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[228]
Now all those of the stock of the priests that could not minister
by reason of some defect in their bodies, came within the partition, together
with those that had no such imperfection, and had their share with them
by reason of their stock, but still made use of none except their own private
garments; for nobody but he that officiated had on his sacred garments;
but then those priests that were without any blemish upon them went up
to the altar clothed in fine linen. They abstained chiefly from wine, out
of this fear, lest otherwise they should transgress some rules of their
ministration. The high priest did also go up with them; not always indeed,
but on the seventh days and new moons, and if any festivals belonging to
our nation, which we celebrate every year, happened. When he officiated,
he had on a pair of breeches that reached beneath his privy parts to his
thighs, and had on an inner garment of linen, together with a blue garment,
round, without seam, with fringe work, and reaching to the feet. There
were also golden bells that hung upon the fringes, and pomegranates intermixed
among them. The bells signified thunder, and the pomegranates lightning.
But that girdle that tied the garment to the breast was embroidered with
five rows of various colors, of gold, and purple, and scarlet, as also
of fine linen and blue, with which colors we told you before the veils
of the temple were embroidered also. The like embroidery was upon the ephod;
but the quantity of gold therein was greater. Its figure was that of a
stomacher for the breast. There were upon it two golden buttons like small
shields, which buttoned the ephod to the garment; in these buttons were
enclosed two very large and very excellent sardonyxes, having the names
of the tribes of that nation engraved upon them: on the other part there
hung twelve stones, three in a row one way, and four in the other; a sardius,
a topaz, and an emerald; a carbuncle, a jasper, and a sapphire; an agate,
an amethyst, and a ligure; an onyx, a beryl, and a chrysolite; upon every
one of which was again engraved one of the forementioned names of the tribes.
A mitre also of fine linen encompassed his head, which was tied by a blue
ribbon, about which there was another golden crown, in which was engraven
the sacred name [of God]: it consists of four vowels. However, the high
priest did not wear these garments at other times, but a more plain habit;
he only did it when he went into the most sacred part of the temple, which
he did but once in a year, on that day when our custom is for all of us
to keep a fast to God. And thus much concerning the city and the temple;
but for the customs and laws hereto relating, we shall speak more accurately
another time; for there remain a great many things thereto relating which
have not been here touched upon.
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