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ourselves from the cold of that time of the year; as also that
when we should arrive at our own country; and come to that city
which we should have then for our metropolis; because of the
temple therein to be built; and keep a festival for eight days;
and offer burnt…offerings; and sacrifice thank…offerings; that we
should then carry in our hands a branch of myrtle; and willow;
and a bough of the palm…tree; with the addition of the pome
citron: That the burnt…offering on the first of those days was to
be a sacrifice of thirteen bulls; and fourteen lambs; and fifteen
rams; with the addition of a kid of the goats; as an expiation
for sins; and on the following days the same number of lambs; and
of rams; with the kids of the goats; but abating one of the bulls
every day till they amounted to seven only。 On the eighth day all
work was laid aside; and then; as we said before; they sacrificed
to God a bullock; a ram; and seven lambs; with a kid of the
goats; for an expiation of sins。 And this is the accustomed
solemnity of the Hebrews; when they pitch their tabernacles。

5。 In the month of Xanthicus; which is by us called Nisan; and is
the beginning of our year; on the fourteenth day of the lunar
month; when the sun is in Aries; (for in this month it was that
we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians;) the law
ordained that we should every year slay that sacrifice which I
before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt; and which was
called the Passover; and so we do celebrate this passover in
companies; leaving nothing of what we sacrifice till the day
following。 The feast of unleavened bread succeeds that of the
passover; and falls on the fifteenth day of the month; and
continues seven days; wherein they feed on unleavened bread; on
every one of which days two bulls are killed; and one ram; and
seven lambs。 Now these lambs are entirely burnt; besides the kid
of the goats which is added to all the rest; for sins; for it is
intended as a feast for the priest on every one of those days。
But on the second day of unleavened bread; which is the sixteenth
day of the month; they first partake of the fruits of the earth;
for before that day they do not touch them。 And while they
suppose it proper to honor God; from whom they obtain this
plentiful provision; in the first place; they offer the
first…fruits of their barley; and that in the manner following:
They take a handful of the ears; and dry them; then beat them
small; and purge the barley from the bran; they then bring one
tenth deal to the altar; to God; and; casting one handful of it
upon the fire; they leave the rest for the use of the priest。 And
after this it is that they may publicly or privately reap their
harvest。 They also at this participation of the first…fruits of
the earth; sacrifice a lamb; as a burnt…offering to God。

6。 When a week of weeks has passed over after this sacrifice;
(which weeks contain forty and nine days;) on the fiftieth day;
which is Pentecost; but is called by the Hebrews Asartha; which
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
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