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constitution of government before the laws now given you； neither
do you disregard that way of Divine worship which you now have；
nor change it for any other form： and if you do this； you will be
the most courageous of all men； in undergoing the fatigues of
war； and will not be easily conquered by any of your enemies； for
while God is present with you to assist you； it is to be expected
that you will be able to despise the opposition of all mankind；
and great rewards of virtue are proposed for you； if you preserve
that virtue through your whole lives。 Virtue itself is indeed the
principal and the first reward； and after that it bestows
abundance of others； so that your exercise of virtue towards
other men will make your own lives happy； and render you more
glorious than foreigners can be； and procure you an undisputed
reputation with posterity。 These blessings you will be able to
obtain； in case you hearken to and observe those laws which； by
Divine revelation； I have ordained for you； that is； in case you
withal meditate upon the wisdom that is in them。 I am going from
you myself； rejoicing in the good things you enjoy； and I
recommend you to the wise conduct of your law； to the becoming
order of your polity； and to the virtues of your commanders； who
will take care of what is for your advantage。 And that God； who
has been till now your Leader； and by whose goodwill I have
myself been useful to you； will not put a period now to his
providence over you； but as long as you desire to have him your
Protector in your pursuits after virtue； so long will you enjoy
his care over you。 Your high priest also Eleazar； as well as
Joshua； with the senate； and chief of your tribes； will go before
you； and suggest the best advices to you； by following which
advices you will continue to be happy： to whom do you give ear
without reluctance； as sensible that all such as know well how to
be governed； will also know how to govern； if they be promoted to
that authority themselves。 And do not you esteem liberty to
consist in opposing such directions as your governors think fit
to give you for your practice； … as at present indeed you place
your liberty in nothing else but abusing your benefactors； which
error if you can avoid for the time to come； your affairs will be
in a better condition than they have hitherto been。 Nor do you
ever indulge such a degree of passion in these matters； as you
have oftentimes done when you have been very angry at me； for you
know that I have been oftener in danger of death from you than
from our enemies。 What I now put you in mind of； is not done in
order to reproach you； for I do not think it proper； now I am
going out of the world； to bring this to your remembrance； in
order to leave you offended at me； since； at the time when I
underwent those hardships from you； I was not angry at you； but I
do it in order to make you wiser hereafter； and to teach you that
this will be for your security； I mean； that you never be
injurious to those that preside over you； even when you are
become rich； as you will he to a great degree when you have
passed over Jordan； and are in possession of the land of Canaan。
Since； when you shall have once proceeded so far by your wealth；
as to a contempt and disregard of virtue； you will also forfeit
the favor of God； and when you have made him your enemy； you will
be beaten in war； and will have the land which you possess taken
away again from you by your enemies； and this with great
reproaches upon your conduct。 You will be scattered over the
whole world； and will； as slaves； entirely fill both sea and
land； and when once you have had the experience of what I now
say； you will repent； and remember the laws you have broken； when
it is too late。 Whence I would advise you； if you intend to
preserve these laws； to leave none of your enemies alive when you
have conquered them； but to look upon it as for your advantage to
destroy them all； lest； if you permit them to live； you taste of
their manners； and thereby corrupt your own proper institutions。
I also do further exhort you； to overthrow their altars； and
their groves； and whatsoever temples they have among them； and to
burn all such； their nation； and their very memory with fire； for
by this means alone the safety of your own happy constitution can
be firmly secured to you。 And in order to prevent your ignorance
of virtue； and the degeneracy of your nature into vice； I have
also ordained you laws； by Divine suggestion； and a form of
government； which are so good； that if you regularly observe
them； you will be esteemed of all men the most happy。〃
3。 When he had spoken thus； he gave them the laws and the
constitution of government written in a book。 Upon which the
people fell into tears； and appeared already touched with the
sense that they should have a great want of their conductor；
because they remembered what a number of dangers he had passed
through； and what care he had taken of their preservation： they
desponded about what would come upon them after he was dead； and
thought they should never have another governor like him； and
feared that God would then take less care of them when Moses was
gone； who used to intercede for them。 They also repented of what
they had said to him in the wilderness when they were angry； and
were in grief on those accounts； insomuch that the whole body of
the people fell into tears with such bitterness； that it was past
the power of words to comfort them in their affliction。 However；
Moses gave them some consolation； and by calling them off the
thought how worthy he was of their weeping for him； he exhorted
them to keep to that form of government he had given them； and
then the congregation was dissolved at that time。
4。 Accordingly； I shall now first describe this form of
government which was agreeable to the dignity and virtue of
Moses； and shall thereby inform those that read these
Antiquities； what our original settlements were； and shall then
proceed to the remaining histories。 Now those settlements are all
still in writing； as he left them； and we shall add nothing by
way of ornament； nor any thing besides what Moses left us； only
we shall so far innovate； as to digest the several kinds of laws
into a regular system； for they were by him left in writing as
they were accidentally scattered in their delivery； and as he
upon inquiry had learned them of God。 On which account I have
thought it necessary to premise this observation beforehand； lest
any of my own countrymen should blame me； as having been guilty
of an offense herein。 Now part of our constitution will include
the laws that belong to our political state。 As for those laws
which Moses left concerning our common conversation and
intercourse one with another； I have reserved that for a
discourse concerning our manner of life； and the occasions of
those laws； which I propose to myself； with God's assistance； to
write； after I have finished the work I am now upon。
5。 When you have possessed yourselves of the land of Canaan； and
have leisure to enjoy the good things of it； and when you have
afterward determined to build cities； if you will do what is
pleasing to God； you will have a secure state of happiness。 Let
there be then one city of the land of Canaan； and this situate in
the most agreeable place for its goodness； and very eminent in
itself； and let it be that which God shall choose for himself by
prophetic revelation。 Let there also be one temple therein； and
one altar； not reared of hewn stones； but of such as you gather
together at random； which stones； when they are whited over with
mortar； will have a handsome appearance； and be beautiful to the
sight。 Let the ascent to it be not by steps （16） but by an
acclivity of raised earth。 And let there be neither an altar nor
a temple in any other city； for God is but one； and the nation of
the Hebrews is but one。
6。 He that blasphemeth God； let him be stoned； and let him hang
upon a tree all that day； and then let him be buried in an
ignominious and obscure manner。
7。 Let those that live as remote as the bounds of the land which
the Hebrews shall possess； come to that city where the temple
shall be； and this three times in a year； that they may give
thanks to God for his former benefits； and may entreat him for
those they shall want hereafter； and let them； by this means；
maintain a friendly correspondence with one another by such
meetings and feastings together； for it is a good thing for those
that are of the same stock； and under the same institution of
laws； not to be unacquainted with each other； which acquaintance
will be maintained by thus conversing together； and by seeing and
talking with one another； and so renewing the memorials of this
union； for if they do not thus converse together continually；
they will appear like mere strangers to one another。
8。 Let there be taken out of your fruits a tenth； besides that
which you have allotted to give to the priests and Levites。 This
you may indeed sell in the country； but it is to be used in those
feasts and sacrifices that are to be celebrated in the holy city；
for it is fit that you should enjoy thos