cubit； but the altitude double。 Upon it was a grate of gold； that
was extant above the altar； which had a golden crown encompassing
it round about； whereto belonged rings and bars； by which the
priests carried it when they journeyed。 Before this tabernacle
there was reared a brazen altar； but it was within made of wood；
five cubits by measure on each side； but its height was but
three； in like manner adorned with brass plates as bright as
gold。 It had also a brazen hearth of network； for the ground
underneath received the fire from the hearth； because it had no
basis to receive it。 Hard by this altar lay the basins； and the
vials； and the censers； and the caldrons； made of gold； but the
other vessels； made for the use of the sacrifices； were all of
brass。 And such was the construction of the tabernacle； and these
were the vessels thereto belonging。
CHAPTER 7。
Concerning The Garments Of The Priests； And Of The High Priest。
1。 There were peculiar garments appointed for the priests； and
for all the rest； which they call Cohanoeoe ＇…priestly＇ garments；
as also for the high priests； which they call Cahanoeoe Rabbae；
and denote the high priest's garments。 Such was therefore the
habit of the rest。 But when the priest approaches the sacrifices；
he purifies himself with the purification which the law
prescribes； and； in the first place； he puts on that which is
called Machanase； which means somewhat that is fast tied。 It is a
girdle； composed of fine twined linen； and is put about the privy
parts； the feet being to be inserted into them in the nature of
breeches； but above half of it is cut off； and it ends at the
thighs； and is there tied fast。
2。 Over this he wore a linen vestment； made of fine flax doubled：
it is called Chethone； and denotes linen； for we call linen by
the name of Chethone。 This vestment reaches down to the feet； and
sits close to the body； and has sleeves that are tied fast to the
arms： it is girded to the breast a little above the elbows； by a
girdle often going round； four fingers broad； but so loosely
woven； that you would think it were the skin of a serpent。 It is
embroidered with flowers of scarlet； and purple； and blue； and
fine twined linen； but the warp was nothing but fine linen。 The
beginning of its circumvolution is at the breast； and when it has
gone often round； it is there tied； and hangs loosely there down
to the ankles： I mean this； all the time the priest is not about
any laborious service； for in this position it appears in the
most agreeable manner to the spectators； but when he is obliged
to assist at the offering sacrifices； and to do the appointed
service； that he may not be hindered in his operations by its
motion； he throws it to the left； and bears it on his shoulder。
Moses indeed calls this belt Albaneth； but we have learned from
the Babylonians to call it Emia； for so it is by them called。
This vestment has no loose or hollow parts any where in it； but
only a narrow aperture about the neck； and it is tied with
certain strings hanging down from the edge over the breast and
back； and is fastened above each shoulder： it is called
Massabazanes。
3。 Upon his head he wears a cap； not brought to a conic form nor
encircling the whole head； but still covering more than the half
of it； which is called Masnaemphthes； and its make is such that
it seems to be a crown； being made of thick swathes； but the
contexture is of linen； and it is doubled round many times； and
sewed together； besides which； a piece of fine linen covers the
whole cap from the upper part； and reaches down to the forehead；
and hides the seams of the swathes； which would otherwise appear
indecently： this adheres closely upon the solid part of the head；
and is thereto so firmly fixed； that it may not fall off during
the sacred service about the sacrifices。 So we have now shown you
what is the habit of the generality of the priests。
4。 The high priest is indeed adorned with the same garments that
we have described； without abating one； only over these he puts
on a vestment of a blue color。 This also is a long robe； reaching
to his feet； ＇in our language it is called 。Meeir；＇ and is tied
round with a girdle； embroidered with the same colors and flowers
as the former； with a mixture of gold interwoven。 To the bottom
of which garment are hung fringes； in color like pomegranates；
with golden bells （13） by a curious and beautiful contrivance； so
that between two bells hangs a pomegranate； and between two
pomegranates a bell。 Now this vesture was not composed of two
pieces； nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and the
sides； but it was one long vestment so woven as to have an
aperture for the neck； not an oblique one； but parted all along
the breast and the back。 A border also was sewed to it； lest the
aperture should look too indecently： it was also parted where the
hands were to come out。
5。 Besides these； the high priest put on a third garment； which
was called the Ephod； which resembles the Epomis of the Greeks。
Its make was after this manner： it was woven to the depth of a
cubit； of several colors； with gold intermixed； and embroidered；
but it left the middle of the breast uncovered： it was made with
sleeves also； nor did it appear to be at all differently made
from a short coat。 But in the void place of this garment there
was inserted a piece of the bigness of a span； embroidered with
gold； and the other colors of the ephod； and was called Essen；
＇the breastplate；＇ 。which in the Greek language signifies the
Oracle。 This piece exactly filled up the void space in the ephod。
It was united to it by golden rings at every corner； the like
rings being annexed to the ephod； and a blue riband was made use
of to tie them together by those rings； and that the space
between the rings might not appear empty； they contrived to fill
it up with stitches of blue ribands。 There were also two
sardonyxes upon the ephod； at the shoulders； to fasten it in the
nature of buttons； having each end running to the sardonyxes of
gold； that they might be buttoned by them。 On these were engraven
the names of the sons of Jacob； in our own country letters； and
in our own tongue； six on each of the stones； on either side； and
the elder sons' names were on the right shoulder。 Twelve stones
also there were upon the breast…plate； extraordinary in largeness
and beauty； and they were an ornament not to be purchased by men；
because of their immense value。 These stones； however； stood in
three rows； by four in a row； and were inserted into the
breastplate itself； and they were set in ouches of gold； that
were themselves inserted in the breastplate； and were so made
that they might not fall out low the first three stones were a
sardonyx； a topaz； and an emerald。 The second row contained a
carbuncle； a jasper； and a sapphire。 The first of the third row
was a ligure； then an amethyst； and the third an agate； being the
ninth of the whole number。 The first of the fourth row was a
chrysolite； the next was an onyx； and then a beryl； which was the
last of all。 Now the names of all those sons of Jacob were
engraven in these stones； whom we esteem the heads of our tribes；
each stone having the honor of a name； in the order according to
which they were born。 And whereas the rings were too weak of
themselves to bear the weight of the stones； they made two other
rings of a larger size； at the edge of that part of the
breastplate which reached to the neck； and inserted into the very
texture of the breastplate； to receive chains finely wrought；
which connected them with golden bands to the tops of the
shoulders； whose extremity turned backwards； and went into the
ring； on the prominent back part of the ephod； and this was for
the security of the breastplate； that it might not fall out of
its place。 There was also a girdle sewed to the breastplate；
which was of the forementioned colors； with gold intermixed；
which； when it had gone once round； was tied again upon the seam；
and hung down。 There were also golden loops that admitted its
fringes at each extremity of the girdle； and included them
entirely。
6。 The high priest's mitre was the same that we described before；
and was wrought like that of all the other priests； above which
there was another； with swathes of blue embroidered； and round it
was a golden crown polished； of three rows； one above another；
out of which arose a cup of gold； which resembled the herb which
we call Saccharus； but those Greeks that are skillful in botany
call it Hyoscyamus。 Now； lest any one that has seen this herb；
but has not been taught its name； and is unacquainted with its
nature； or； having known its name； knows not the herb when he
sees it； I shall give such ；as these are a description of it。
This herb is oftentimes in tallness above three spans； but its
root is like that of a turnip （for he that should compare it
thereto would not be mistaken）； but its leaves are like the
leaves of mint。 Out of its branches it sends out a calyx；
cleaving。 to the branch； and a coat encompasses it； which it
naturally puts off when it is changing； in order to produce its
fruit。 This calyx is of the bigness of the bone of the little
finger； but in the compass of its aperture is like a cup。 This I
will further describe； for the use of those that are unacquainted
with it。 Suppose a sphere be divided into two parts； round at the
bottom； but having another segment that grows up to a
circumference from that bottom； suppose it become narrower by
degrees； and that the cavity of that part grow decently smaller；
and then gradually grow wider again at the brim； such as we see
in the navel of a pomegranate； with its notches。 And indeed such
a coat grows over this plant as renders it a hemisphere； and
that； as one may say； turned accurately in a lathe； and having
its notches extant above it； which； as I said； grow like a
pomegranate； only that they are sharp； and end in nothing but
prickles。 Now the fruit is preserved by this coat of the calyx；
which fruit is like the seed of the herb Sideritis： it sends out
a flower that may seem to resemble that of poppy。 Of this was a
crown made； as far from the hinder part of the h