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 offered for sins； for of those none but the males of
the family of the priests might eat； and this in the temple also；
and that the same day they were offered。
5。 When Moses had made these constitutions； after the sedition
was over； he removed； together with the whole army； and came to
the borders of Idumea。 He then sent ambassadors to the king of
the Idumeans； and desired him to give him a passage through his
country； and agreed to send him what hostages he should desire；
to secure him from an injury。 He desired him also； that he would
allow his army liberty to buy provisions； and； if he insisted
upon it； he would pay down a price for the very water they should
drink。 But the king was not pleased with this embassage from
Moses： nor did he allow a passage for the army； but brought his
people armed to meet Moses； and to hinder them； in case they
should endeavor to force their passage。 Upon which Moses
consulted God by the oracle； who would not have him begin the war
first； and so he withdrew his forces； and traveled round about
through the wilderness。
6。 Then it was that Miriam； the sister of Moses； came to her end；
having completed her fortieth year （5） since she left Egypt； on
the first （6） day of the lunar month Xanthicus。 They then made a
public funeral for her； at a great expense。 She was buried upon a
certain mountain； which they call Sin： and when they had mourned
for her thirty days； Moses purified the people after this manner：
He brought a heifer that had never been used to the plough or to
husbandry； that was complete in all its parts； and entirely of a
red color； at a little distance from the camp； into a place
perfectly clean。 This heifer was slain by the high priest； and
her blood sprinkled with his finger seven times before the
tabernacle of God； after this； the entire heifer was burnt in
that state； together with its skin and entrails； and they threw
cedar…wood； and hyssop； and scarlet wool； into the midst of the
fire； then a clean man gathered all her ashes together； and laid
them in a place perfectly clean。 When therefore any persons were
defiled by a dead body； they put a little of these ashes into
spring water； with hyssop； and； dipping part of these ashes in
it； they sprinkled them with it； both on the third day； and on
the seventh； and after that they were clean。 This he enjoined
them to do also when the tribes should come into their own land。
7。 Now when this purification； which their leader made upon the
mourning for his sister； as it has been now described； was over；
he caused the army to remove and to march through the wilderness
and through Arabia； and when he came to a place which the
Arabians esteem their metropolis； which was formerly called Arce；
but has now the name of Petra； at this place； which was
encompassed with high mountains； Aaron went up one of them in the
sight of the whole army； Moses having before told him that he was
to die； for this place was over against them。 He put off his
pontifical garments； and delivered them to Eleazar his son； to
whom the high priesthood belonged； because he was the elder
brother； and died while the multitude looked upon him。 He died in
the same year wherein he lost his sister； having lived in all a
hundred twenty and three years。 He died on the first day of that
lunar month which is called by the Athenians Hecatombaeon； by the
Macedonians Lous； but by the Hebrews Abba。
CHAPTER 5。
How Moses Conquered Sihon And Og Kings Of The Amorites； And
Destroyed Their Whole Army And Then Divided Their Land By Lot To
Two Tribes And A Half Of The Hebrews。
1。 The people mourned for Aaron thirty days； and when this
mourning was over； Moses removed the army from that place； and
came to the river Arnon； which； issuing out of the mountains of
Arabia； and running through all that wilderness； falls into the
lake Asphaltitis； and becomes the limit between the land of the
Moabites and the land of the Amorites。 This land is fruitful； and
sufficient to maintain a great number of men； with the good
things it produces。 Moses therefore sent messengers to Sihon； the
king of this country； desiring that he would grant his army a
passage； upon what security he should please to require； he
promised that he should be no way injured； neither as to that
country which Sihon governed； nor as to its inhabitants； and that
he would buy his provisions at such a price as should be to their
advantage； even though he should desire to sell them their very
water。 But Sihon refused his offer； and put his army into battle
array； and was preparing every thing in order to hinder their
passing over Arnon。
2。 When Moses saw that the Amorite king was disposed to enter
upon hostilities with them； he thought he ought not to bear that
insult； and； determining to wean the Hebrews from their indolent
temper； and prevent the disorders which arose thence； which had
been the occasion of their former sedition； （nor indeed were they
now thoroughly easy in their minds；） he inquired of God； whether
he would give him leave to fight？ which when he had done； and God
also promised him the victory； he was himself very courageous；
and ready to proceed to fighting。 Accordingly he encouraged the
soldiers； and he desired of them that they would take the
pleasure of fighting； now God gave them leave so to do。 They
then； upon the receipt of this permission； which they so much
longed for； put on their whole armor； and set about the work
without delay。 But the Amorite king was not now like to himself
when the Hebrews were ready to attack him； but both he himself
was affrighted at the Hebrews； and his army； which before had
showed themselves to be of good courage； were then found to be
timorous： so they could not sustain the first onset； nor bear up
against the Hebrews； but fled away； as thinking this would afford
them a more likely way for their escape than fighting； for they
depended upon their cities； which were strong； from which yet
they reaped no advantage when they were forced to fly to them；
for as soon as the Hebrews saw them giving ground； they
immediately pursued them close； and when they had broken their
ranks； they greatly terrified them； and some of them broke off
from the rest； and ran away to the cities。 Now the Hebrews
pursued them briskly； and obstinately persevered in the labors
they had already undergone； and being very skillful in slinging；
and very dexterous in throwing of darts； or any thing else of
that kind； and also having nothing but light armor； which made
them quick in the pursuit； they overtook their enemies； and for
those that were most remote； and could not be overtaken； they
reached them by their slings and their bows； so that many were
slain； and those that escaped the slaughter were sorely wounded；
and these were more distressed with thirst than with any of those
that fought against them； for it was the summer season； 。and when
the greatest number of them were brought down to the river out of
a desire to drink； as also when others fled away by troops； the
Hebrews came round them； and shot at them； so that； what with
darts and what with arrows； they made a slaughter of them all。
Sihon their king was also slain。 So the Hebrews spoiled the dead
bodies； and took their prey。 The land also which they took was
full of abundance of fruits； and the army went all over it
without fear； and fed their cattle upon it； and they took the
enemies prisoners； for they could no way put a stop to them；
since all the fighting men were destroyed。 Such was the
destruction which overtook the Amorites； who were neither
sagacious in counsel； nor courageous in action。 Hereupon the
Hebrews took possession of their land； which is a country situate
between three rivers； and naturally resembled an island： the
river Arnon being its southern ； the river Jabbok determining its
northern side； which running into Jordan loses its own name； and
takes the other； while Jordan itself runs along by it； on its
western coast。
3。 When matters were come to this state； Og； the king of Gilead
and Gaulanitis； fell upon the Israelites。 H