Acts

xxiii. 2.

ther with Caiaphas: and is without Doubt the fame with him, whom he aftewards fpeaks of under the Name of Ananias; as a very great *Critic informs us.

Two+ Historians, of good Credit, have given us the feveral Names of all the High-Priefts, from the first Institution, to the Destruction of the Temple and City by Titus; making in all, Eighty Four. What Authorities they took their Accounts from, I know not; but not above one Fourth of the Number, are mention'd in Scripture; and, at least another, did not ‡ fucceed according to the legal Eftablishment, in the Line of Aaron; but were put in for a Time, by the Roman Procurators. We We may therefore be the more readily excus'd, if we do not think it worth while to give any Lift of them here. We come, in the next Place, to fpeak of the Priests.

* Hammond upon Luke iii. 2.

+ Jofephus and Eufebius.

Hammond, as above.

SECT.

SE C T. VIII.

The PRIEST S.

xxix.44.

As Aaron was conftituted High-Priest, fo all his Sons were appointed Priefts, and confecrated by Mofes, by a special Commiffion from God, at the fame Time. I will fanctify both Aaron and his fons to Exod. minister to me in the Priest's office. And, as the First of the Houfe of Aaron was, from Time to Time, to fucceed to the High-Prief's Office, fo the Priesthood was to be fupplied out of the reft.

By the Priests, we may understand, those only, who were admitted to officiate in the Sacrifices, and to use and take care of the facred Implements within the Tabernacle and Temple, under the Inspection of the High-Priest: of which we need not bring any Proofs here, having done it fo amply above. But, we shall fee wherein they were inferior to the High-Prieft, both in Dignity and Authority; if we purfue our Enquiry under the fame Heads; as, how they were habited; after what Manner, confecrated;

Exod. xxviii.

40, &c.

Ezek.

xlv. 15.

what Qualifications were requir'd of them; and the Nature of the Offices, which they were to perform.

SECT. IX.

Vestments of the PRIESTS.

Instructions for the Habit of the Priests, are given, at the fame Time, with thofe relating to the High-Prieft: where it is faid; And for Aaron's fons thou shalt make coats; and thou shalt make for them girdles; and bonnets fhalt thou make for them; for glory, and for beauty. And thou shalt make them linnen breeches; from the loyns, even unto the thighs they shall reach.

This Habit feems to have been well adapted to their officiating about the Sacrifices, in two Refpects, Coolness and Cleanliness; that they might, at the same Time, be easy to themfelves and inoffenfive to others. For, upon fuch Occafions, only, was this Habit worn by them; as we may fee, from the Injunctions intermix'd with Ezekiel's Account of his vifionary Temple. The Priests, the fons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my fanctu

4

ary's

ary, when the children of Ifrael went aftray from me, they shall come near to me, to minifter unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, faith the LORD God. They shall enter into my fanctuary, and they shall come near to my table to minifter unto me, and they shall keep my charge. And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linnen garments; and no wooll fhall come upon them whilft they minifter in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linnen bonnets upon their heads, and fhall have linnen breeches upon their loyns: They shall not gird themselves with any thing that caufeth fweat. And when they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they miniftred, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not fanctify the people with their (facerdotal) garments.

And befides the Injunctions of Mofes, we find the Priests generally wore a Linnen Ephod when they minifter'd; at least

I Sam.

in the Time of Saul, they are said to xxii. 18. have done fo; When Doeg the Edomite (at the Command of Saul) fell upon the Priefts, and flew on one day, fourscore and five perfons, that did wear a linnen Ephod: If this Ephod were indeed any thing more, than the ordinary Habit of Linnen, which they were oblig'd to wear, when they attended upon the Sacrifices. Be that as it will, we find it was of Linnen; and confequently much inferior to the other rich and stately one which the Law prescribes for the HighPrieft.

The Manner of their Confecration, and the Conditions requir'd to qualify them for their Office, are altogether the fame with those relating to the High-Prieft: except that the latter, when he was confecrated, had oyl poured on his head; befide the Afperfion of Oyl and Blood, which was made afterwards upon him and the Priests, and upon their garments, in order to hallow them.

SECT.