nobody could any longer
dispute it with him； for no one else； to be sure； could now put
in for it； since he must have seen those that first did so to
have miserably perished。 Nay； besides this； the kindred of those
that were destroyed made great entreaties to the multitude to
abate the arrogance of Moses； because it would be safest for them
so to do。
2。 Now Moses； upon his hearing for a good while that the people
were tumultuous； was afraid that they would attempt some other
innovation； and that some great and sad calamity would be the
consequence。 He called the multitude to a congregation； and
patiently heard what apology they had to make for themselves；
without opposing them； and this lest he should imbitter the
multitude： he only desired the heads of the tribes to bring their
rods； （3） with the names of their tribes inscribed upon them； and
that he should receive the priesthood in whose rod God should
give a sign。 This was agreed to。 So the rest brought their rods；
as did Aaron also； who had written the tribe of Levi on his rod。
These rods Moses laid up in the tabernacle of God。 On the next
day he brought out the rods； which were known from one another by
those who brought them； they having distinctly noted them； as had
the multitude also； and as to the rest； in the same form Moses
had received them； in that they saw them still； but they also saw
buds and branches grown out of Aaron's rod； with ripe fruits upon
them； they were almonds； the rod having been cut out of that
tree。 The people were so amazed at this strange sight； that
though Moses and Aaron were before under some degree of hatred；
they now laid that hatred aside； and began to admire the judgment
of God concerning them； so that hereafter they applauded what God
had decreed； and permitted Aaron to enjoy the priesthood
peaceably。 And thus God ordained him priest three several times；
and he retained that honor without further disturbance。 And
hereby this sedition of the Hebrews； which had been a great one；
and had lasted a great while； was at last composed。
3。 And now Moses； because the tribe of Levi was made free from
war and warlike expeditions； and was set apart for the Divine
worship； lest they should want and seek after the necessaries of
life； and so neglect the temple； commanded the Hebrews； according
to the will of God； that when they should gain the possession of
the land of Canaan； they should assign forty…eight good and fair
cities to the Levites； and permit them to enjoy their suburbs； as
far as the limit of two thousand cubits would extend from the
walls of the city。 And besides this； he appointed that the people
should pay the tithe of their annual fruits of the earth； both to
the Levites and to the priests。 And this is what that tribe
receives of the multitude； but I think it necessary to set down
what is paid by all； peculiarly to the priests。
4。 Accordingly he commanded the Levites to yield up to the
priests thirteen of their forty…eight cities； and to set apart
for them the tenth part of the tithes which they every year
receive of the people； as also； that it was but just to offer to
God the first…fruits of the entire product of the ground； and
that they should offer the first…born of those four…footed beasts
that are appointed for sacrifices； if it be a male； to the
priests； to be slain； that they and their entire families may eat
them in the holy city； but that the owners of those first…born
which are not appointed for sacrifices in the laws of our
country； should bring a shekel and a half in their stead： but for
the first…born of a man； five shekels： that they should also have
the first…fruits out of the shearing of the sheep； and that when
any baked bread corn； and made loaves of it； they should give
somewhat of what they had baked to them。 Moreover； when any have
made a sacred vow； I mean those that are called Nazarites； that
suffer their hair to grow long； and use no wine； when they
consecrate their hair； （4） and offer it for a sacrifice； they are
to allot that hair for the priests ＇to be thrown into the fire＇。
Such also as dedicate themselves to God； as a corban； which
denotes what the Greeks call a gift； when they are desirous of
being freed from that ministration； are to lay down money for the
priests； thirty shekels if it be a woman； and fifty if it be a
man； but if any be too poor to pay the appointed sum； it shall be
lawful for the priests to determine that sum as they think fit。
And if any slay beasts at home for a private festival； but not
for a religious one； they are obliged to bring the maw and the
cheek； ＇or breast；＇ and the right shoulder of the sacrifice； to
the priests。 With these Moses contrived that the priests should
be plentifully maintained； besides what they had out of those
offerings for sins which the people gave them； as I have set it
down in the foregoing book。 He also ordered； that out of every
thing allotted for the priests； their servants； ＇their sons；＇
their daughters； and their wives； should partake； as well as
themselves； excepting what came to them out of the sacrifices
that were offered for sins； for of those none but the males of
the family of the priests might eat； and this in the temple also；
and that the same day they were offered。
5。 When Moses had made these constitutions； after the sedition
was over； he removed； together with the whole army； and came to
the borders of Idumea。 He then sent ambassadors to the king of
the Idumeans； and desired him to give him a passage through his
country； and agreed to send him what hostages he should desire；
to secure him from an injury。 He desired him also； that he would
allow his army liberty to buy provisions； and； if he insisted
upon it； he would pay down a price for the very water they should
drink。 But the king was not pleased with this embassage from
Moses： nor did he allow a passage for the army； but brought his
people armed to meet Moses； and to hinder them； in case they
should endeavor to force their passage。 Upon which Moses
consulted God by the oracle； who would not have him begin the war
first； and so he withdrew his forces； and traveled round about
through the wilderness。
6。 Then it was that Miriam； the sister of Moses； came to her end；
having completed her fortieth year （5） since she left Egypt； on
the first （6） day of the lunar month Xanthicus。 They then made a
public funeral for her； at a great expense。 She was buried upon a
certain mountain； which they call Sin： and when they had mourned
for her thirty days； Moses purified the people after this manner：
He brought a heifer that had never been used to the plough or to
husbandry； that was complete in all its parts； and entirely of a
red color； at a little distance from the camp； into a place
perfectly clean。 This heifer was slain by the high priest； and
her blood sprinkled with his finger seven times before the
tabernacle of God； after this； the entire heifer was burnt in
that state； together with its skin and entrails； and they threw
cedar…wood； and hyssop； and scarlet wool； into the midst of the
fire； then a clean man gathered all her ashes together； and laid
them in a place perfectly clean。 When therefore any persons were
defiled by a dead body； they put a little of these ashes into
spring water； with hyssop； and； dipping part of these ashes in
it； they sprinkled them with it； both on the third day； and on
the seventh； and after that they were clean。 This he enjoined
them to do also when the tribes should come into their own land。
7。 Now when this purification； which their leader made upon the
mourning for his sister； as it has been now described； was over；
he caused the army to remove and to march through the wilderness
and through Arabia； and when he came to a place which the
Arabians esteem their metropolis； which was formerly called Arce；
but has now the name of Petra； at this place； which was
encompassed with high mountains； Aaron went up one of them in the
sight of the whole army； Moses having before told him that he was
to die； for this place was over against them。 He put off his
pontifical garments； and delivered them to Eleazar his son； to
whom the high priesthood belonged； because he was the elder
brother； and died while the multitude looked upon him。 He died in
the same year wherein he lost his sister； having lived in all a
hundred twenty and three years。 He died on the first day of that
lunar month which is called by the Athenians Hecatombaeon； by the
Macedonians Lous； but by the Hebrews Abba。
CHAPTER 5。
How Moses Conquered Sihon And Og Kings Of The Amorites； And
Destroyed Their Whole Army And Then Divided Their Land By Lot To
Two Tribes And A Half Of The Hebrews。
1。 The people mourned for Aaron thirty days； and when this
mourning was over； Moses removed the army from that place； and
came to the river Arnon； which； issuing out of the mountains of
Arabia； and running through all that wilderness； falls into the
lake Asphaltitis； and becomes the limit between the land of the
Moabites and the land of the Amorites。 This land is fruitful； and
sufficient to maintain a great number of men； with the good
thi