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！
the Jews required of the priests a double degree of parity； in
comparison of that required of the people； of which he gives
several instances immediately。 It was for certain the case also
among the first Christians； of the clergy； in comparison of the
laity； as the Apostolical Constitutions and Canons every where
inform us；
（26） We must here note with Reland； that the precept given to the
priests of not drinking wine while they wore the sacred garments；
is equivalent； to their abstinence from it all the while they
ministered in the temple； because they then always； and then
only； wore those sacred garments； which were laid up there from
one time of ministration to another。
（27） See Antiq； B。 XX。 ch。 2。 sect； 6。 and Acts 11：28。
BOOK 4 FOOTNOTES
（1） Reland here takes notice； that although our Bibles say little
or nothing of these riches of Corah； yet that both the Jews and
Mahommedans； as well as Josephus； are full of it。
（2） It appears here； and from the Samaritan Pentateuch； and； in
effect； from the psalmist； as also from the Apostolical
Constitutions； from Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians；
from Ignatius's Epistle to the Magnesians； and from Eusebius；
that Corah was not swallowed up with the Reubenites； but burned
with the Levites of his own tribe。 See Essay on the Old
Testament； p。 64； 65。
（3） Concerning these twelve rods of the twelve tribes of Israel；
see St。 Clement's account； much larger than that in our Bibles； 1
Epist。 sect。 45； as is Josephus's present account in measure
larger also。
（4） Grotius； on Numbers 6：18； takes notice that the Greeks also；
aswell as the Jews； sometimes consecrated the hair of their heads
to the gods。
（5） Josephus here uses this phrase； 〃when the fortieth year was
completed；〃 for when it was begun； as does St。 Luke when the day
of Pentecost was completed；〃 Acts 2：1。
（6） Whether Miriam died； as Josephus's。 Greek copies imply； on
the first day of the month； may be doubted； because the Latin
copies say it was on the tenth； and so say the Jewish calendars
also； as Dr。 Bernard assures us。 It is said her sepulcher is
still extant near Petra； the old capital city of Arabia Petraea；
at this day； as also that of Aaron； not far off。
（7） What Josephus here remarks is well worth our remark in this
place also； viz。 that the Israelites were never to meddle with
the Moabites； or Ammonites； or any other people； but those
belonging to the land of Canaan； and the countries of Sihon and
Og beyond Jordan； as far as the desert and Euphrates； and that
therefore no other people had reason to fear the conquests of the
Israelites； but that those countries given them by God were their
proper and peculiar portion among the nations； and that all who
endeavored to dispossess them might ever be justly destroyed by
them。
（8） Note that Josephus never supposes Balaam to be an idolater；
nor to seek idolatrous enchantments； or to prophesy falsely； but
to be no other than an ill…disposed prophet of the true God； and
intimates that God's answer the second time； permitting him to
go； was ironical； and on design that he deceived （which sort of
deception； by way of punishment for former crimes； Josephus never
scruples to admit； as ever esteeming such wicked men justly and
providentially deceived）。 But perhaps we had better keep here
close to the text which says Numbers 23：20； 21； that God only
permitted Balaam to go along with the ambassadors； in case they
came and called him； or positively insisted on his going along
with them； on any terms； whereas Balaam seems out of impatience
to have risen up in the morning； and saddled his ass； and rather
to have called them； than staid for their calling him； so zealous
does he seem to have been for his reward of divination； his wages
of unrighteousness； Numbers 23：7； 17； 18； 37； 2 Peter 2：15； Jude
5； 11； which reward or wages the truly religious prophets of God
never required nor accepted； as our Josephus justly takes notice
in the cases of Samuel； Antiq。 B。 V。 ch。 4。 sect。 1； and Daniel；
Antiq。 B。 X。 ch。 11。 sect。 3。 See also Genesis 14：22； 23； 2 Kings
5：15； 16； 26； 27； and Acts 8；17…24。
（9） Whether Josephus had in his copy but two attempts of Balaam
in all to curse Israel； or whether by this his twice offering
sacrifice； he meant twice besides that first time already
mentioned； which yet is not very probable； cannot now be
certainly determined。 In the mean time； all other copies have
three such attempts of Balaam to curse them in the present
history。
（10） Such a large and distinct account of this perversion of the
Israelites by the Midianite women； of which our other copies give
us but short intimations； Numbers 31：16 2 Peter 2：15； Jude 11；
Revelation 2：14； is preserved； as Reland informs us； in the
Samaritan Chronicle； in Philo； and in other writings of the Jews；
as well as here by Josephus。
（11） This grand maxim； That God's people of Israel could never be
hurt nor destroyed； but by drawing them to sin against God；
appears to be true； by the entire history of that people； both in
the Bible and in Josephus； and is often taken notice of in them
both。 See in particular a most remarkable Ammonite testimony to
this purpose； Judith 5：5…21。
（12） What Josephus here puts into the mouths of these Midianite
women； who came to entice the Israelites to lewdness and
idolatry； viz。 that their worship of the God of Israel； in
opposition to their idol gods； implied their living according to
the holy laws which the true God had given them by Moses； in
opposition to those impure laws which were observed under their
false gods； well deserves our consideration； and gives us a
substantial reason for the great concern that was ever shown
under the law of Moses to preserve the Israelites from idolatry；
and in the worship of the true God； it being of no less
consequence than； Whether God's people should be governed by the
holy laws of the true God； or by the impure laws derived from
demons； under the pagan idolatry。
（13） The mistake in all Josephus's copies； Greek and Latin which
have here fourteen thousand instead of twenty…four thousand； is
so flagrant； that our very learned editors； Bernard and Hudson；
have put the latter number directly into the text。 I choose
rather to put it in brackets。
（14） The slaughter of all the Midianite women that had
prostituted themselves to the lewd Israelites； and the
preservation of those that had not been guilty therein； the last
of which were no fewer than thirty…two thousand； both here and
Numbers 31：15…17； 35； 40； 46； and both by the particular command
of God； are highly remarkable； and show that； even in nations
otherwise for their wickedness doomed to destruction； the
innocent were sometimes particularly and providentially taken
care of； and delivered from that destruction； which directly
implies； that it was the wickedness of the nations of Canaan； and
nothing else； that occasioned their excision。 See Genesis 15；16；
1 Samuel 15：18； 33； Apost。 Constit。 B。 VIII。 ch。 12。 p。 402。 In
the first of which places； the reason of the delay of the
punishment of the Amorites is given； because 〃their iniquity was
not yet full。〃 I