her husband, on any account whatsoever. Nay, he did not think it
proper for the high priest to marry even the widow of one that
was dead, though he allowed that to the priests; but he permitted
him only to marry a virgin, and to retain her. Whence it is that
the high priest is not to come near to one that is dead, although
the rest are not prohibited from coming near to their brethren,
or parents, or children, when they are dead; but they are to be
unblemished in all respects. He ordered that the priest who had
any blemish, should have his portion indeed among the priests,
but he forbade him to ascend the altar, or to enter into the holy
house. He also enjoined them, not only to observe purity in their
sacred ministrations, but in their daily conversation, that it
might be unblamable also. And on this account it is that those
who wear the sacerdotal garments are without spot, and eminent
for their purity and sobriety: nor are they permitted to drink
wine so long as they wear those garments. (26) Moreover, they
offer sacrifices that are entire, and have no defect whatsoever.

3. And truly Moses gave them all these precepts, being such as
were observed during his own lifetime; but though he lived now in
the wilderness, yet did he make provision how they might observe
the same laws when they should have taken the land of Canaan. He
gave them rest to the land from ploughing and planting every
seventh year, as he had prescribed to them to rest from working
every seventh day; and ordered, that then what grew of its own
accord out of the earth should in common belong to all that
pleased to use it, making no distinction in that respect between
their own countrymen and foreigners: and he ordained, that they
should do the same after seven times seven years, which in all
are fifty years; and that fiftieth year is called by the Hebrews