themselves, and
because I am conscious to myself that I have taken a great deal of pains
for your deliverance; but now God himself has determined that Aaron is
worthy of this honor, and has chosen him for his priest, as knowing him
to be the most righteous person among you. So that he is to put on the
vestments which are consecrated to God; he is to have the care of the
altars, and to make provision for the sacrifices; and he it is that
must put up prayers for you to God, who will readily hear them, not only
because he is himself solicitous for your nation, but also because he
will receive them as offered by one that he hath himself chosen to this
office." The Hebrews were pleased with what was said, and they gave
their approbation to him whom God had ordained; for Aaron was of them
all the most deserving of this honor, on account of his own stock and
gift of prophecy, and his brother's virtue. He had at that time four
sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2. Now Moses commanded them to make use of all the utensils which
were more than were necessary to the structure of the tabernacle, for
covering the tabernacle itself, the candlestick, and altar of incense,
and the other vessels, that they might not be at all hurt when they
journeyed, either by the rain, or by the rising of the dust. And when he
had gathered the multitude together again, he ordained that they should
offer half a shekel for every man, as an oblation to God; which shekel
is a piece among the Hebrews, and is equal to four Athenian drachmae.
[18] Whereupon they readily obeyed what Moses had commanded; and the
number of the offerers was six hundred and five thousand five hundred
and fifty. Now this money that was brought by the men that were free,
was given by such as were about twenty years old, but under fifty; and
what was collected was spent in the uses of the tabernacle.

3. Moses now purified the tabernacle and the priests; which purification
was performed after the following manner:--He commanded them to take
five hundred shekels of choice myrrh, an equal quantity of cassia, and
half the foregoing weight of cinnamon and calamus [this last is a sort
of sweet spice]; to beat them small, and wet them with an bin of oil
of olives [an hin is our own country measure, and contains two Athenian
choas, or congiuses]; then mix them together, and boil them, and prepare
them after the art of the apothecary, and make them into a very sweet
ointment; and af