urteenth day of the lunar month, when
the sun is in Aries, [for in this month it was that we were delivered
from bondage under the Egyptians,] the law ordained that we should every
year slay that sacrifice which I before told you we slew when we came
out of Egypt, and which was called the Passover; and so we do celebrate
this passover in companies, leaving nothing of what we sacrifice till
the day following. The feast of unleavened bread succeeds that of the
passover, and falls on the fifteenth day of the month, and continues
seven days, wherein they feed on unleavened bread; on every one of which
days two bulls are killed, and one ram, and seven lambs. Now these lambs
are entirely burnt, besides the kid of the goats which is added to all
the rest, for sins; for it is intended as a feast for the priest on
every one of those days. But on the second day of unleavened bread,
which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the
fruits of the earth, for before that day they do not touch them. And
while they suppose it proper to honor God, from whom they obtain this
plentiful provision, in the first place, they offer the first-fruits of
their barley, and that in the manner following: They take a handful of
the ears, and dry them, then beat them small, and purge the barley from
the bran; they then bring one tenth deal to the altar, to God; and,
casting one handful of it upon the fire, they leave the rest for the use
of the priest. And after this it is that they may publicly or privately
reap their harvest. They also at this participation of the first-fruits
of the earth, sacrifice a lamb, as a burnt-offering to God.

6. When a week of weeks has passed over after this sacrifice, [which
weeks contain forty and nine days,] on the fiftieth day, which is
Pentecost, but is called by the Hebrews Asartha, which signifies
Pentecost, they bring to God a loaf, made of wheat flour, of two tenth
deals, with leaven; and for sacrifices they bring two lambs; and when
they have only presented them to God, they are made ready for supper for
the priests; nor is it permitted to leave any thing of them till the day
following. They also slay three bullocks for a burnt-offering, and two
rams; and fourteen lambs, with two kids of the goats, for sins; nor is
there anyone of the festivals but in it they offer burnt-offerings; they
also allow themselves to rest on every one of them. Accordingly, the law
prescribes in them all what kinds the