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 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account