4. Whence one cannot but smile at those who say that Moses was himself
afflicted with the leprosy when he fled out of Egypt, and that he became
the conductor of those who on that account left that country, and led
them into the land of Canaan; for had this been true, Moses would not
have made these laws to his own dishonor, which indeed it was more
likely he would have opposed, if others had endeavored to introduce
them; and this the rather, because there are lepers in many nations, who
yet are in honor, and not only free from reproach and avoidance, but who
have been great captains of armies, and been intrusted with high offices
in the commonwealth, and have had the privilege of entering into holy
places and temples; so that nothing hindered, but if either Moses
himself, or the multitude that was with him, had been liable to such a
misfortune in the color of his skin, he might have made laws about them
for their credit and advantage, and have laid no manner of difficulty
upon them. Accordingly, it is a plain case, that it is out of violent
prejudice only that they report these things about us. But Moses was
pure from any such distemper, and lived with countrymen who were pure of
it also, and thence made the laws which concerned others that had the
distemper. He did this for the honor of God. But as to these matters,
let every one consider them after what manner he pleases.
5. As to the women, when they have born a child, Moses forbade them to
come into the temple, or touch the sacrifices, before forty days were
over, supposing it to be a boy; but if she hath born a girl, the law is
that she cannot be admitted before twice that number of days be over.
And when after the before-mentioned time appointed for them, they
perform their sacrifices, the priests distribute them before God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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