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Ecclesiasticus
45
Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in
benediction.
He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified
him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he
made prodigies to cease.
He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him
commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed
him his glory.
He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose
him out of all flesh.
For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into
a cloud.
And he gave him commandments before his face, and a
law of life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob
his covenant, and Israel his judgments.
He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of
the tribe of Levi:
He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him
the priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in
glory,
And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and
clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with
majestic attire.
He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches,
and as ephod, and he compassed him with many little
bells of gold all round about,
That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise
made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial
to the children of his people.
He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple,
a woven work of a wise man, endued with judgment and
truth:
Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious
stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of
a lapidary for a memorial, according to the number of
the tribes of Israel.
And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved
Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and
delightful to the eyes for its beauty.
Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the
beginning.
No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his
children alone, and his grandchildren for ever.
His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.
Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.
This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and
to his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office
of the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify
his people in his name.
He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice
to God, incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to
make reconciliation for his people:
And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants
of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies,
and give light to Israel in his law.
And strangers stood up against him, and through envy
the men that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed
him about in the wilderness, and the congregation of
Core in their wrath.
The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were
consumed in his wrathful indignation.
He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with
a flame of fire.
And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance,
and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase
of the earth.
He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness:
for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat,
which he gave to him, and to his seed.
But he shall not inherit among the people in the land,
and he hath no portion among the people: for he himself
is his portion and inheritance.
Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by
imitating him in the fear of the Lord:
And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people:
in the goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased
God for Israel.
Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be
the prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that
the dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his
seed for ever.
And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of
the tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his
seed, that he might give wisdom into our heart to judge
his people in justice, that their good things might
not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation
everlasting. |