bed upon
them, and that he should receive the priesthood in whose rod God should
give a sign. This was agreed to. So the rest brought their rods, as did
Aaron also, who had written the tribe of Levi on his rod. These rods
Moses laid up in the tabernacle of God. On the next day he brought out
the rods, which were known from one another by those who brought them,
they having distinctly noted them, as had the multitude also; and as
to the rest, in the same form Moses had received them, in that they saw
them still; but they also saw buds and branches grown out of Aaron's
rod, with ripe fruits upon them; they were almonds, the rod having been
cut out of that tree. The people were so amazed at this strange sight,
that though Moses and Aaron were before under some degree of hatred,
they now laid that hatred aside, and began to admire the judgment of God
concerning them; so that hereafter they applauded what God had decreed,
and permitted Aaron to enjoy the priesthood peaceably. And thus God
ordained him priest three several times, and he retained that honor
without further disturbance. And hereby this sedition of the Hebrews,
which had been a great one, and had lasted a great while, was at last
composed.

3. And now Moses, because the tribe of Levi was made free from war and
warlike expeditions, and was set apart for the Divine worship, lest they
should want and seek after the necessaries of life, and so neglect the
temple, commanded the Hebrews, according to the will of God, that when
they should gain the possession of the land of Canaan, they should
assign forty-eight good and fair cities to the Levites; and permit them
to enjoy their suburbs, as far as the limit of two thousand cubits would
extend from the walls of the city. And besides this, he appointed that
the people should pay the tithe of their annual fruits of the earth,
both to the Levites and to the priests. And this is what that tribe
receives of the multitude; but I think it necessary to set down what is
paid by all, peculiarly to the priests.

4. Accordingly he commanded the Levites to yield up to the priests
thirteen of their forty-eight cities, and to set apart for them the
tenth part of the tithes which they every year receive of the people;
as also, that it was but just to offer to God the first-fruits of the
entire product of the ground; and that they should offer the first-born
of those four-footed beasts that are appointed for sacrifices, if it be
a mal