bulls and of rams； slain day by day one； according to its kind。
But on the eighth day he appointed a feast for the people； and
commanded them to offer sacrifice according to their ability。
Accordingly they contended one with another； and were ambitious
to exceed each other in the sacrifices which they brought； and so
fulfilled Moses's injunctions。 But as the sacrifices lay upon the
altar； a sudden fire was kindled from among them of its own
accord； and appeared to the sight like fire from a flash of
lightning； and consumed whatsoever was upon the altar。
7。 Hereupon an affliction befell Aaron； considered as a man and a
father； but was undergone by him with true fortitude； for he had
indeed a firmness of soul in such accidents； and he thought this
calamity came upon him according to God's will： for whereas he
had four sons； as I said before； the two elder of them； Nadab and
Abihu； did not bring those sacrifices which Moses bade them
bring； but which they used to offer formerly； and were burnt to
death。 Now when the fire rushed upon them； and began to burn
them； nobody could quench it。 Accordingly they died in this
manner。 And Moses bid their father and their brethren to take up
their bodies； to carry them out of the camp； and to bury them
magnificently。 Now the multitude lamented them； and were deeply
affected at this their death； which so unexpectedly befell them。
But Moses entreated their brethren and their father not to be
troubled for them； and to prefer the honor of God before their
grief about them； for Aaron had already put on his sacred
garments。
8。 But Moses refused all that honor which he saw the multitude
ready to bestow upon him； and attended to nothing else but the
service of God。 He went no more up to Mount Sinai； but he went
into the tabernacle； and brought back answers from God for what
he prayed for。 His habit was also that of a private man； and in
all other circumstances he behaved himself like one of the common
people； and was desirous to appear without distinguishing himself
from the multitude； but would have it known that he did nothing
else but take care of them。 He also set down in writing the form
of their government； and those laws by obedience whereto they
would lead their lives so as to please God； and so as to have no
quarrels one among another。 However； the laws he ordained were
such as God suggested to him； so I shall now discourse concerning
that form of government； and those laws。
9。 I will now treat of what I before omitted； the garment of the
high priest： for he ＇Moses＇ left no room for the evil practices
of ＇false＇ prophets； but if some of that sort should attempt to
abuse the Divine authority； he left it to God to be present at
his sacrifices when he pleased； and when he pleased to be absent。
（21） And he was willing this should be known； not to the Hebrews
only； but to those foreigners also who were there。 For as to
those stones； （22） which we told you before； the high priest bare
on his shoulders； which were sardonyxes； （and I think it needless
to describe their nature； they being known to every body；） the
one of them shined out when God was present at their sacrifices；
I mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right
shoulder； bright rays darting out thence； and being seen even by
those that were most remote； which splendor yet was not before
natural to the stone。 This has appeared a wonderful thing to such
as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy； as to
despise Divine revelation。 Yet will I mention what is still more
wonderful than this： for God declared beforehand； by those twelve
stones which the high priest bare on his breast； and which were
inserted into his breastplate； when they should be victorious in
battle； for so great a splendor shone forth from them before the
army began to march； that all the people were sensible of God's
being present for their assistance。 Whence it came to pass that
those Greeks； who had a veneration for our laws； because they
could not possibly contradict this； called that breastplate the
Oracle。 Now this breastplate； and this sardonyx； left off shining
two hundred years before I composed this book； God having been
displeased at the transgressions of his laws。 Of which things we
shall further discourse on a fitter opportunity； but I will now
go on with my proposed narration。
10。 The tabernacle being now consecrated； and a regular order
being settled for the priests； the multitude judged that God now
dwelt among them； and betook themselves to sacrifices and praises
to God as being now delivered from all expectation of evils and
as entertaining a hopeful prospect of better times hereafter。
They offered also gifts to God some as common to the whole
nation； and others as peculiar to themselves； and these tribe by
tribe； for the heads of the tribes combined together； two by two；
and brought a waggon and a yoke of oxen。 These amounted to six；
and they carried the tabernacle when they journeyed。 Besides
which； each head of a tribe brought a bowl； and a charger； and a
spoon； of ten darics； full of incense。 Now the charger and the
bowl were of silver； and together they weighed two hundred
shekels； but the bowl cost no more than seventy shekels； and
these were full of fine flour mingled with oil； such as they used
on the altar about the sacrifices。 They brought also a young
bullock； and a ram； with a lamb of a year old； for a whole
burnt…offering； as also a goat for the forgiveness of sins。 Every
one of the heads of the tribes brought also other sacrifices；
called peace…offerings； for every day two bulls； and five rams；
with lambs of a year old； and kids of the goats。 These heads of
tribes were twelve days in sacrificing； one sacrificing every
day。 Now Moses went no longer up to Mount Sinai； but went into
the tabernacle； and learned of God what they were to do； and what
laws should be made； which laws were preferable to what have been
devised by human understanding； and proved to be firmly observed
for all time to come； as being believed to be the gift of God；
insomuch that the Hebrews did not transgress any of those laws；
either as tempted in times of peace by luxury； or in times of war
by distress of affairs。 But I say no more here concerning them；
because I have resolved to compose another work concerning our
laws。
CHAPTER 9。
The Manner Of Our Offering Sacrifices。
1。 I Will now； however； make mention of a few of our laws which
belong to purifications； and the like sacred offices； since I am
accidentally come to this matter of sacrifices。 These sacrifices
were of two sorts； of those sorts one was offered for private
persons； and the other for the people in general； and they are
done in two different ways。 In the one case； what is slain is
burnt； as a whole burnt…offering； whence that name is given to
it； but the other is a thank…offering； and is designed for
feasting those that sacrifice。 I will speak of the former。
Suppose a private man offer a burnt…offering； he must slay either
a bull； a lamb； or a kid of the goats； and the two latter of the
first year； though of bulls he is permitted to sacrifice those of
a greater age； but all burnt…offerings are to be of males。 When
they are slain； the priests sprinkle the blood round about the
altar； they then cleanse the bodies； and divide them into parts；
and salt them with salt； and lay them upon the altar； while the
pieces of wood are piled one upon another； and the fire is
burning； they next cleanse the feet of the sacrifices； and the
inwards； in an accurate manner and so lay them to the rest to be
purged by the fire； while the priests receive the hides。 This is
the way of offering a burnt…offering。
2。 But those that offer thank…offerings do indeed sacrifice the
same creatures； but such as are unblemished； and above a year
old； however； they may take either males or females。 They also
sprinkle the altar with their blood； but they lay upon the altar
the kidneys and the caul； and all the fat； and the lobe of the
liver； together with the rump of the lamb； then； giving the
breast and the right shoulder to the priests； the offerers feast
upon the remainder of the flesh for two days； and what remains
they burn。
3。 The sacrifices for sins are offered in the same manner as is
the thank…offering。 But those who are unable to purchase complete
sacrifices； offer two pigeons； or turtle doves； the one of which
is made a burnt…offering to God； the other they give as food to
the priests。 But we shall treat more accurately about the
oblation of these creatures in our discourse concerning
sacrifices。 But if a person fall into sin by ignorance； he offers
an ewe lamb； or a female kid of the goats； of the same age； and
the priests sprinkle the blood at the altar； not after the former
manner； but at the corners of it。 They also bring the kidneys and
the rest of the fat； together with the lobe of the liver； to the
altar； while the priests bear away the hides and the flesh； and
spend it in the holy place； on the same day； （23） for the law
does not permit them to leave of it until the morning。 But if any
one sin； and is conscious of it himself； but hath nobody that can
prove it upon him； he offers a ram； the law enjoining him so to
do； the flesh of which the priests eat； as before； in the holy
place； on the same day。 And if the rulers offer sacrifices for
their sins； they bring the same oblations that private men do；
only they so far differ； that they are to bring for sacrifices a
bull or a kid of the goats； both males。
4。 Now the law requires； both in private and public sacrifices；
that the finest flour be also brought； for a lamb the measure of
one tenth deal； … for a ram two； … and for a bull three。 This
they consecrate upon the altar； when it is mingled with oil； for
oil is also brought by those that sacrifice； for a bull the half
of an hin； and for a ram the third part of the same measure； and
one quarter of it for a lamb。 This hin is an ancient Hebrew
measure； and is equivalent to two Athenian choas （or congiuses）。
They bring the same quantity of oil which they do of wine； and
they pour the wine about the altar； but if any one does not offer
a comple