Now between this candlestick and the table, which, as we said, were
within the sanctuary, was the altar of incense, made of wood indeed, but
of the same wood of which the foregoing vessels were made, such as was
not liable to corruption; it was entirely crusted over with a golden plate.
Its breadth on each side was a cubit, but the altitude double. Upon it
was a grate of gold, that was extant above the altar, which had a golden
crown encompassing it round about, whereto belonged rings and bars, by
which the priests carried it when they journeyed. Before this tabernacle
there was reared a brazen altar, but it was within made of wood, five cubits
by measure on each side, but its height was but three, in like manner adorned
with brass plates as bright as gold. It had also a brazen hearth of network;
for the ground underneath received the fire from the hearth, because it
had no basis to receive it. Hard by this altar lay the basins, and the
vials, and the censers, and the caldrons, made of gold; but the other vessels,
made for the use of the sacrifices, were all of brass. And such was the
construction of the tabernacle; and these were the vessels thereto belonging. CONCERNING THE GARMENTS OF THE PRIESTS, AND OF THE HIGH PRIEST. THERE were peculiar garments appointed for the priests, and for all
the rest, which they call Cohanoeoe [-priestly] garments, as also
for the high priests, which they call Cahanoeoe Rabbae , and denote
the high priest’s garments. Such was therefore the habit of the rest. But
when the priest approaches the sacrifices, he purifies himself with the
purification which the law prescribes; and, in the first place, he puts
on that which is called Machanase , which means somewhat that is
fast tied. It is a girdle, composed of fine twined linen, and is put about
the privy parts, the feet being to be inserted into them in the nature
of breeches, but above half of it is cut off, and it ends at the thighs,
and is there tied fast. Over this he wore a linen vestment, made of fine flax doubled: it
is called Chethone , and denotes linen , for we call linen
by the name of Chethone . This vestment reaches down to the feet,
and sits close to the body; and has sleeves that are tied fast to the arms:
it is girded to the breast a little above the elbows, by a girdle often
going round, four fingers broad, but so loosely woven, that you would think
it were the skin of a serpent. It is embroidered with flowers of scarlet,
and purple, and blue, and fine twined linen, but the warp was nothing but
fine linen. The beginning of its circumvolution is at the breast; and when
it has gone often round, it is there tied, and hangs loosely there down
to the ankles: I mean this, all the time the priest is not about any laborious
service, for in this position it appears in the most agreeable manner to
the spectators; but when he is obliged to assist at the offering sacrifices,
and to do the appointed service, that he may not be hindered in his operations
by its motion, he throws it to the left, and bears it on his shoulder.
Moses indeed calls this belt Albaneth; but we have learned from
the Babylonians to call it Emia , for so it is by them called. This
vestment has no loose or hollow parts any where in it, but only a narrow
aperture about the neck; and it is tied with certain strings hanging down
from the edge over the breast and back, and is fastened above each shoulder:
it is called Massabazanes. Upon his head he wears a cap, not brought to a conic form nor encircling
the whole head, but still covering more than the half of it, which is called
 Masnaemphthes; and its make is such that it seems to be a crown,
being made of thick swathes, but the contexture is of linen; and it is
doubled round many times, and sewed together; besides which, a piece of
fine linen covers the whole cap from the upper part, and reaches down to
the forehead, and hides the seams of the swathes, which would otherwise
appear indecently: this adheres closely upon the solid part of the head,
and is thereto so firmly fixed, that it may not fall off during the sacred
service about the sacrifices. So we have now shown you what is the habit
of the generality of the priests. The high priest is indeed adorned with the same garments that we
have described, without abating one; only over these he puts on a vestment
of a blue color. This also is a long robe, reaching to his feet, [in our
language it is called .Meeir,] and is tied round with a girdle,
embroidered with the same colors and flowers as the former, with a mixture
of gold interwoven. To the bottom of which garment are hung fringes, in
color like pomegranates, with golden bells The use of these golden bells at the bottom of the high priest’s long garment,
seems to me to have been this: That by shaking his garment at the time
of his offering incense in the temple, on the great day of expiation, or
at other proper periods of his sacred ministrations there, on the great
festivals, the people might have notice of it, and might fall to their
own prayers at the time of incense, or other proper periods; and so the
whole congregation might at once offer those common prayers jointly with
the high priest himself to the Almighty See Luke 1:10; Revelation 8:3,
4. Nor probably is the son of Sirach to be otherwise understood, when he
says of Aaron, the first high priest, Ecelus. 45:9, And God encompassed
Aaron with pomegranates, and with many golden bells 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. 
by a curious and beautiful contrivance; so that between two bells hangs
a pomegranate, and between two pomegranates a bell. Now this vesture was
not composed of two pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders
and the sides, but it was one long vestment so woven as to have an aperture
for the neck; not an oblique one, but parted all along the breast and the
back. A border also was sewed to it, lest the aperture should look too
indecently: it was also parted where the hands were to come out.