a flower that may seem to resemble that of poppy。 Of this was a
crown made； as far from the hinder part of the head to each of
the temples； but this Ephielis； for so this calyx may be called；
did not cover the forehead； but it was covered with a golden
plate； （14） which had inscribed upon it the name of God in sacred
characters。 And such were the ornaments of the high priest。
7。 Now here one may wonder at the ill…will which men bear to us；
and which they profess to bear on account of our despising that
Deity which they pretend to honor； for if any one do but consider
the fabric of the tabernacle； and take a view of the garments of
the high priest； and of those vessels which we make use of in our
sacred ministration； he will find that our legislator was a
divine man； and that we are unjustly reproached by others； for if
any one do without prejudice； and with judgment； look upon these
things； he will find they were every one made in way of imitation
and representation of the universe。 When Moses distinguished the
tabernacle into three parts； （15） and allowed two of them to the
priests； as a place accessible and common； he denoted the land
and the sea； these being of general access to all； but he set
apart the third division for God； because heaven is inaccessible
to men。 And when he ordered twelve loaves to be set on the table；
he denoted the year； as distinguished into so many months。 By
branching out the candlestick into seventy parts； he secretly
intimated the Decani； or seventy divisions of the planets； and as
to the seven lamps upon the candlesticks； they referred to the
course of the planets； of which that is the number。 The veils；
too； which were composed of four things； they declared the four
elements； for the fine linen was proper to signify the earth；
because the flax grows out of the earth； the purple signified the
sea； because that color is dyed by the blood of a sea shell…fish；
the blue is fit to signify the air； and the scarlet will
naturally be an indication of fire。 Now the vestment of the high
priest being made of linen； signified the earth； the blue denoted
the sky； being like lightning in its pomegranates； and in the
noise of the bells resembling thunder。 And for the ephod； it
showed that God had made the universe of four elements； and as
for the gold interwoven； I suppose it related to the splendor by
which all things are enlightened。 He also appointed the
breastplate to be placed in the middle of the ephod； to resemble
the earth； for that has the very middle place of the world。 And
the girdle which encompassed the high priest round； signified the
ocean； for that goes round about and includes the universe。 Each
of the sardonyxes declares to us the sun and the moon； those； I
mean； that were in the nature of buttons on the high priest's
shoulders。 And for the twelve stones； whether we understand by
them the months； or whether we understand the like number of the
signs of that circle which the Greeks call the Zodiac； we shall
not be mistaken in their meaning。 And for the mitre； which was of
a blue color； it seems to me to mean heaven； for how otherwise
could the name of God be inscribed upon it？ That it was also
illustrated with a crown； and that of gold also； is because of
that splendor with which God is pleased。 Let this explication
（16） suffice at present； since the course of my narration will
often； and on many occasions； afford me the opportunity of
enlarging upon the virtue of our legislator。
CHAPTER 8。
Of The Priesthood Of Aaron。
1。 When what has been described was brought to a conclusion；
gifts not being yet presented； God appeared to Moses； and
enjoined him to bestow the high priesthood upon Aaron his
brother； as upon him that best of them all deserved to obtain
that honor； on account of his virtue。 And when he had gathered
the multitude together； he gave them an account of Aaron's
virtue； and of his good…will to them； and of the dangers he had
undergone for their sakes。 Upon which； when they had given
testimony to him in all respects； and showed their readiness to
receive him； Moses said to them； 〃O you Israelites； this work is
already brought to a conclusion； in a manner most acceptable to
God； and according to our abilities。 And now since you see that
he is received into this tabernacle； we shall first of all stand
in need of one that may officiate for us； and may minister to the
sacrifices； and to the prayers that are to be put up for us。 And
indeed had the inquiry after such a person been left to me； I
should have thought myself worthy of this honor； both because all
men are naturally fond of themselves； and because I am conscious
to myself that I have taken a great deal of pains for your
deliverance； but now God himself has determined that Aaron is
worthy of this honor； and has chosen him for his priest； as
knowing him to be the most righteous person among you。 So that he
is to put on the vestments which are consecrated to God； he is to
have the care of the altars； and to make provision for the
sacrifices； and he it is that must put up prayers for you to God；
who will readily hear them； not only because he is himself
solicitous for your nation； but also because he will receive them
as offered by one that he hath himself chosen to this office。〃
The Hebrews were pleased with what was said； and they gave their
approbation to him whom God had ordained； for Aaron was of them
all the most deserving of this honor； on account of his own stock
and gift of prophecy； and his brother's virtue。 He had at that
time four sons； Nadab； Abihu； Eleazar； and Ithamar。
2。 Now Moses commanded them to make use of all the utensils which
were more than were necessary to the structure of the tabernacle；
for covering the tabernacle itself； the candlestick； and altar of
incense； and the other vessels； that they might not be at all
hurt when they journeyed； either by the rain； or by the rising of
the dust。 And when he had gathered the multitude together again；
he ordained that they should offer half a shekel for every man；
as an oblation to God； which shekel is a piece among the Hebrews；
and is equal to four Athenian drachmae。 （18） Whereupon they
readily obeyed what Moses had commanded； and the number of the
offerers was six hundred and five thousand five hundred and
fifty。 Now this money that was brought by the men that were free；
was given by such as were about twenty years old； but under
fifty； and what was collected was spent in the uses of the
tabernacle。
3。 Moses now purified the tabernacle and the priests； which
purification was performed after the following manner： … He
commanded them to take five hundred shekels of choice myrrh； an
equal quantity of cassia； and half the foregoing weight of
cinnamon and calamus （this last is a sort of sweet spice）； to
beat them small； and wet them with an bin of oil of olives （an
hin is our own country measure； and contains two Athenian choas；
or congiuses）； then mix them together； and boil them； and prepare
them after the art of the apothecary； and make them into a very
sweet ointment； and afterward to take it to anoint and to purify
the priests themselves； and all the tabernacle； as also the
sacrifices。 There were also many； and those of various kinds； of
sweet spices； that belonged to the tabernacle； and such as were
of very great price； and were brought to the golden altar of
incense； the nature of which I do not now describe； lest it
should be troublesome to my readers； but incense （19） was to be
offered twice a…day； both before sun…rising and at sun…setting。
They were also to keep oil already purified for the lamps； three
of which were to give light all day long； （20） upon the sacred
candlestick； before God； and the rest were to be lighted at the
evening。
4。 Now all was finished。 Besaleel and Aholiab appeared to be the
most skillful of the workmen； for they invented finer works than
what others had done before them； and were of great abilities to
gain notions of what they were formerly ignorant of； and of
these； Besaleel was judged to be the best。 Now the whole time
they were about this work was the interval of seven months； and
after this it was that was ended the first year since their
departure out of Egypt。 But at the beginning of the second year；
on the month Xanthicus； as the Macedonians call it； but on the
month Nisan； as the Hebrews call it； on the new moon； they
consecrated the tabernacle； and all its vessels； which I have
already described。
5。 Now God showed himself pleased with the work of the Hebrews；
and did not permit their labors to be in vain； nor did he disdain
to make use of what they had made； but he came and sojourned with
them； and pitched his tabernacle in the holy house。 And in the
following manner did he come to it： … The sky was clear； but
there was a mist over the tabernacle only； encompassing it； but
not with such a very deep and thick cloud as is seen in the
winter season； nor yet in so thin a one as men might be able to
discern any thing through it； but from it there dropped a sweet
dew； and such a one as showed the presence of God to those that
desired and believed it。
6。 Now when Moses had bestowed such honorary presents on the
workmen； as it was fit they should receive； who had wrought so
well； he offered sacrifices in the open court of the tabernacle；
as God commanded him； a bull； a ram； and a kid of the goats； for
a sin…offering。 Now I shall speak of what we do in our sacred
offices in my discourse about sacrifices； and therein shall
inform men in what cases Moses bid us offer a whole
burnt…offering； and in what cases the law permits us to partake
of them as of food。 And when Moses had sprinkled Aaron's
vestments； himself； and his sons； with the blood of the beasts
that were slain； and had purified them with spring waters and
ointment； they became God's priests。 After this manner did he
consecrate them and their garments for seven days together。 The
same he did to the tabernacle； and the vessels thereto belonging；
both with oil first incensed； as I said； and with the blood of
bulls and of rams； slain day by day one； according to its kind。
But on the eighth day he appointed a feast f