out of a rock； when we had very little of it before； he by whose
means Adam was made to partake of the fruits both of the land and
of the sea； he by whose means Noah escaped the deluge； he by
whose means our forefather Abraham； of a wandering pilgrim； was
made the heir of the land of Canaan； he by whose means Isaac was
born of parents that were very old； he by whose means Jacob was
adorned with twelve virtuous sons； he by whose means Joseph
became a potent lord over the Egyptians； he it is who conveys
these instructions to you by me as his interpreter。 And let them
be to you venerable； and contended for more earnestly by you than
your own children and your own wives； for if you will follow
them； you will lead a happy life you will enjoy the land
fruitful； the sea calm； and the fruit of the womb born complete；
as nature requires； you will be also terrible to your enemies for
I have been admitted into the presence of God and been made a
hearer of his incorruptible voice so great is his concern for
your nation； and its duration。〃
4。 When he had said this； he brought the people； with their wives
and children； so near the mountain； that they might hear God
himself speaking to them about the precepts which they were to
practice； that the energy of what should be spoken might not be
hurt by its utterance by that tongue of a man； which could but
imperfectly deliver it to their understanding。 And they all heard
a voice that came to all of them from above； insomuch that no one
of these words escaped them； which Moses wrote on two tables；
which it is not lawful for us to set down directly； but their
import we will declare （10）
5。 The first commandment teaches us that there is but one God；
and that we ought to worship him only。 The second commands us not
to make the image of any living creature to worship it。 The
third； that we must not swear by God in a false matter。 The
fourth； that we must keep the seventh day； by resting from all
sorts of work。 The fifth； that we must honor our parents。 The
sixth that we must abstain from murder。 The seventh that we must
not commit adultery。 The eighth； that we must not be guilty of
theft。 The ninth； that we must not bear false witness。 The tenth；
that we must not admit of the desire of any thing that is
another's。
6。 Now when the multitude had heard God himself giving those
precepts which Moses had discoursed of； they rejoiced at what was
said； and the congregation was dissolved： but on the following
days they came to his tent； and desired him to bring them；
besides； other laws from God。 Accordingly he appointed such laws；
and afterwards informed them in what manner they should act in
all cases； which laws I shall make mention of in their proper
time； but I shall reserve most of those laws for another work；
（11） and make there a distinct explication of them。
7。 When matters were brought to this state； Moses went up again
to Mount Sinai； of which he had told them beforehand。 He made his
ascent in their sight； and while he staid there so long a time；
（for he was absent from them forty days；） fear seized upon the
Hebrews； lest Moses should have come to any harm； nor was there
any thing else so sad； and that so much troubled them； as this
supposal that Moses was perished。 Now there was a variety in
their sentiments about it； some saying that he was fallen among
wild beasts； and those that were of this opinion were chiefly
such as were ill…disposed to him； but others said that he was
departed； and gone to God； but the wiser sort were led by their
reason to embrace neither of those opinions with any
satisfaction； thinking； that as it was a thing that sometimes
happens to men to fall among wild beasts and perish that way； so
it was probable enough that he might depart and go to God； on
account of his virtue； they therefore were quiet； and expected
the event： yet were they exceeding sorry upon the supposal that
they were deprived of a governor and a protector； such a one
indeed as they could never recover again； nor would this
suspicion give them leave to expect any comfortable event about
this man； nor could they prevent their trouble and melancholy
upon this occasion。 However； the camp durst not remove all this
while； because Moses had bidden them afore to stay there。
8。 But when the forty days； and as many nights； were over； Moses
came down； having tasted nothing of food usually appointed for
the nourishment of men。 His appearance filled the army with
gladness； and he declared to them what care God had of them； and
by what manner of conduct of their lives they might live happily；
telling them； that during these days of his absence he had
suggested to him also that he would have a tabernacle built for
him； into which he would descend when he came to them； and how we
should carry it about with us when we remove from this place； and
that there would be no longer any occasion for going up to Mount
Sinai； but that he would himself come and pitch his tabernacle
amongst us； and be present at our prayers； as also； that the
tabernacle should be of such measures and construction as he had
shown him； and that you are to fall to the work； and prosecute it
diligently。 When he had said this； he showed them the two tables；
with the ten commandments engraven upon them； five upon each
table； and the writing was by the hand of God。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning The Tabernacle Which Moses Built In The Wilderness For
The Honor Of God And Which Seemed To Be A Temple。
1。 Hereupon the Israelites rejoiced at what they had seen and
heard of their conductor； and were not wanting in diligence
according to their ability； for they brought silver； and gold；
and brass； and of the best sorts of wood； and such as would not
at all decay by putrefaction； camels' hair also； and sheep…skins；
some of them dyed of a blue color； and some of a scarlet； some
brought the flower for the purple color； and others for white；
with wool dyed by the flowers aforementioned； and fine linen and
precious stones； which those that use costly ornaments set in
ouches of gold； they brought also a great quantity of spices； for
of these materials did Moses build the tabernacle； which did not
at all differ from a movable and ambulatory temple。 Now when
these things were brought together with great diligence； （for
every one was ambitious to further the work even beyond their
ability；） he set architects over the works； and this by the
command of God； and indeed the very same which the people
themselves would have chosen； had the election been allowed to
them。 Now their names are set down in writing in the sacred
books； and they were these： Besaleel； the son of Uri； of the
tribe of Judah； the grandson of Miriam； the sister of their
conductor and Aholiab； file son of Ahisamach； of the tribe of
Dan。 Now the people went on with what they had undertaken with so
great alacrity； that Moses was obliged to restrain them； by
making proclamation； that what had been brought was sufficient；
as the artificers had informed him； so they fell to work upon the
building of the tabernacle。 Moses also informed them； according
to the direction of God； both what the measures were to be； and
its largeness； and how many vessels it ought to contain for the
use of the sacrifices。 The women also were ambitious to do their
parts； about the garments of the priests； and about other things
that would be wanted in this work； both for ornament and for the
divine service itself。
2。 Now when all things were prepared； the gold； and the silver；
and the brass； and what was woven； Moses； when he had appointed
beforehand that there should be a festival； and that sacrifices
should be offered according to every one's ability； reared up the
tabernacle （12） and when he had measured the open court； fifty
cubits broad and a hundred long； he set up brazen pillars； five
cubits high； twenty on each of the longer sides； and ten pillars
for the breadth behind； every one of the pillars also had a ring。
Their chapiters were of silver； but their bases were of brass：
they resembled the sharp ends of spears； and were of brass； fixed
into the ground。 Cords were also put through the rings； and were
tied at their farther ends to brass nails of a cubit long； which；
at every pillar； were driven into the floor； and would keep the
tabernacle from being shaken by the violence of winds； but a
curtain of fine soft linen went round all the pillars； and hung
down in a flowing and loose manner from their chapiters； and
enclosed the whole space； and seemed not at all unlike to a wall
about it。 And this was the structure of three of the sides of
this enclosure； but as for the fourth side； which was fifty
cubits in extent； and was the front of the whole； twenty cubits
of it were for the opening of the gates； wherein stood two
pillars on each side； after the resemblance of open gates。 These
were made wholly of silver； and polished； and that all over；
excepting the bases； which were of brass。 Now on each side of the
gates there stood three pillars； which were inserted into the
concave bases of the gates； and were suited to them； and round
them was drawn a curtain of fine linen； but to the gates
themselves； which were twenty cubits in extent； and five in
height； the curtain was composed of purple； and scarlet； and
blue； and fine linen； and embroidered with many and divers sorts
of figures； excepting the figures of animals。 Within these gates
was the brazen laver for purification； having a basin beneath of
the like matter； whence the priests might wash their hands and
sprinkle their feet； and this was the ornamental construction of
the enclosure about the court of the tabernacle； which was
exposed to the open air。
3。 As to the tabernacle itself； Moses placed it in the middle of
that court； with its front to the east； that； when the sun arose；
it might send its first rays upon it。 Its length； when it was set
up； was thirty cubits； and its breadth was twelve ＇ten＇ cubits。
The one of its walls was on the south； and the other was exposed
to the north； and on the back part of it remained the west。 It
was necessary that its height should be equal to its breadth ＇ten
cubits＇。 There were also