like one of the common people, and was desirous to appear without
distinguishing himself from the multitude, but would have it known that
he did nothing else but take care of them. He also set down in writing
the form of their government, and those laws by obedience whereto
they would lead their lives so as to please God, and so as to have no
quarrels one among another. However, the laws he ordained were such as
God suggested to him; so I shall now discourse concerning that form of
government, and those laws.

9. I will now treat of what I before omitted, the garment of the high
priest: for he [Moses] left no room for the evil practices of [false]
prophets; but if some of that sort should attempt to abuse the Divine
authority, he left it to God to be present at his sacrifices when he
pleased, and when he pleased to be absent. [21] And he was willing this
should be known, not to the Hebrews only, but to those foreigners also
who were there. For as to those stones, [22] which we told you before,
the high priest bare on his shoulders, which were sardonyxes, [and I
think it needless to describe their nature, they being known to
every body,] the one of them shined out when God was present at their
sacrifices; I mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right
shoulder, bright rays darting out thence, and being seen even by those
that were most remote; which splendor yet was not before natural to the
stone. This has appeared a wonderful thing to such as have not so far
indulged themselves in philosophy, as to despise Divine revelation. Yet
will I mention what is still more wonderful than this: for God declared
beforehand, by those twelve stones which the high priest bare on his
breast, and which were inserted into his breastplate, when they should
be victorious in battle; for so great a splendor shone forth from them
before the army began to march, that all the people were sensible of
God's being present for their assistance. Whence it came to pass that
those Greeks, who had a veneration for our laws, because they could not
possibly contradict this, called that breastplate the Oracle. Now this
breastplate, and this sardonyx, left off shining two hundred years
before I composed this book, God having been displeased at the
transgressions of his laws. Of which things we shall further discourse
on a fitter opportunity; but I will now go on with my proposed
narration.

10. The tabernacle being now consecrated, and a r