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bright； and had a terrible flame； such as is kindled at the
command of God； by whose irruption on them； all the company； and
Corah himself； were destroyed； （2） and this so entirely； that
their very bodies left no remains behind them。 Aaron alone was
preserved； and not at all hurt by the fire； because it was God
that sent the fire to burn those only who ought to be burned。
Hereupon Moses； after these men were destroyed； was desirous that
the memory of this judgment might be delivered down to posterity；
and that future ages might be acquainted with it； and so he
commanded Eleazar； the son of Aaron； to put their censers near
the brazen altar； that they might be a memorial to posterity of
what these men suffered； for supposing that the power of God
might be eluded。 And thus Aaron was now no longer esteemed to
have the priesthood by the favor of Moses； but by the public
judgment of God； and thus he and his children peaceably enjoyed
that honor afterward。
CHAPTER 4。
What Happened To The Hebrews During Thirty…Eight Years In The
Wilderness。
1。 However； this sedition was so far from ceasing upon this
destruction； that it grew much stronger； and became more
intolerable。 And the occasion of its growing worse was of that
nature； as made it likely the calamity would never cease； but
last for a long time； for the men； believing already that nothing
is done without the providence of God； would have it that these
things came thus to pass not without God's favor to Moses； they
therefore laid the blame upon him that God was so angry； and that
this happened not so much because of the wickedness of those that
were punished； as because Moses procured the punishment； and that
these men had been destroyed without any sin of theirs； only
because they were zealous about the Divine worship； as also； that
he who had been the cause of this diminution of the people； by
destroying so many men； and those the most excellent of them all；
besides his escaping any punishment himself； had now given the
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 offer