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！
signifies Pentecost； they bring to God a loaf； made of wheat
flour； of two tenth deals； with leaven； and for sacrifices they
bring two lambs； and when they have only presented them to God；
they are made ready for supper for the priests； nor is it
permitted to leave any thing of them till the day following。 They
also slay three bullocks for a burnt…offering； and two rams； and
fourteen lambs； with two kids of the goats； for sins； nor is
there anyone of the festivals but in it they offer
burnt…offerings； they also allow themselves to rest on every one
of them。 Accordingly； the law prescribes in them all what kinds
they are to sacrifice； and how they are to rest entirely； and
must slay sacrifices； in order to feast upon them。
7。 However； out of the common charges； baked bread ＇was set on
the table of shew…bread＇； without leaven； of twenty…four tenth
deals of flour； for so much is spent upon this bread； two heaps
of these were baked； they were baked the day before the sabbath；
but were brought into the holy place on the morning of the
sabbath； and set upon the holy table； six on a heap； one loaf
still standing over against another； where two golden cups full
of frankincense were also set upon them； and there they remained
till another sabbath； and then other loaves were brought in their
stead； while the loaves were given to the priests for their food；
and the frankincense was burnt in that sacred fire wherein all
their offerings were burnt also； and so other frankincense was
set upon the loaves instead of what was there before。 The ＇high
priest also； of his own charges； offered a sacrifice； and that
twice every day。 It was made of flour mingled with oil； and
gently baked by the fire； the quantity was one tenth deal of
flour； he brought the half of it to the fire in the morning； and
the other half at night。 The account of these sacrifices I shall
give more accurately hereafter； but I think I have premised what
for the present may be sufficient concerning them。
CHAPTER 11。
Of The Purifications。
1。 Moses took out the tribe of Levi from communicating with the
rest of the people； and set them apart to be a holy tribe； and
purified them by water taken from perpetual springs； and with
such sacrifices as were usually offered to God on the like
occasions。 He delivered to them also the tabernacle； and the
sacred vessels； and the other curtains； which were made for
covering the tabernacle； that they might minister under the
conduct of the priests； who had been already consecrated to God。
2。 He also determined concerning animals； which of them might be
used for food； and which they were obliged to abstain from； which
matters； when this work shall give me occasion； shall be further
explained； and the causes shall be added by which he was moved to
allot some of them to be our food； and enjoined us to abstain
from others。 However； he entirely forbade us the use of blood for
food； and esteemed it to contain the soul and spirit。 He also
forbade us to eat the flesh of an animal that died of itself； as
also the caul； and the fat of goats； and sheep； and bulls。
3。 He also ordered that those whose bodies were afflicted with
leprosy； and that had a gonorrhea； should not come into the city；
nay； he removed the women； when they had their natural
purgations； till the seventh day； after which he looked on them
as pure； and permitted them to come in again。 The law permits
those also who have taken care of funerals to come in after the
same manner； when this number of days is over； but if any
continued longer than that number of days in a state of
pollution； the law appointed the offering two lambs for a
sacrifice； the one of which they are to purge by fire； and for
the other； the priests take it for themselves。 In the same manner
do those sacrifice who have had the gonorrhea。 But he that sheds
his seed in his sleep； if he go down into cold water； has the
same privilege with those that have lawfully accompanied with
their wives。 And for the lepers； he suffered them not to come
into the city at all； nor to live with any others； as if they
were in effect dead persons； but if any one had obtained by
prayer to God； the recovery from that distemper； and had gained a
healthful complexion again； such a one returned thanks to God；
with several sorts of sacrifices； concerning which we will speak
hereafter。
4。 Whence one cannot but smile at those who say that Moses was
himself afflicted with the leprosy when he fled out of Egypt； and
that he became the conductor of those who on that account left
that country； and led them into the land of Canaan； for had this
been true； Moses would not have made these laws to his own
dishonor； which indeed it was more likely he would have opposed；
if others had endeavored to introduce them； and this the rather；
because there are lepers in many nations； who yet are in honor；
and not only free from reproach and avoidance； but who have been
great captains of armies； and been intrusted with high offices in
the commonwealth； and have had the privilege of entering into
holy places and temples； so that nothing hindered； but if either
Moses himself； or the multitude that was with him； had been
liable to such a misfortune in the color of his skin； he might
have made laws about them for their credit and advantage； and
have laid no manner of difficulty upon them。 Accordingly； it is a
plain case； that it is out of violent prejudice only that they
report these things about us。 But Moses was pure from any such
distemper； and lived with countrymen who were pure of it also；
and thence made the laws which concerned others that had the
distemper。 He did this for the honor of God。 But as to these
matters； let every one consider them after what manner he
pleases。
5。 As to the women； when they have born a child； Moses forbade
them to come into the temple； or touch the sacrifices； before
forty days were over； supposing it to be a boy； but if she hath
born a girl； the law is that she cannot be admitted before twice
that number of days be over。 And when after the before…mentioned
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 litt