Capitulum I. edit

The Lord ſpak to Moyſes in deſeert of Synay, in þe tabernacle of þe boond of peeſe, þe firſt day of þe ſecounde moneþ, þat oþer ȝeer of þe goyng of hem out of Egipte, ſeiynge, Take ȝe þe ſowme of al þe congregacioun of þe ſones of Yrael, by kynredis, and her howſes, and þe names of eche, what euer of þe maal kynd, fro þe twentiþe ȝeer and aboue, of alle þe ſtronge men of Yrael; and ȝe ſhulen noumbre hem bi her companyes, þow and Aaron. And þere ſhulen be wiþ ȝow þe prynces of þe lynages, and of þe howſis, in her kynredes, whos names ben þes; of Ruben, Eliſur, þe ſone of Sedeur; of Symeon, Salamyel, þe ſone of Sury of Sadday; of Juda, Naaſon, þe ſone of Amynadab; of Yſachar, Naþanael, þe ſone of Suar; of Zabulon, Eliab, þe ſone of Elon; of þe ſones forſoþe of Joſeph, of Effraym, Elizama, þe ſone of Amyud; of Manaſſe, Gamaliel, þe ſone of Phadaſſeur; of Beniamyn, Abidan, þe ſone of Gedeon; of Dan, Aiezer, þe ſone of Amyſadday; of Aſer, Phegiel, þe ſone of Ochran; of Gad, Elizaphan, þe ſone of Duel; of Neptalym, Ayra, þe ſone of Henam. Þes þe mooſt noble princes of þe multitude, bi þe lynages, and her kynredes, and þe heedes of þe ooſt of Yrael, þe whiche Moyſes and Aaron token, wiþ al þe multitude of þe comoun. And þei gadreden to gidere þe firſt day of þe ſecounde moneþ, noumbrynge hem bi kynredes, and howſes, and meynees, and heedes, and names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, as þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes; and þei ben noumbred in þe deſert of Synay. Of Ruben, þe fyrſt goten of Yrael, bi generaciouns, and meyneys, and his howſes, and þe names of þe heedes of echon, and al þat is of maal kynde, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, of men goynge forþ to batayl, ſix and fourti þowſynd and fyue hundreþ. Of þe ſones of Semeon, bi his generaciouns, and meyneis, and howſes of his kynredes, ben noumbred bi names and heedes of echon, al þat is of maal kynde, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, of men goynge to bateil, nyn and fyfti þowſynd and þre hundreþ. Of þe ſones of Gad, by generaciouns, and meyneis, and alle þat ſhulden goo to batail, fyue and fourti þowſynd and ſix hundriþ and fifti. Of þe ſones of Juda, by generacyouns, and meyneis, and howſes of her kynredes, bi þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþe to batails, ben noumbred foure and ſeuenti þowſyndes and ſix hundriþ. Of þe ſones of Yſachar, bi kynredys, and meyneis, and howſes of her kynredes, bi þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat ſhulden goo to batail, ben noumbred foure and fifti þouſynd and four hundriþ. Of þe ſones of Zabulon, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes of her kynredes, ben noumbred bi names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþe to batayl, ſeuen and fifti þouſyndes and foure hundriþ. Of þe ſones of Joſeph, of þe ſones of Effraym, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes of her kynredes, ben noumbred bi þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþ to batail, fourti þouſynd and fyue hundriþ. Forſoþe of þe ſones of Manaſſe, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes of her kynredes, ben noumbred by þe names of echon, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþe to batail, two and þretti þowſynd and two hundriþ. Of þe ſones of Beniamyn, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes of her kynredes, ben noumbred wiþ þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþe to batail, fyue and þritti þowſynd and foure hundriþ. Of þe ſones of Dan, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes of her kynredes, ben noumbred wiþ þe names of echon, fro twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo forþe to batayl, two and ſexti þouſynd and ſeuen hundreþ. Of þe ſones of Aſer, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſis of her kynredes, ben noumbred bi þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, þat myȝten goo forþ to batail, fourti þouſynd and a þouſind and fyue hundreþ. Of þe ſones of Neptalym, bi generaciouns, and meyneis, and houſes, and her kynredes, ben noumbred wiþ þe names of echon, fro þe twentiþ ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten goo to batail, þre and fifti þouſynd and foure hundriþ. Þes ben whom noumbred Moyſes and Aaron, and þe twelue princes of Yrael, eche bi þe houſes of her kynredes. And þere were alle togidere of þe ſones of Yrael, bi howſes, and her meyneis, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, alle þat myȝten go forþ to batail, ſix hundriþ þre þouſyndis of men, fyue hundriþ and fifti. Leuytes forſoþe in þe lynage of her meyneis ben not noumbrid wiþ hem. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Þe lynage of Leuy wole þow not noumbre, ne putte þe ſowm of hem wiþ þe ſones of Yrael; but þow ſhalt ordeyne hem vpon þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, alle þe veſſels of it, and what euer þing to þe ſerymonyes perteyneþ. Þei ſhulen bere þe tabernacle, and alle þe vſable þinges of it, and þei ſhulen be in þe ſeruyce, and bi enuyroun of þe tabernacle þei ſhulen ſette her tentes. Whanne it were to go forþ, þe Leuytes ſhulen ſett down þe tabernacle, whanne þei ſhulen arere þe tentis to be ſett; who ſo euer of oþer lynages comen þere neiȝ, ſhal be ſlayn. And þe ſones of Yrael ſhulen ſette tentes, eche bi þe companyes, and felowſhips, and her ooſtis; forſoþe þe Leuytes bi enuyroun of þe tabernacle ſhulen ficche tentes, leſt þere be maad indignacioun vpon þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael; and þei ſhulen watche in þe waardes of þe tabernacle of wytneſſynge. Þanne þe ſones of Yrael diden after alle þingis þat þe Lord hadde comaundide to Moyſes.

Capitulum II. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeiynge, Eche bi companyes, toknes, and baners, and howſes of her kynredes, ſhulen ſette þe tentis of þe ſones of Yrael, bi enuyroun of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. At þe eeſt Judas ſhal picche tentis, bi companyes of his ooſt; and Naſon, þe ſone of Amynadab, ſhal be prynce of his ſones; and al þe ſowme of fiȝtynge men of his lynage, foure and ſeuenti þouſynd and ſix hundreþ. Biſides hym ſetten tentes, of þe lynage of Yſachar, whos prynce was Naþanael, þe ſone of Suar; and al þe noumbre of his fiȝters, foure and fifti þouſynd and foure hundreþ. In þe lynage of Zabulon, prynce was Eliab, þe ſone of Elon; al þe ooſt of fiȝtynge men of his lynage, ſeuen and fifti þouſynd and foure hundreþ. Al þat in þe tentis of Juda ben noumbred, weren an hundryþ ſix and eiȝti þouſyndis and foure hundriþ; and bi her companyes firſt þei ſhulen go out. In þe tentes of þe ſones of Ruben, at þe ſouþe plage, ſhal be prynce, Eliſur, þe ſone of Sedeur; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, ſix and fourty þowſynd and fyue hundreþ. Biſide hym ſetten tentes, of þe lynage of Symeon, whos prynce was Salamyel, þe ſone of Sury Sadday; and al þe ooſt of his fyȝters, þat ben noumbred, nyn and fifti þowſynd and þre hundriþ. In þe lynage of Gad, prince was Eliaſaph, þe ſone of Duel; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, fyue and fourti þouſand ſix hundriþ and fifti. Alle þat ben noumbred in þe tentes of Ruben, an hundreþ fifti þouſynd and a þouſynd foure hundreþ and fifty, bi her companyes; in þe ſecounde place þei ſhulen goo forþe. And þe tabernacle of witneſſynge ſhal be arered bi offices of Leuytes, and þe companyes of hem; what maner wyſe it ſhal be areryd, and ſo it ſhal be ſett down; eche bi places and her ordres ſhulen goo forþe. At þe weſt plage ſhulen be þe tentis of þe ſones of Effraym, whos prince was Elizama, þe ſone of Amyud; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, fourti þouſynd and fyue hundreþ. And wiþ hem þe lynage of þe ſones of Manaſſe, whos prynce was Gamaliel, þe ſone of Phadaſſur; al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, two and þretti þouſynd and two hundriþ. In þe lynage of þe ſones of Beniamyn prynce was Abidan, þe ſone of Gedeon; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, fyue and þretti þouſynd and foure hundryd. And alle þat ben noumbred in þe tentes of Effraym, an hundryd eiȝt þowſyndis and an hundrid, bi her companyes; þe þrid þei ſhulen goo forþe. At þe norþ part ſettiden tentes þe ſones of Dan, whos prince was Abiazar, þe ſone of Amyſadday; al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þat ben noumbred, two and fourti þowſyndes and ſeuen hundryd. Biſides hym fitchiden tentis of þe lynage of Aſer, whos prynce was Phegyel, þe ſone of Oþran; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝteres, þat ben noumbred, fourti þouſyndis and a þouſynd and fyue hundrid. Of þe lynage of þe ſones of Neptalym prince was Ahyra, þe ſone of Henan; and al þe ooſt of his fiȝters, þre and fifti þowſynd and foure hundryd. Alle þat ben noumbred in þe tentes of Dan, weren an hundred ſeuen and fifti þowſyndes and ſix hundred; alþer laſt þei ſhulden go forþ. Þis noumbre of þe ſones of Yrael, bi howſis of her kynredes, and companyes of þe dyuydid ooſt, ſix hundrid þre þowſyndes fyue hundrid and fifti. Leuytes forſoþe ben not noumbred among þe ſones of Yrael; ſo forſoþe comaundide God to Moyſes. And þe ſones of Yrael diden after alle þinges þat þe Lord comaundide; þei ſettiden tentes bi her companyes, and goon forþe bi meyneis, and howſes of her fadres.

Capitulum III. edit

Thes ben þe generaciouns of Aaron and of Moyſes, in þe day þat þe Lord ſpak to Moiſes, in þe mownt of Synay. And þes þe names of þe ſones of Aaron; þe firſt goten of hym Nadab; aftirward, Abyu, and Eliazar, and Yþamar; þes þe names of þe ſones of Aaron, preſtis, þat ben anoynt, and of whom þe hoondes fulfillid and ſacrid ben, þat þei vſen preeſþod. Nadab and Abyu dieden, whanne þei offerden alien fier in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, in deſert of Synay, wiþ outen free children; and Eliazar and Yþamar vſeden preeſþod before Aaron her fader. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Sett þe lynage of Leuy, and mak ſtonde in þe ſiȝt of Aaron, þe preeſt, þat þei mynyſtren to him; and waken, and weyten aboute al þing þat to þe heryynge perteyneþ of þe multitude, before þe tabernacle of witneſſynge; and þat þei kepen þe veſſels of þe tabernacle, ſeruynge in þe ſeruyce of hym. And þow ſhalt ȝyue bi ȝiftis Leuytes to Aaron, and to þe ſones of hym, to þe whiche þei ben take of þe ſones of Yrael. Aaron forſoþe and his ſones þow ſhalt ordeyne vpon þe heriynge of preeſþod; of anoþer kynrede þat goþ to mynyſtre, he ſhal die. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, I toke þe Leuytes fro þe ſones of Yrael for al þe firſte geten þat openeþ þe wombe in þe ſones of Yrael; and þei ſhulen be my Leuytes, myn is forſoþe al þe firſt goten; ſiþen I ſmoot þe firſt gotun in þe loond of Egipte, I halowide to me al þing þat is firſt born in Yrael; fro man vnto beeſte myn þei ben; I þe Lord. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, in deſert of Synay, ſeiynge, Noumbre þe ſones of Leuy, bi þe howſes of her faders, and meyneis, eche maal from a moneþ and aboue. And Moyſes noumbred, as þe Lord comaundide. And þere ben founden þe ſones of Leuy, bi her names, Gerſon, and Caaþ, and Merary; þe ſones of Gerſon, Lebyn, and Semey; þe ſones of Caaþ, Amram, and Jeſſaar, and Ebron, and Oſiel; þe ſones of Merary, Mooly, and Muſy. Of Gerſon weren twey meyneis, Lebyntica, and Semetica; of þe whiche is noumbrid a puple of maal kynde, fro o moneþ and aboue, ſeuen þowſyndes and fyue hundred. Þes after þe tabernacle ſhulen ſette tentis at þe weſt, vndur þe prince Eliaſaph, þe ſone of Jael. And þei ſhulen haue wacches in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, þilke tabernacle, and his couertour, þe tente þat is drawen before þe ȝates of þe roof of witneſſynge of boond of pees; and þe cortyns of þe porche, and þe tente þat is hongid in þe entre of þe porche of þe tabernacle, and al þing þat to þe rijt of þe auter perteyneþ, þe coordes of þe tabernacle, and alle vſable þinges of it. Þe kynred of Caaþ ſhal haue þe puples Amramytas, Jeſſaarytas, and Ebronytis, and Eſielites; þes ben þe meyneis of Caatices, noumbrid bi her names, of al maal kynd, fro a moneþ and aboue, eiȝt þouſyndes and ſix hundriþ. And þei ſhulen haue biſy wardes of þe ſeyntuarie, and þei ſhulen ſette tentes at þe ſowþ plage; and þe prince of hem ſhal be Elyzaphan, þe ſone of Oziel. And þei ſhulen kepe þe ark, and þe table, and þe candelſtik, þe auters, and þe veſſels of þe ſeyntuarie in þe which it is mynyſtryd, and þe veyl, and al ſiche maner purtenaunce. Þe prince forſoþe of þe princes of Leuytes, Eleazar, þe ſone of Aaron, preeſt; and he ſhal be vpon þe wakers of þe warde of þe ſeyntuarie. And forſoþe of Merarye ſhal be puples, Moolites, and Muſites, noumbred bi her names, of al maal kynde fro o moneþ and aboue, ſix þouſyndes and two hundreþ; þe prynce of hem Suryel, þe ſone of Abiahiel; in þe norþ plage þei ſhulen ſette tentes. Þere ſhulen be vnder þe warde of hem þe tables of þe tabernacle, and þe berynge ſtaues, and þe pilers, and þe feet of hem, and alle þinges þat to ſuche maner heriynge perteynen, and þe pilers of þe porche bi enuyroun, wiþ her feet, and þe ſtakis, wiþ þe coordes. Þei ſhulen ſette tentes before þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, þat is, at þe eeſt plage, Moyſes, and Aaron wiþ his ſones, hauynge warde of þe ſeyntuarye, in þe mydil of þe ſones of Yrael; who ſo euer alien come þer to, ſhal die. Alle þe Leuytes, þe whiche noumbreden Moiſes and Aaron, after þe heeſt of þe Lord, bi her meyneis, in maal kynde, fro o moneþ and aboue, weren two and twenti þouſyndes. And þe Lord ſeiþ to Moyſes, Noumbre þe firſte geten of maal kynde of þe ſones of Iſrael, fro o moneþ and aboue; and þou ſhalt haue þe ſowm of hem; and þou ſhalt take Leuitis to me for alle þe firſt gotyn of þe ſones of Iſrael; I am þe Lord; and þe beeſtis of hem for alle þe firſt gotyn of þe ſones of Iſrael. And Moiſes tolde, as þe Lord comaundide, þe firſt goten of þe ſones of Iſrael; and þere weren maalis bi her names, fro o moneþ and aboue, two and twenti þouſandis two hundrid and ſeuenti and þre. And þe Lord ſpak to Moiſes, ſeiynge, Tak Leuites for þe firſt goten of þe ſones of Yrael, and þe beeſtis of Leuytes for þe beeſtis of hem, and Leuytes ſhulen be myn; I am þe Lord. In þe prijs forſoþe of two hundriþ ſeuenti and þre, þat paſſen þe noumbre of Leuytes, of þe fyrſt gotun of þe ſones of Yrael, þow ſhalt take fyue ſiclis bi eche heedes, at þe meſure of þe ſeyntuarie; a cicle haþ twenti halfpens; and þou ſhalt ȝyue þe money to Aaron and his ſones, þe prijs of hem þat ben aboue. Þerfor Moyſes toke þe money of hem þat weren more ouer, and þe whiche þei aȝenbouȝten of þe Leuytes, for þe firſt gotun of þe ſones of Yrael, of a þouſynd þre hundrid and fyue and ſixti ſicles, after þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarie; and he ȝaue it to Aaron and his ſones, after þe word þat þe Lord comaundide to hym.

Capitulum IIII. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeyynge, Take þe ſowm of þe ſones of Caaþ, fro þe myddil of Leuytes, bi houſes, and her meyneis, fro þe þrytti ȝeer and aboue vnto þe fifty ȝeer, of alle þat goon in, þat þei ſtonden and mynyſtren in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. Þis is þe heriynge of þe ſones of Caaþ; þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, and þe holi of halowis ſhulen go yn Aaron and his ſones, whanne þe tentis ben to be moued; and þei ſhulen ſette down þe veile þat hongiþ before þe ȝatis, and þei ſhulen wrap wiþ ynne it þe ark of witneſſynge; and þei ſhulen eftſones couer it wiþ þe couerynge of iacynctyne ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen ſtrecche aboue a mantel al iacynctyne, and þei ſhulen lede in þe berynge ſtaues. Þe table forſoþe of propoſicioun þei ſhulen wrappe wiþ ynne þe iacynctyne mantil, and þei ſhulen putte wiþ it þe encenſeris, and goldun morters, litil cuppes, and þe eryd chalices to þe ſacrifices of licours to ben heelde; looues euermore ſhulen be in it. And þei ſhulen ſtrecche þere aboue þe reed mantil, þe whiche eft þei ſhulen couer wiþ þe couerynge of iacynctyn ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen lede ynne þe berynge ſtaues. And þei ſhulen take þe iacynctyn mantil, wiþ þe which þei ſhulen couer þe candelſtik, wiþ þe lanterns, and her toonges, and ſnyters, and wiþ alle þe veſſels of oyle, þe whiche ben neceſſary to þe lanterns to be maad redi; and vpon alle þei ſhulen putte þe couerynge of iacynctyn ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen lede ynne her berynge ſtaues. Alſo and þe goldun auter þei ſhulen wrappe wiþ ynne þe iacynctyn cloþing; and þei ſhulen ſtrecche out þere aboue þe couerynge of iacynctyn ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen lede yn þe beryng ſtaues. Alle þe veſſels, wiþ þe whiche it is mynyſtryd in þe ſeyntuary, þei ſhulen wrappe wiþ inne þe iacynctyn mantel, and ſtrecch þere aboue a couertour of iacynctyn ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen lede yn þe berynge ſtaues. But and þe auter þei ſhulen clenſe wiþ aſken, and þei ſhulen wrappe it wiþ a purpur cloþinge. And þei ſhulen putt wiþ it alle þe veſſelis, þe whiche þei vſen in þe ſeruyce of it, þat is, þe reſſeyuable þinges of fiers, fleſhokis, and hokys of þre teeþ, and hokes, and fyre pannes; alle þe veſſels of þe auter þei ſhulen couer togyder wiþ a couerynge of iacynctyn ſkynnes, and þei ſhulen lede yn þe berynge ſtaues. And whanne Aaron and his ſones han inwrappid þe ſeyntuary, and alle þe veſſels of it, in þe meuynge of tentes, þanne ſhulen goon yn þe ſones of Caaþ, þat þei beren wiþ ynne wrappid, and þat þei touchen not þe veſſels of þe ſeyntuary, leſt þei dien. Þes ben þe charges of þe ſones of Caaþ, in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, vpon whom ſhal be Eliazar, þe ſone of Aaron preeſt; to whos cure it perteyneþ oyle to þe lanterns to be maad redi, and þe encenſe of compoſicioun, and þe ſacrifice þat euermore is offred, and þe oyle of anoyntinge, and what euer þing to þe heriynge of þe tabernacle perteyneþ, and of alle þe veſſels þat ben in þe ſeyntuarye. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeyynge, Wole ȝe not leſe þe puple of Caaþ fro þe myddel of Leuytes; but þis doþ to hem, þat þei lyuen, and dien not, if þei towchen þe holi þingis of halowes. Aaron and his ſones ſhulen go yn, and þei ſhulen dyſpoſe þe werkis of echon, and þei ſhulen dyuyde what eny owiþ to bere. Oþer þurȝ no curiouſte ſeen þat ben in þe ſeyntuarye, before þat þei ben inwrappid, ellis þei ſhulden die. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Tak alſo þe ſowm of þe ſones of Gerſon, bi howſes, and meyneis, and his kynredes; fro þretti ȝeer and aboue and vnto þe ȝeres of fifti, noumbre alle þat goon yn, and ſeruen in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. Þis is þe office of þe meyne of Gerſonytes, þat þei beren cortyns of þe tabernacle, and þe roof of þe boond of pees, þat oþer couertour, and vpon alle þe iacynctyn couerynge, and þe tente þat hongiþ in þe entre of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; þe cortyns of þe porche, and þe veil in þe entre þat is before þe tabernacle. Alle þingis þat perteynen to þe auter, litil coordes, and þe veſſels of ſeruyce, comaundynge Aaron and his ſones, þe ſones of Gerſon ſhulen bere; and eche ſhal knowe to what charge þei owen to be takun. Þis is þe heriynge of þe meyneis of Gerſonytes, in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and þei ſhulen be vndir þe hoond of Yþamar, þe ſone of Aaron, preeſt. Þe ſones forſoþe of Merarye, bi meyneis and howſes of her fadris, þou ſhalt noumbre, fro þretti ȝeer and aboue vnto þe ȝeers of fifti, alle þat goon into þe office of his ſeruyce, and heriynge of þe boond of pees of witneſſynge. Þes ben þe charges of hem; þei ſhulen bere þe tablis of þe tabernacle, and his berynge ſtaues, þe pilers, and þe feet of hem; and þe pilers of þe porche bi enuyroun, wiþ her feet, and ſtakys, and her coordes; alle veſſels and purtenaunce at noumbre þei ſhulen take, and ſo þei ſhulen bere. Þis is þe office of þe meyne of Merarytes, and þe ſeruyce in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and þei ſhulen be vndir þe hoond of Yþamar, þe ſone of Aaron, preeſt. Þanne Moyſes and Aaron, and þe princes of þe ſynagoge, noumbreden þe ſones of Caaþ, bi kynredes, and howſes of her fadres, fro þretti ȝeer and aboue vnto fifti ȝeer, alle þat goon into þe ſeruyce of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and þere ben foundun two þowſyndes ſeuen hundred and fifti. Þis is þe noumbre of þe ſones of Caaþ, þat goon into þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; þes noumbreden Moyſes and Aaron, aftir þe word of þe Lord, bi þe hoond of Moyſes. And ſones of Gerſon ben noumbred, bi kynredes, and howſes of her fadris, fro þretti ȝeer and aboue vnto þe fiftiþ ȝeer, alle þat goon yn þat þei mynyſtren in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and þere ben foundun two þowſynd ſix hundreþ and þretti. Þis is þe puple of Gerſonytes, þe which noumbreden Moyſes and Aaron, after þe word of þe Lord. Þe ſones of Merarye ben noumbred, bi kynredes, and houſes of her fadres, fro þretti ȝeer and aboue vnto þe fifty ȝeer, alle þat goon yn to fulfille þe rytis of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and þer ben foundun þre þowſyndes and two hundriþ. Þis is þe noumbre of þe ſones of Merarye, þe whiche noumbreden Moyſes and Aaron, aftir þe heeſt of þe Lord, bi þe hoond of Moyſes. Alle þat ben noumbred of þe Leuytes, and þe whiche he dide to be noumbred at þe name, of Moyſes and Aaron, and þe princes of Yrael, bi kynredis, and howſes of her fadres, fro þretti ȝeer and aboue vnto þe fifti ȝeer, goynge into þe ſeruyce of þe tabernacle, and berþens to be bore, and þere weren togidir eiȝt þowſyndes fyue hundrid and eiȝty. After þe word of þe Lord Moiſes noumbred hem, echon aftir his office and his charges, as þe Lord comaundide to hym.

Capitulum V. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Comaund to þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei caſten out of þe tentes alle leprows, and þat flowiþ ſeed, and is polut vpon þe deed; as wel þe maal as þe femaal caſteþ out of þe tentis, leſt þei defoulen hem, whanne þei dwellen wiþ ȝow. And þe ſones of Yrael dyden ſo, and þei caſteden hem out of þe tentes, as þe Lord hadde ſpokun to Moyſes. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Irael, A man or womman, whanne þei doon of alle þe ſynnes þat ben wont to falle to men, and bi negligence ouer paſſid þe maundement of þe Lord, and treſpaſſen, þei ſhulen knowleche her ſynne, and þei ſhulen ȝeelde þat heed, and þe fifþe part þere aboue, to hym in whom þei ſynneden. If forſoþe þere weren not þat ſhulde reſſeyue, þei ſhulen ȝyue to þe Lord, and it ſhal be of þe preeſt, out take þe weþer þat is offryd for þe purgynge, þat þe ooſt be pleſable. Alle forſoþe þe firſt fruytis þat offren þe ſones of Yrael, to þe preeſt perteynen; and what þing in þe ſeyntuarye is offred of eche, and is takun to þe hondes of þe preeſt, ſhal be of hym. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeyynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, A man, whos wijf erreþ, and, þe houſbonde deſpiſynge, ſlepe wiþ anoþer man, and þat þe houſbonde may not knowe of, but þe auowtrye is hidde, and wiþ witnes may not be vndurnom, for ſhe is not foundun in þe hordom; if þe ſpiryt of gelouſnes ſtire þe man aȝens his wijf, þe which ouþer is polut, or wiþ fals ſuſpecioun is coueitid, he ſhal lede hire to þe preeſt, and he ſhal offre for hir an offrynge, þe tenþe part of a buſſhel of barly melowe; and he ſhal not heelde vpon it oyle, ne putte enſence, for þe ſacrifice of gelouſte it is, and offrynge enſerchynge auowtrye. Þerfor þe preeſt ſhal offre it, and ſette before þe Lord; and he ſhal take þe holy watre in a britil veſſel, and a litil of þe erþe of þe pament of þe tabernacle he ſhall putt into it. And whanne þe womman ſtondiþ in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, ſhe ſhal diſcouere her heed, and putt vpon hir hondis þe ſacrifice of recordynge, and offryng of gelowſte. He forſoþe ſhal holde þe moſt bittir watris, in þe whiche wiþ curſid curſyng he caſt togidir. And he ſhal ſwere to her, and ſeie, If anoþer man haþ not ſlept wiþ þee, and if þow art not polut, forſaked þe bedde of þe houſboond, þes mooſt bittre watris ſhulen not anoye þee, into þe whiche curſid þinges I haue gederyd to gydere; if forſoþe þow haſt bowide a weie fro þin houſboond, and art polut, and haſt leyn wiþ anoþir man, to þes curſingis þow ſhalt vndurligge; þe Lord ȝyue þee into curſynge, and enſaumple of alle in his puple; mak he þin hippe to ſtynke, and þi ſwellynge wombe be al to broſtun; goon in þee curſyd watris into þi wombe, and ſwellynge þi wombe ſtynke þin hippe. And þe womman ſhal anſwere, Amen! amen! And þe preeſt ſhal wryte in a libel þes curſid þingis, and he ſhal do hem out wiþ þe mooſt bittir watris, into þe whiche curſid þinges he dide togidris, and he ſhal ȝyue hir to drynke. Þe which whanne ſhe haþ dronkun vp, þe preeſt ſhal take of hir hoond þe ſacrifice of gelowſte, and he ſhal arere it vp before þe Lord, and he ſhal putte vpon þe auter; ſo oonli, þat before he take an hondful of ſacrifice of it þat is offerd, and tynde vpon þe auter, and ſo ȝyue drynke to þe womman þe mooſt bitter watres. Þe whiche whanne ſhe drinkiþ, if ſhe is polut, and, deſpiſid þe man, ſhe is gilti of auowtrie, þe watres of curſynge ſhulen paſſe þurȝ hir, and þe womb blow wiþ ynne, þe hippe ſhal ſtynke, and þe womman ſhal be into curſynge, and into enſaumple to al þe puple. And if ſhe were not polut, ſhe ſhal be harmles, and make free children. Þis is þe lawe of gelowſnes, if þe womman bowe doun fro hir man, and were polut, and þe houſboond, þurȝ ſpiryt of gelowſnes ſtired, brynge hir in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and þe preeſt do to hir after alle þinges þat ben writun, þe houſboond ſhal be wiþ outen blame, and ſhe ſhal reſſeyue hir wickidnes.

Capitulum VI. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, A man or womman, whanne he doþ auowe, þat þei ben halowid, and þei wolen him ſelf ſacre to þe Lord, fro wiyn, and fro al þat may make dronkun, þei ſhulen abſteyne; eiſel of wiyn, and of eny oþir maad drynke, and what þing of grape is out preſſid, þei ſhulen not drynke; new grapes and dried þei ſhulen not eete, alle þe daies in þe which of auowe to þe Lord þei ben ſacryd; what þing may be of vyn, of grape dried vnto þe popyn, þei ſhulen not eete. Al þe tyme of his ſeuerynge a raſour ſhal not paſſe vpon his heed, vnto þe fulfillid day in þe which he is ſacred to þe Lord; he ſhal be holy, growynge þe heer of his heed. Alle tyme of his ſacrynge he ſhal not goo yn vpon þe deed, ne vpon faders forſoþe, and moders, and breþeren, and ſiſtren careyn he ſhal be defoulid, for þe ſacrynge of his God is vpon his heed; eche day of his ſeuerynge ſhal be holy to þe Lord. If forſoþe eny man were ſodeynlich deed before hym, þe heed of his conſecracioun ſhal be polut, þe which anoon he ſhal ſhaue in þe ſame day of his purgacioun, and eftſones þe ſeuenþe day; in þe eiȝtiþ forſoþe day he ſhal offre two turturs, or two culuer briddes, to þe preeſt, in þe entre of þe boond of pees of witneſſynge. And þe preeſt ſhal do oon for þe ſynne, and anoþir in to brent ſacrifice; and he ſhal preye for hym, for he haþ ſynned vpon þe deed, and he ſhal halowe þe heed of hym in þat day. And he ſhal ſacre to þe Lord þe daies of his ſeuerynge, offrynge a lombe of o ȝeer for þe ſynne, ſo neuerþelater þat þe raþer daies ben maad as for noȝt, for polut is þe halowynge of hym. Þis is þe lawe of conſecracioun. Whanne þe daies which of auow he demed ben fulfillid, he ſhal brynge hym to þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, and he ſhal offre his offrynge to þe Lord, a lombe of o ȝeer wiþ outen wemme, into brent ſacrifice, and a ſheep of o ȝeer wiþ outen wemme, for ſynne, and a weþir wiþ outen wemme, a peſible ooſt; a leepe forſoþe of þeerf looues, þat ben ſpreynt wiþ oyle, and þinne cakys wiþ out ſourdowȝ, anoynt wiþ oyle, and of echon þe ſacrifices of licours; þe whiche þe preeſt ſhal offre before þe Lord, and he ſhal doo as wel for ſynne as into brent ſacrifices. A weþir forſoþe he ſhal offre a peſible ooſt to þe Lord, offrynge to gidre a leepe of þerf looues, and ſacryfices of licours, þat of maner ben owed. Þanne þe Nazare ſhal be ſhaued at þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, fro þe heere of his conſecracioun; and he ſhal take his heeres, and putte vpon þe fijr, þat is vndurput to þe ſacrifice of peſible þinges; and a ſhuldre ſoþen of þe weþer, and a caake of breed wiþ outen ſowrdowȝ, oon of þe leepe, and o þinne þerf caake, and he ſhal take in þe hoondes of þe Nazare, after þat were ſhauun þe heed of hym. And þe takun þingis eftſones of hym he ſhal arere in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. And þe halowid þinges ſhal be of þe preeſt, as þe litil breſt þat is comaundid to be ſeuered, and þe hippe. Aftir þes þingis þe Nazare may drynke wiyn. Þis is þe lawe of þe Nazare, whanne he auowiþ his offrynge to þe Lord, þe tyme of his conſecracioun, out taak þes þingis þe whiche þe hoond fyndeþ. Aftir þat þat he haþ auowid in þouȝt, ſo he ſhal do, to þe perfeccioun of his holynes. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to Aaron and his ſones, So ȝe ſhulen bleſſe to þe ſones of Yrael, and ȝe ſhulen ſeie to hem, Þe Lord bleſſe to þee, and kepe þee; þe Lord ſhewe his face to þee, and haue mercy of þee; þe Lord conuerte his chere to þee, and ȝeue to þee pees. Þei ſhulen inwardly clepe my name vpon þe ſones of Yrael, and Y ſhal bleſſe to hem.

Capitulum VII. edit

It is doon forſoþe in þe day in þe whiche Moyſes fulfillide þe tabernacle, and areryde it, and anoyntide and halowede wiþ alle his veſſels, þe auter alſo, and his veſſels. And þe prynces of Yrael, and þe heedes of þe meyneis þat weren bi eche lynages, þe mayſtres of hem þat weren noumbred, offerden ȝiftes before þe Lord, ſix waynes couered, wiþ twelue oxen; o wayne offreden two dukes, and oon ox eche. Þei offerden þilk þingis in þe ſiȝt of þe tabernacle. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Tak of hem, þat þei myȝten ſerue in þe ſeruyce of þe tabernacle, and tak þow þilk þingis to þe Leuytis, after þe ordre of her ſeruyce. And ſo whanne Moyſes hadde take þe waynes, and þe oxen, he took hem to þe Leuytes. Two waynes and foure oxen he ȝaf to þe ſones of Gerſon, aftir þat þei hadden nede. Foure oþer waynes and eiȝt oxen he ȝaf to þe ſones of Merary, aftir þe office and her heriynge, vndir þe hoondis of Yþamar, þe ſone of Aaron, preeſt. To þe ſones forſoþe of Caaþ he ȝaf not carrys and oxen, for in þe ſeyntuarie þei ſeruen, and birþens þei beren wiþ her propre ſhuldres. Þanne þe dukes offreden, in þe dedicacioun of þe auter, in þe day þe which it is anoyntid, her offrynge to þe Lord, before þe auter. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Alle duykis bi eche daies offren þei ȝiftes, into þe dedicacioun of þe auter. Þe firſte day offrede his offrynge Naſon, þe ſone of Amynadab, of þe lynage of Juda; and þere weren in it a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peyſe of an hundred and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fiole, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles aftir þe peyſe of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþir ful of tryed floure ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a litil morter, of ten ſiclis of gold, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþir, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne; and in þe ſacrifices of peſible þinges, two oxen, fyue weþeres, fyue geet, lombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis is þe offrynge of Naaſon, þe ſone of Amynadab. Þe ſecounde day offrede Naþanael, þe ſone of Suar, duke of þe lynage of Yſachar, a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundrid and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fiole, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles aftir þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuary, eiþer ful of tryed flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a litil golden morter, hauynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþir, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne; and in ſacrifice of peſible þinges, two oxen, and weþris fyue, geit fyue, lombes of o ȝeer fiue. Þis was þe offrynge of Naþanael, þe ſone of Suar. In þe þridde day þe prince of þe ſones of Zabulon, Elyab, þe ſone of Elon, offride a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundryd and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyole, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe peyſe of þe ſeyntuary, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifyce; a litil golden morter, peyſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþir, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a geit, for ſynne; and in þe ſacrifice of peſible þinges, two oxen, weþris fyue, geit fyue, lombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis is þe offrynge of Heliab, þe ſone of Helon. Þe firþe day þe prynce of þe ſones of Ruben, Heliſur, þe ſone of Sedeur, offred a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundrid and þretti cyclys, a ſilueren fyole, hauynge ſeuenti ſiclis at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarie, eiþer ful of tryed flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a golden morter, peyſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a geit, for ſynne; and into þe ooſtis of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geit fyue, lombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Elyſur, þe ſone of Sedeur. Þe fifþe day þe prynce of þe ſones of Symeon, Salamyel, ſone of Suryſadday, offrede a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundrid and þritti ſicles, a ſilueren fyole, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþir ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, in to ſacrifice; a goldun morter, peyſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþir, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a geet, for ſynne. And into þe ooſtis of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Salamyhel, ſone of Suryſadday. Þe ſixte day þe prince of þe ſones of Gad, Helizaphat, þe ſone of Duel, offerde a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundrid and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a golden morter, peiſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacryfice; and o geet, for ſynne. And into ooſtis of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Elizaphat, ſone of Duel. Þe ſeuenþe day þe prynce of þe ſones of Effraym, Elizama, þe ſone of Amyud, offrede a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundred and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a goldun morter, peiſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacryfice; and a geet, for ſynne. And into ooſtis of peſible þingis, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Elizama, ſone of Amyud. Þe eiȝtiþ day þe prynce of þe ſones of Manaſſe, Gamaliel, þe ſone of Phadaſſur, offerde a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundryd and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a goldun morter, peyſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþir, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne. And into ooſtis of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Gamaliel, ſone of Phadaſſur. Þe nynþe day þe prynce of þe ſones of Beniamyn, Abidan, þe ſone of Gedeon, offerde a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundred and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþir ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a golden morter, peiſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne. And into þe ooſtis of peſible þingis, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Abydan, ſone of Gedeon. Þe tenþe day þe prynce of þe ſones of Dan, Abiezer, þe ſone of Amyſadday, offerde a ſilueren eyſel veſſel, peiſynge an hundrid and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarye, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a goldun morter, peiſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a lomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne. And into ooſtes of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Abiezer, ſone of Amyſadday. Þe enleueþe day þe prince of þe ſones of Aſer, Phegiel, þe ſone of Ochran, offride a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peyſynge an hundryd and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fiol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarie, eiþer ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a goldun morter, peyſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne. And into ooſtes of peſible þinges, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Phegiel, þe ſone of Ochran. Þe twelfþ day þe prynce of þe ſones of Neptalym, Ahira, þe ſone of Henan, offerde a ſilueren eiſel veſſel, peiſynge an hundryd and þretti ſicles, a ſilueren fyol, hauynge ſeuenti ſicles at þe weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarie, eiþir ful of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, into ſacrifice; a golden morter, peiſynge ten ſicles, ful of encenſe; an oxe of þe droue, and a weþer, and a loomb of o ȝeer, into brent ſacrifice; and a goot, for ſynne. And into ooſtis of peſible þingis, oxen two, weþers fyue, geet fyue, loombes of o ȝeer fyue. Þis was þe offrynge of Ahyra, ſone of Henan. Þes offrynges in þe dedicacioun of þe auter ben offred of þe prynces of Irael, in þe day þe which it is ſacred; ſilueren eiſel veſſels twelue, ſilueren fiols twelue, golden morters twelue; ſo þat an hundred and þretti ſicles of ſiluer hadde oon eiſel veſſel, and ſeuenti ſicles o fiol, þat is, in comune of alle veſſels of ſiluer, ſicles two þowſand foure hundred, by peyſe of þe ſeyntuarie; golden morters twelue, ful of encenſe, ten ſicles peiſynge bi weiȝt of þe ſeyntuarie, þat is, togider, ſicles of gold an hundrid and twenti; oxen of þe droue into brent ſacrifice twelue, weþers twelue, loombes of o ȝeer twelue, and þe ſacrifice of licours of hem, twelue geet for ſynne; þe ooſtis of peſible þingis, oxen foure and twenti, weþers ſexti, geet ſexti, loombes of o ȝeer ſexti. Þes þinges ben offrid in þe dedicacioun of þe auter, whanne it is anoynt. And whanne Moyſes went into þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, þat he conſeile þe anſwer of God, he herde a voyce of ſpekynge to hym fro þe propiciatorye, þat was vpon þe arke of witneſſynge, bitwix þe two cherubyn, and fro whens he ſpak to hym.

Capitulum VIII. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to Aaron, and þow ſhalt ſeie to hym, Whanne þow ſettiſt þe ſeuen lanterns, þe candelſtyke be arered in þe ſowþ part; þis þanne comaund, þat þe lanterns aȝen þe norþ forn aȝens biholden to þe table of þe looues of propoſicioun, aȝens þat part þat þe candilſtik biholdiþ, þei owen to liȝten. And Aaron dyde, and putte yn lanterns vpon þe candelſtyk, as þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes. Þis forſoþe was þe makynge of þe candelſtik; of betun out golde, as wel þe myddil ſtok as al þe þinges þat of eiþer ſide of þe ȝerdes weren born out; after þe enſaumple þat þe Lord ſhewide to Moyſes, ſo he wrouȝte þe candelſtyk. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Tak þe Leuytes fro þe myddil of þe ſones of Yrael; and þow ſhalt purifie hem aftir þis rijt. Be þei ſpreynt wiþ water of purgynge, and ſhaue þei alle þe heerys of her fleſh. And whanne þei han waſſhun her cloþes, and weren clenſid, take þei an oxe of þe droue, and his ſacrifice of licours, tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle; and anoþir oxe of þe droue þow ſhalt take for ſynne; and þow ſhalt ſette to þe Leuytes before þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, clepid togidere al þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael. And whanne þe Leuytes weren before þe Lord, þe ſones of Irael ſhulen putte her hoondes vpon hem; and Aaron ſhal offre þe Leuytes, a ȝift in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord of þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei ſeruen in þe ſeruyce of hym. And þe Leuytes ſhulen putte her hoondes vpon þe heedis of þe oxen, of þe whiche oon þow ſhalt doo for ſynne, and anoþer into brent ſacrifice of þe Lord, þat þow preye for hem. And þow ſhalt ſette þe Leuytes in þe ſiȝt of Aaron, and of his ſones, and þow ſhalt ſacre hem offred to þe Lord; and ſeuer fro þe myddil of þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei be myyn. And afterward goo þei in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, þat þei ſeruen to me; and ſo þow ſhalt puryfye and ſacre hem, into þe offrynge of þe Lord, for þurȝ ȝift þei ben ȝeue to me of þe ſones of Yrael. For þe firſt goten þat opnen al wombe in Yrael Y haue takun hem; myyn forſoþe ben al þe fyrſte goten of þe ſones of Yrael, as wel of men as of beeſtis, fro þe day þat I ſmoot al þe firſte goten in þe loonde of Egipte, I haue halowed hem to me. And Y haue take þe Leuytes for al þe firſte goten of þe ſones of Yrael; and Y haue take hem bi ȝifte to Aaron and his ſones, fro þe myddil of þe puple, þat þei ſeruen to me for Yrael, in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, and preien for hem, leſt þere be in þe puple veniaunce, if þei weren hardi to neiȝ to þe ſeyntuarye. And Moyſes and Aaron diden, and al þe multytude of þe ſones of Yrael, vpon þe Leuytes, þat þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes. And þei ben purified, and þei waſſheden her cloþes; and Aaron arerede hem in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord, and preiede for hem, þat puryfyed þei weenden into her offices, into þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, before Aaron and his ſones, as þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes, of þe Leuytes ſo it is doon. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Þis is þe lawe of þe Leuytes; fro twenti ȝeer and aboue þei ſhulen weende in, þat þei mynyſtren in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and whanne þe fyftiþe ȝeer of age þei han fulfillid, þei ſhulen ceeſe to ſerue. And þei ſhulen be þe ſeruauntes of her bryþeren in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, þat þei kepen þinges þat weren comaundid to hem; þo forſoþe werkis doo þei not; ſo þow ſhalt diſpoſe þe Leuytes in her wardis.

Capitulum IX. edit

The Lord ſpak to Moyſes, in deſeert of Synay, þe ſecounde ȝeer aftir þat þei weren went out of þe loond of Egipte, þe firſt moneþ, ſeiynge, Þe ſones of Yrael doo þei paſke in his tyme, þe fourtenþe day of þis moneþ, at euen, aftir alle þe ſerymonyes and þe iuſtifiyngis of it. And Moyſes comaundide to þe ſones of Irael, þat þei ſhulden doo paſke; þe whiche diden in his tyme, þe fourtenþe day of þe moneþ, at euen, in þe mount of Synay; aftir alle þingis þat þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes, diden þe ſones of Yrael. And loo! ſumme vnclene vpon þe ſoule of man, þat myȝten not doo paſke in þat day, goynge to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeiden to hem, Vnclene we ben vpon þe ſoule of a man; whi be we bigilid, þat we mowen not offre þe offrynge to þe Lord in his tyme, amonge þe ſones of Yrael? To whom anſwerde Moyſes, Stoonde ȝe, þat I counſeil, what þe Lord comaundiþ of ȝow. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, A man þat were vnclene vpon a ſoule, oþer in þe fer weye, in þe folk of ȝoure kynde, do he paſke to þe Lord þe ſecounde moneþe, þe fourtenþe day of þe moneþ, at euen; wiþ þerf looues and wijlde letuſes he ſhal eete it. Þei ſhulen not leeue of it eny þing vnto þe morwe, and boon of it þei ſhulen not breeke; al þe rijt of phaſe þei ſhulen kepe. And if eny forſoþe is clene, and was not in þe weye, and ȝit dide not þe paſke, þat ſoule ſhal be out putte fro his puples, for ſacrifice he offrede not to þe Lord in his tyme; his ſynne he ſhal bere. A pilgrime forſoþe and a comlynge, if þere were anentis ȝow, do he paſke to þe Lord, aftir þe cerymonyes and iuſtifiyngis of it; þe ſame heeſt ſhal be anentis ȝou, as wel of þe comlyng as of þe wiþ ynne born. Þerfor þe day in þe which þe tabernacle is arerid, couerde it a clowd; fro euen forſoþe vpon þe tent was as liknes of fier vnto þe morwe. So it was doon contynuly, bi þe day couerde it a clowd, and bi þe nyȝt as liknes of fier. And whanne þe clowd was takun awey, þat kepte þe tabernacle, þanne wenten forþe þe ſones of Yrael, and in þe place where ſtood þe clowd, þere þei ſetten tentes. At þe maundement of þe Lord þei wenten forþe, and at þe maundement of hym þei picchiden þe tabernacle. Al þe daies in þe whiche ſtood þe clowd vpon þe tabernacle, þei dwelten in þe ſame place. And if it felle þat myche tyme it dwelte vpon it, þe ſones of Yrael weren in þe biſi waardes of þe Lord, and þei wenten not forþe, as feel dais as þe clowde were vpon þe tabernacle. At þe maundement of þe Lord, þei arereden tentes, and at þe maundement of hym þei putten down. And if þe clowd were fro euen to þe morwe, and anoon þe morwe tide laft of, þei wenten forþe; and if aftir day and nyȝt it ȝede awey, þei ſcaterden þe tentes. Wheþer twey or o moneþ, or lenger tyme, it were vpon þe tabernacle, þe ſones of Yrael dwelliden in þe ſame place, and wenten not forþe; anoon forſoþe as it wente a wey, þei meueden þe tentes. Bi þe word of þe Lord þei piȝten tentes, and bi þe word of hym þei wenten forþe; and þei weren in þe biſy waardes of þe Lord, after þe heeſt of hym, bi þe hoond of Moyſes.

Capitulum X. edit

The Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Mak to þee two beten out ſilueren trompes, wiþ þe whiche þow mayſt clepe togidere þe multitude, whanne þe tentis ben to be meued. And whanne þow ſowneſt wiþ þi trompes, al þe folk ſhal be gederid to þee at þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. If onys þow ſowneſt, ſhulen come to þee þe princes and þe heedis of þe multitude of Irael; if forſoþe lenger and ſtowndmeel trompynge ſowne, þe firſte, þat ben at þe eeſt plage, ſhulen meue þe tentis. In þe ſecounde forſoþe ſownynge and euen ȝollynge of þe trompe, ſhulen rere þe tentys þat dwellen at þe ſowþ; and aftir þis maner þat oþer ſhulen doo, ȝollynge þe trompes into weendynge forþe. Whanne forſoþe þe puple is to gederynge togidre, ſhal be ſymple criynge of trompes, and not ſtowndmeel þei ſhulen ȝolle. Þe ſones of Aaron preeſt ſhulen ſowne wiþ þe trompes, and þis ſhal be lawful euerlaſtynge in ȝoure generaciouns. If ȝe goon out to batayle fro ȝoure loond aȝens þe enemyes þat ſtryuen aȝens ȝow, ȝe ſhulen crye wiþ ȝollynge trompes, and it ſhal be recordynge of ȝow before þe Lord ȝour God, þat ȝe ben delyuerid fro þe hondes of ȝoure enemyes. And if eny tyme ȝe ſhulen haue meetſhip, and feeſte daies, and kalendes, ȝe ſhulen ſynge wiþ trompes vpon þe brent ſacrifices and þe peſible ſleyn ſacrifices, þat þei ben to ȝow into recordynge of ȝoure God; Y þe Lord ȝoure God. Þe ſecounde ȝeer, þe ſecounde moneþ, þe twentiþe day of þe moneþ, þe clowd rered vp fro þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. And þe ſones of Yrael ben goon forþe bi her companyes, fro þe deſeert of Synay; and þe clowd reſtyde in þe wildernes of Pharan. And þe firſt meueden tentes, after þe heeſt of þe Lord doon in þe hoond of Moyſes, þe ſones of Juda bi her companyes, of whom þe prince was Naaſon, þe ſone of Amynadab. In þe lynage of þe ſones of Yſachar prince was Naþanael, þe ſone of Suar. In þe lynage of Zabulon prince was Heliab, þe ſone of Helon. And þe tabernacle is ſett down, þe which berynge wenten out þe ſones of Gerſon, and of Merarye. And þe ſones of Ruben wenten forþe bi companyes in her ordre, whos prince was Eliſur, þe ſone of Sedeur. In þe lynage forſoþe of þe ſones of Symeon prince was Salamyel, þe ſone of Suryſadday. Forſoþe in þe lynage of Gad was prynce Heliſaphat, þe ſone of Duel. And wenten forþe þe Caatþites, berynge þe ſeyntuarie; as longe þe tabernacle was bore, to þe tyme þat þei camen to þe rerynge place. And þe ſones of Effraym meueden tentis, by her companyes, in whos ooſt prince was Elizama, þe ſone of Amyud. In þe lynage forſoþe of þe ſones of Manaſſe prynce was Gamaliel, þe ſone of Phadaſſur. And in þe lynage of Beniamyn duke was Abidan, þe ſone of Gedeon. Laſte of alle þe tentes wenten forþe þe ſones of Dan, bi her companyes, in whos ooſt prynce was Aiezer, þe ſone of Amyſadday. In þe lynage forſoþe of þe ſones of Aſer prynce was Phegiel, þe ſone of Ochran. And in þe lynage of þe ſones of Neptalym prince was Ahira, þe ſone of Henan. Þeſe ben þe tentes and þe goyngis forþe of þe ſones of Yrael, bi her companyes, whanne þei wenten out. And Moyſes ſeide to Heliab, þe ſone of Raguel Madianyte, his coſyn, We goon forþe to þe place þat þe Lord is to ȝyuynge to vs; com wiþ vs, þat we doon good to þee, for þe Lord good þingis haþ bihoot to Irael. To whom he anſwerde, I ſhal not goo wiþ þee, but I ſhal turne aȝen into my loond, in þe which Y am bore. And he, Wole þow not, he ſeiþ, vs forſaak; þow forſoþe haſt knowe in what places bi deſeert we owen to ſette tentes, and þow ſhalt be oure leder; and whanne þow comyſt wiþ vs, what þing beſt were of þe ritcheſſis þat þe Lord is to ȝyuynge to vs, we ſhulen ȝyue to þee. Þanne þei wenten forþe fro þe mownt of þe Lord, weie of þre daies; and þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord wente before hem, bi þree daies, purueiynge þe place of þe tentes. And þe clowd of þe Lord was vpon hem bi þe day, whanne þei ſhulden goon. And whanne þe arke ſhulde be arered, Moyſes ſeide, Aryſe, Lord, and be ſcateryd þin enemyes, and fleeȝ þei fro þi face þat haten þee; whanne forſoþe it was ſette down, he ſeide, Torn aȝen, Lord, to þe multitude of þe ooſt of Yrael.

Capitulum XI. edit

Ther amonge was ſprongun a grucchynge of þe puple, as of men ſorwynge for þe traueyl aȝens þe Lord; þe whiche whanne he hadde herde, he was wrooþ; and þe fier of þe Lord, tend into hem, deuowride þe latter part of þe tentes. And whanne þe puple hadde cryede to Moyſes, Moyſes preiede to þe Lord, and þe fier is ſowpyd vp. And he clepide þe name of þat place Tendynge, forþi þat þe fier of þe Lord was tende aȝens hem. Þe comoun forſoþe of eiþir kynde þat hadde ſteyd vp wiþ hem, brent wiþ deſijr of fleſh, ſittynge and wepinge, ioynede to hem togider þe ſones of Yrael, and ſeiþ, Who ſhal ȝyue to vs to eete fleſh? We recorden of þe fiſſhes þat we eten in Egipte gladly; into mynde come to vs þe goordis, and þe peponys, and þe leeke, and þe vniowns, and þe garlekes; oure ſoule is drye; noon oþir þing byholden our eyen but manna. Manna forſoþe was as þe ſeed coryaundre, of þe colour of bdelli. And þe puple wenten abowt, gederynge it, and breke in a gryndſtoon, or powned in a morter, ſeeþinge in a pot, and makynge of it litil þinne kakis of ſauour, as of oylid breed. And whanne þe dewe deſcendide þe nyȝt vpon þe tentes, deſcendide togider and manna. Þanne Moyſes herde þe puple wepynge bi meynees, and eche bi þe dores of his tent; and þe woodnes of þe Lord was ful wrooþ, but and to Moyſes it was ſeen a þing vnſuffrable. And he ſeiþ to þe Lord, Whi haſt þow tourmentid þi ſeruaunt? whi fynde I not grace before þee, and whi haſt þow put þe birþen of al þe puple vpon me? wheþer Y haue conceyued al þis multitude, and goten it, þat þow ſey to me, Ber hem in þi boſum, as a noryſhe is woned to bere a litil child, and bere into þe loond for þe which þow haſt ſwore to þe faders of hem? wherof to me fleſh þat Y ȝyue to ſo myche a multitude? Þei wepen before me, ſeiynge, Ȝif to vs fleſh, þat we eten; Y may not aloone ſuſteyne al þis puple, for it is greuows to me. If oþir weies it is ſeen to þee, Y preye þat þow ſlee me, and Y fynde grace in þin eyen, þat wiþ ſo myche yuels Y be not turmentide. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Geder to me ſeuenti men of þe aldren of Yrael, þe whiche þow haſt knowun, þat þei ben oolde of þe puple, and mayſtris; and þow ſhalt lede hem to þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, and þow ſhalt make þere to ſtoonde wiþ þee, þat Y deſcende, and ſpeke to þee; and Y ſhal take a wey of þi ſpiryte, and ȝyue to hem, þat þei ſuſteynen wiþ þee þe birþen of þe puple, and not þow alone be greued. To þe puple forſoþe þow ſhalt ſeye, Be ȝe halowid, to morwe ȝe ſhulen eete fleſh; Y forſoþe haue herde ȝow to ſeye, Who ſhal ȝyue to vs metis of fleſh? wel it was to vs in Egipt; þat þe Lord ȝyue to ȝow fleſh, and eete not o day, ne two, ne fyue, or tenne, ne twenti forſoþe, but vnto þe moneþ of days, to þe tyme þat it come out bi ȝoure nooſe þrillis, and be turnyd into fomynge; forþi þat ȝe han putte abak þe Lord, þe which is in þe myddil of ȝow, and han wepte before hym, ſeiynge, Whi wenten we out of Egipte? And Moyſes ſeiþ to þe Lord, Six hundryd þouſandes of foot men ben of þis puple, and þou ſeyſt, Y ſhal ȝyue to hem etynge of fleſh an hool moneþ. Wheþer a multitude of oxen and of ſheep ſhal be ſlayn, þat it may ſuffice to meete, or alle þe fiſſhes of þe ſee ſhulen be gedryd in oon, þat þei fulfillen hem? To whom anſwerde þe Lord, Wheþer þe hoond of þe Lord be vnmiȝty? now now þou ſhalt ſe, wheþer my word in dede be fulfillid. Þanne Moyſes came, and toolde to þe puple þe wordis of þe Lord, gedrynge ſeuenti men of þe aldren of Yrael, þe whiche he made ſtonde about þe tabernacle. And þe Lord cam down bi þe clowd, and ſpak to hym, takynge of þe ſpiryt þat was in Moyſes, and ȝyuynge to þe ſeuenty men; and whanne þe ſpiryte hadde reſtid in hem, þei profecyden, ne more ouer ceſiden. Þere dwelten forſoþe in þe tentis two men, of whom oon was clepid Heldad, and þat oþer Medad, vpon whom reſtide þe ſpiryt; for and þei weren diſcryued, and þei wenten not out to þe tabernacle. And whanne þei propheciden in þe tentis, rennede a child, and toolde to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Heldad and Medad prophecien in þe tentes. Anoon Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, þe ſeruaunt of Moyſes, and choſun of many, ſeiþ, My lord, Moyſes, defend hem. And he, What, he ſeiþ, enuyeſt þow for me? who ȝyueþ þat þe puple prophecie, and God ȝyue to hem his ſpiryt? And Moyſes is turned aȝen, and þe more þurȝ birþe of Yrael into þe tentes. A wynde forſoþe goynge out fro þe Lord, brouȝte cauȝt curlowis ouer ſee fro þe Lord, and he lafte into þe tentis, bi þe weye, as myche as o day myȝte be maad redy, on eche ſide of þe tentis bi enuyroun; and þei flowen in þe eyre two cubitis on heiȝt vpon þe erþe. Þanne þe puple ariſynge al þat day and nyȝt and þat oþer day, gederide a multitude of curluwis; þe which made redi ten chorys; a chore is a meſure of þretti buſſhels; and drieden hem bi enuyroun of þe tentes. Ȝit fleſh was in þe teeþe of hem, ne defautide ſiche a maner meet; and loo! þe wodenes of þe Lord ſtyrid into þe puple, ſmoot hem wiþ a ful greet veniaunce. And þat place is clepid Þe ſepulcris of couetynge; þere forſoþe þei byrieden þe puple þat deſyride fleſh. And þei goon out fro Þe ſepulcres of Luſt, camen into Aſſeroþ, and dwelten þere.

Capitulum XII. edit

And Mary ſpak and Aaron aȝens Moyſes, for þe Eþiopis his wijf, and ſeiden, Wheþer oonli bi Moyſes haþ þe Lord ſpokun? wheþer not and to vs alſo he haþ ſpokun? Þe which whann þe Lord hadde herde, he was ful wrooþ. Moyſes forſoþe was mooſt mylde man, ouer alle men þat dwelten on erþe. And þe Lord anoon ſpak to hym and Aaron and Mary, Goo ȝe þre alone out to þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees. And whanne þei weren comyn ynne, þe Lord deſcendide in a piler of a clowde, and ſtood in þe entre of þe tabernacle, clepynge Aaron, and Marye; þe which whanne weren goon, ſeide to hem, Here ȝe my wordes; if eny were amonge ȝow þe prophete of þe Lord, in viſioun Y ſhal apere to hym, oþer bi ſweuen I ſhal ſpeke to hym. And he ſeiþ, And not ſichon my ſeruaunt Moyſes, þat in al myn hows is mooſt trewe; mouþ forſoþe to mouþ I ſhal ſpeke to hym, and opynly, and not bi derkneſſes and figuris he ſeeþ God. Whi þanne dreden ȝe not to bacbite to my ſeruaunt Moyſes? And wrooþ aȝens hem, wente aweie. Þe clowde forſoþe wente awey, þat was vpon þe tabernacle, and loo! Marye aperide ſhynynge wiþ lepre as ſnowe. And whanne Aaron hadde beholdun hir, and ſawȝ hir þurȝ hilid wiþ lepre, ſeiþ to Moyſes, My lord, Y preye, ne ſett þow not to vs þis ſynne, þat folily we han doon, ne þis be maad as deed, and as deed wiþ ynne wombe þat is þrowun out fro þe wombe of his moder; loo! now þe myddil of her fleſh is deuowrid wiþ lepre. And Moyſes cryed to þe Lord, ſeiynge, Lord, I preye, heel hir. To whom anſwerde þe Lord, If þe fader of hir hadde ſpitte into hir face, wheþer ſhulde ſhe not namelich ſeuen days wiþ reednes be vnderhilid? Be ſhe ſeuered ſeuen days out of þe tentis, and afterward ſhe ſhal be aȝen clepid. And ſo Mari is putte out of þe tentis ſeuen dayes; and þe puple is not meued fro þat place, to þe tyme þat Marye is aȝenclepid. And þe puple wente forþe fro Aſſeroþ, piȝte þe tentes in þe deſeert of Pharan.

Capitulum XIII. edit

And þere þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Seend men þat biholden þe loond of Chanaan, þat I am to ȝyuynge þe ſones of Yrael, eche of eche lynagis, of þe princes. And Moyſes dide þat þe Lord hadde comaundid, fro þe deſeert of Pharan ſeendynge men princes, of whom þes ben þe names. Of þe lynage of Ruben, Semmya, þe ſone of Zeccur. Of þe linage of Symeon, Saphat, þe ſone of Hury. Of þe lynage of Juda, Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone. Of þe lynage of Yſachar, Agal, þe ſone of Joſeph. Of þe lynage of Effraym, Oſee, þe ſone of Nun. Of þe lynage of Beniamyn, Phalti, þe ſone of Raphu. Of þe lynage of Zabulon, Gedihel, þe ſone of Sody. Of þe lynage of Joſeph, Gaddi, of þe ſeptre of Manaſſe, þe ſone of Suſy. Of þe lynage of Dan, Ammyhel, þe ſone of Gemalli. Of þe lynage of Aſer, Sur, þe ſone of Mychael. Of þe lynage of Neptalym, Nabdi, þe ſone of Naphi. Of þe lynage of Gad, Guhel, þe ſone of Machi. Þes ben þe names of þe men, þe whiche Moyſes ſent to biholde þe loond of Chanaan; and he clepide Oſee, þe ſone of Nun, Joſue. Þanne Moyſes ſente hem to biholde þe loond of Chanaan, and ſeyde to hem, Stye ȝe vp bi þe ſowþ plage; and whanne ȝe come into þe hillis, beholde ȝe þe loond, what it is; and þe puple þat is dweller of it, wheþir it be ſtronge, or feble, fewe in noumbre, or many; þat loond, good, or yuel; what maner citees, wallid, or wiþ outen wallis; þe erþe, fat, or bareyn, wodi, or wiþ outen trees. Be ȝe comfortyd, and brynge ȝe to vs of þe fruytis of þat loond. It was forſoþe tyme, whanne now þe before rijp grapes myȝte be eete. And whanne þei ſteyden vp, þei enſerchiden þe loond, fro þe deſeert of Syn vnto Rohob, hem entrynge Emaþ. And þei ſtyeden vp to þe ſowþ, and camen into Ebron, where weren Achyman, and Siſay, and Tholmay, þe ſone of Enaþ; forſoþe Ebron ſeuen ȝeris before Thannyn, þe cytee of Egipte, is maad. And þei goynge vnto þe rennynge watir of þe cluſtre, kyttiden a vyn wiþ his grape, þe which two men beeren in a ſtaf; of þe powmgarnettis forſoþe, and of þe figis of þat place þei token, þe which is clepid Neheleſcol, þat is, þe rennynge water of þe cluſtre, for þi þat þe children of Yrael brouȝten þens a cluſtre. And þe ſpiers of þe loond turneden aftir fourti days, al þe regioun goon about, þei camen to Moyſes, and to Aaron, and to al þe companye of þe ſones of Yrael, into deſeert of Pharan þat is in Cades. And þei ſpeken to hem, and to al þe multitude þei ſhewiden þe fruytis of þe loond. And þei tolden, ſeiynge, We camen to þe loond, to þe which ȝe ſenten vs, þe whiche forſoþe flowiþ mylk and hony, as of þes fruytis it may be knowe; but mooſt ſtronge dwellers it haþ, and greet citees, and wallid; þe lynage of Enachym we han ſeen þere; Amalech dwelliþ in þe ſowþ; Eþeus, and Jebuzeus, and Amorreus in þe mownteyns; Chananeus forſoþe dwelliþ biſide þe ſee, and about þe flodis of Jordan. Amonge þes þingis Caleph ſwagynge þe grucchynge of þe puple, þat ſpronge aȝens Moyſes, ſeiþ, Stie we vp, and weeld we þis loond, for we mowen gete it. Oþer forſoþe þat weren wiþ hym, ſeiden, Nay, to þis puple we ben not myȝti to ſtye vp, for ſtrenger þan we he is. And þei myſſeiden of þe loond þat þei bihelden, anentis þe ſones of Yrael, ſeiynge, Þe loond þat we han paſſid deuowriþ his dwellers; þe puple þe which we han biholde is of huge ſtature; þere we ſeyen þingis paſſynge þe courſe of kynde, of þe ſones of Enach, of þe kynde of geauntis, to whiche comparyſound as locuſtis we weren ſeen.

Capitulum XIIII. edit

Therfore rerynge crye al þe puple, wepte þat nyȝt, and grucchiden aȝens Moyſes and Aaron, þat is alle þe ſones of Yrael, ſeiynge, Wolde God we weren deed in Egipte, and not in þis waſt wildernes; wolde God we periſſhen, and þat þe Lord lede vs not into þis loond, leſt we fallen bi ſwerd, and wyues and oure free children ben lad caytyues; wheþir were it not beter to turne aȝen into Egipte? And þei ſeiden oon to þat oþere, Ordeyn we to vs a duke, and turne we aȝen into Egipte. Þe which þing herd, Moyſes and Aaron fellen redy into þe erþe, before al þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael. And forſoþe Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, and Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone, þe whiche and þei hadden goon þe loond, renten her cloþes, and to al þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael ſpeken, Þe loond þat we han enuyrownde is ful good; if þe Lord were mercyful, he ſhal lede vs into it, and take þe loonde flowynge mylk and hony. Wole ȝe not be rebel aȝens þe Lord, ne drede ȝe þe puple of þis loond, for as breed ſo we may deuowre hem; þere is goo from hem al helpe, þe Lord is wiþ vs, wole ȝe not drede. And whanne al þe multitude cryede, and wiþ ſtonus wolden þrowe hem down, þe glorye of þe Lord aperide vpon þe roof of þe boond of pees, ſeynge alle þe ſones of Yrael. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, How longe ſhal þis puple bacbite to me? How longe ſhulen þei not leue to me, in alle þe ſignes þat Y haue doon before hem? Y ſhal þerfor ſmyte hem wiþ peſtilence, and waaſt; þee forſoþe Y ſhal make a prince vpon a greet folk of kynde, and a ſtrenger þan þis is. And Moyſes ſeyde to þe Lord, Þat þe Egipcyens heren, of whos myddil þow haſt ladde out þis puple, and þe dwellers of þis loond, þe whiche han herde, for þow, Lord, in þis puple be, and wiþ face to face þow be ſeen, and þi clowde defende hem, and in a pyler of a clowde þow goo before hem bi day, and in a pyler of fier bi nyȝt, þat þow ſlee ſo myche a multitude as o man, and ſeyn, þow myȝtiſt not brynge yn þis puple in þe loond for þe whiche he ſwore, and þerfor he ſlew hem in wildernes. Þanne þe ſtrengþe of þe Lord be magnyfied, as þow haſt ſworne, ſeiynge, þe Lord pacient, and of myche mercy, doynge aweye wickedneſſe and hidows treſpaſſis, and no man giltles forſakynge, þe which viſitiſt þe ſynnes of fadres into ſones into þe þridde and þe ferþe generacioun. Forȝyue, Y preye, þe ſynne of þis þi puple, aftir þe greetnes of þi mercy, as þow were merciable to hem goynge out fro Egipte into þis place. And þe Lord ſeide, Y haue forȝyue to hem, after þi word. Y lyue; and fulfillid ſhal be þe glorye of þe Lord, in al þe loond; neþeles al men þat han ſeen my maieſte, and my ſignes, and þat Y haue do in Egipte and in wildernes, and han temptid me now bi ten ſiþes, ne han obeſhid to my voys, ſhulen not ſeen þe loond for þe which Y haue ſwore to þe fadris of hem, ne eny of hem þat han bacbytide to me, ſhal ſe it. My ſeruaunt Caleph, þat ful of anoþer ſpyryt haþ folwid me, I ſhal lede into þis loond, þat he haþ goon about, and þe ſeed of hym ſhal welde it. For þe Amelechites and Chanane dwellen in þe valeys, to morwe meue ȝe þe tentis, and ȝe ſhulen torne aȝen into wildirnes, bi þe weie of þe rede ſee. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeiynge, How longe þis mooſt ſhrewid multitude grucchyþ aȝens me? Þe pleyntes of þe ſones of Yrael Y haue herde. Sey þanne to hem, Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord; as ȝe han ſpokun, herynge me, ſo Y ſhal do to ȝow; in þis wildirnes ſhulen ligge ȝoure careyns. Ȝee alle þat ben noumbrid, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, and han grucchid aȝens me, ȝe ſhulen not goon into þe loond, vpon þe which Y haue reryde myn hoond, þat Y make ȝow to dwelle, out take Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone, and Joſue, þe ſone of Nun. Ȝoure litil children forſoþe, of which ȝe han ſeyde, þat þei ſhulen be to preye to þe enemyes, Y ſhal lede yn, þat þei ſeen þe loond, þe which diſpleſid to ȝow. Ȝoure forſoþe careyn ſhal ligge in wildirnes; ȝoure ſones ſhulen be vagaunt in deſeert fourti ȝeer, and þei ſhulen bere ȝoure fornycacioun, to þe tyme þat þe careyns of ȝoure faders ben waſtid in deſeert, after þe noumbre of fourti days, in þe whiche ȝe han biholdun þe loond; a ȝeer for a day ſhal be in noumbrid, and fourti ȝeer ȝe ſhulen reſſeyue ȝoure wickidneſſes, and ȝe ſhulen knowe my veniaunce. For as I haue ſpoke, ſo I ſhal doo to al þis multitude mooſt ſhrewid, þat haþ togidir ryſun aȝens me in þis wildernes; it ſhal fayle, and dye. Þerfor alle þe men þat Moyſes ſente to beholde þe loond, and þe whiche turned aȝen, maden al þe multitude grucchen aȝens hym, myſſeiynge of þe loond, þat it was yuel, ben deed, and ſmytun in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. Joſue forſoþe, þe ſone of Nun, and Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone, lyueden, of alle þat wenten to beholde þe loond. And Moyſes ſpake alle þes wordes to alle þe ſones of Yrael, and þe puple weilide ful myche. And, loo! eerly firſte aryſynge, þei ſteiden vp þe cop of þe hil, and ſeiden, We ben redi to ſtye vp to þe place, of þe which þe Lord haþ ſpokun, for we han ſynned. To whom Moyſes, Whi, he ſeiþ, ouerpaſſen ȝe þe word of þe Lord, þe which þing ſhal not falle to ȝow into good ſpede? Wole ȝe not ſtye vp, forſoþe God is not wiþ ȝow, leſt ȝe fallen before ȝoure enemyes. Amalechitees and Chanane ben before ȝow, bi whos ſwerd ȝe ſhulen falle, for þi þat ȝe wolden not aſſent to þe Lord, ne þe Lord ſhal be wiþ ȝow. And þei blyndid togidere ſtyeden vp into þe cop of þe hil; þe arke forſoþe of þe teſtament of þe Lord and Moyſes wenten not fro þe tentis. And Amalecchite deſcendide, and Chanane, þat dwelten in þe hil, and ſmytynge hem, and hewynge togidere, purſueden hem vnto Horma.

Capitulum XV. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, Whanne ȝe weren goon into þe loond of ȝoure dwellynge þat I ſhal ȝyue to ȝow, and ſhulen doo offrynge to þe Lord into brent ſacrifice, or ſlayn peſible ſacrifice, quytynge þe auowes, oþir wilfulli offrynge ȝiftis, oþer in ȝoure ſolempnytees brennynge ſmelle of ſwetnes to þe Lord, of oxen, or of ſheep; who ſo euer offriþ ſlayn offrynge, þe ſacrifies of tryed flour, þe tenþe part of ephi, ſpreynt wiþ oyle, þe which þe meſure ſhal haue þe fourþe part of hyn, and wyn to helde þe ſacrifices of licours, of þe ſame meſure, he ſhal ȝyue into brent ſacrifyce, or into ſlayn. Bi eche loombis and weþers ſhal be þe ſacrifice of tryed flour, of two dymes, þat be ſpreynt wiþ oyle, of þe þridde part of hyn; and wyn to þe ſacrifice of licour, of þe þridde part of þe ſame meſure, he ſhal offre into þe ſmelle of ſwetnes to þe Lord. Whanne forſoþe of oxen he doþ brent ſacrifice, oþer ooſt, þat þow fulfille þe vowe, oþer peſible ſlayn ſacrifices, þow ſhalt ȝyue, bi eche oxen, of tryed flour ten dymes, ſpreynt wiþ oyle, þat ſhal haue half of þe meſure of hyn, and wyn to þe ſacrifices of licours to ben helde, of þe ſame meſure, into offrynge of mooſt ſwete ſmell to þe Lord. So ȝe ſhulen doo bi eche oxen, and weþers, and loombes, and geetis; as wel wiþ ynne getun as pilgrymes wiþ þe ſame rijt ſhulen offre ſacrifices; o maundement ſhal be and dome, as wel to ȝow as to þe comlyngis of þe loond. Þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeie to hem, Whanne ȝe comen into þe loond þat I ſhal ȝyue to ȝou, and eete of þe looues of þat regioun, ȝe ſhulen ſeuer þe firſt fruytis to þe Lord of ȝoure meetis; as of þe flores þe firſt fruytis ȝe ſhulen ſeuere, ſo and of ſowelis ȝe ſhulen ȝyue þe firſt fruytis to þe Lord. Þat if bi ignoraunce ȝe paſſen biſides eny þing of þes þat þe Lord haþ ſpokun to Moyſes, and haþ comaundide bi hym to ȝow, fro þe day þat he bigunne to comaunde, and ouer, and weren forȝetun to do, þe multitude ſhal offre a calf of þe droue, brent ſacrifice into mooſt ſwete ſmelle to þe Lord, and ſacrifices of it, and offerd lycours, as þe cerymonyes of it axen, and a goot for ſynne. And þe preeſt ſhal preye for al þe multitude of þe ſones of Irael, and it ſhal be forȝeuen, for not wilfuli þei ſynneden; neþeles offrynge þe encens to þe Lord for hem ſilf, and for ſynne, and her errour; and it ſhal be forȝouun to al þe folk of þe ſones of Irael, and to þe comlyngis þat pilgrymagen amonges hem, for þe blame is of al þe puple bi ignoraunce. Þat if a lijf vnknowynge ſynne, he ſhal offre a ſhe goot of o ȝeer for his ſynne; and þe preeſt ſhal preye for hym, for vnwityngly he ſynnede before þe Lord; and he ſhal purchaſe to hym forȝyuenes, and it ſhal be forȝeue to hym. As wel to þe wiþynne born as to þe comlyngis, o lawe ſhal be of alle þat ſynnen vnknowynge. A lijf forſoþe þat bi pride eny þing of ſynne doþ, wheþer citeſeyn he be, oþer pilgrime, for aȝens þe Lord he was rebel, he ſhal periſhe fro his puple; þe word forſoþe of þe Lord he diſpiſide, and þe heeſt of hym he made at nouȝt; þerfor he ſhal be doon awey, and he ſhal bere his wickidnes. And it was doon whanne þe ſones of Yrael weren in wildernes, and þei fonden a man gederynge ſtikkis in þe holi day, þei brouȝten hym to Moyſes and Aaron, and to al þe multitude; þe whiche cloſeden hym into priſoun, vnknowynge what vpon hym þei oweden to doo. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Bi deeþ die þis man; þrow hym down wiþ ſtonus al þe folk wiþ out þe tentis. And whanne þei hadden ladde hym wiþ out, þei þrewen hym down wiþ ſtonus, and he was deed, as þe Lord comaundide. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, þat þei maken to hem hemmes bi foure corners of þe mantils, puttynge in hem iacynctyn filetis; þe whiche whanne þei ſeen, þei recorden of alle þe maundementis of þe Lord, þat þei folowen not her owne þouȝtis and eyen, by dyuerſe þingis lecherynge; but more þei hauynge mynde of þe heeſtis of þe Lord, doon hem, and ben holy to her God. I þe Lord ȝoure God, þat haue ladde ȝow out of þe loond of Egipte, þat Y were ȝoure God.

Capitulum XVI. edit

Loo! forſoþe Chore, þe ſone of Yſuar, þe ſone of Caaþ, þe ſone of Leuy, and Datan and Abyron, þe ſones of Heliab, and Hon, þe ſone of Pheleph, of þe ſones of Ruben, aryſen aȝens Moyſes, and oþer of þe ſones of Yrael, two hundryd and fifty noble men of þe ſynagoge, and þe whiche in tyme of counſeil bi names weren clepid. And whanne þei ſtoden aȝens Moyſes and Aaron, þei ſeiden, It ſufficiþ to vs, for al þe multitude of halowis is, and in hem is þe Lord; whi ben ȝe arered vpon þe puple of þe Lord? Þe whiche þing whanne Moyſes hadde herde, he felle redy into þe face; and he ſpak to Chore, and to al þe multitude; Eerly, he ſeiþ, þe Lord ſhal make knowun whiche perteynen to hym, and þe halowis he ſhal ſett to hym; and whom he cheſiþ, ſhal neiȝ to hym. Þis þerfor doo ȝe; tak echon his cenſere, þow Chore, and al þi counſeil; and to morwe þe fier drawun vp, put ȝe þere aboue þe maad encenſe before þe Lord, and whom euer he cheſiþ, he ſhal be holy. Myche ȝe ſones of Leuy ben areryd. And eft he ſeide to Chory, Heriþ, ȝe ſones of Leuy. Wheþer litil it is to ȝow, þat God of Yrael haþ ſeuerde ȝow fro al þe puple, and ioynede to hym ſilf, þat ȝe ſeruen to hym in heriynge of þe tabernacle, and ſtoonden before þe myche comynge of þe puple, and mynyſtre to hem? Þerfor to hym ſilf he haþ maad þee to come nyȝ, and alle þi briþeren þe ſones of Leuy, þat to ȝow alſo preeſþood ȝe chalengen, and al þi glubbe ſtoonde aȝens þe Lord? What is forſoþe Aaron, þat ȝe grucchen aȝens hym? Þanne Moyſes ſente for to clepe Datan and Abyron, þe ſones of Helyab; whiche anſwerden, We comen not. Wheþer litil it is to þee, þat þow haſt ladde vs fro þe loond þat flowide mylk and hony, þat þow ſlee in deſeert, but and þow haue lordſhip on vs? Forſoþe þow haſt lad vs into þe loond þat flowiþ ryuers of mylk and hony, and þow haſt ȝyue to vs poſſeſſiouns of feeldes, and of vynes; wheþer and oure eyen þow wolt drawe out? We comen not. And Moiſes ful wrooþ ſeiþ to þe Lord, Bihold þow not þe ſacrifices of hem; þow woſt þat and a litil aſſe forſoþe Y neuer took of hem, ne wrongfully traueylde eny of hem. And he ſeide to Chore, Þow and al þi congrygacioun ſtondiþ aſijd before þe Lord, and Aaron to morwe atwynne. Take ȝe eche ȝoure ſenſerys, and puttiþ vpon hem encenſe, offrynge to þe Lord, two hundrid and fifti cenſerys; Aaron forſoþe holde he his cenſer. Þe which þing whanne þei hadden doo, ſtoondynge Moyſes and Aaron, and þei hadden gederyde on an heepe aȝens hem al þe multitude at þe dore of þe tabernacle, to alle aperyd þe glorye of þe Lord. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, and ſeiþ, Be ȝe ſeuerd fro þe myddil of þis congregacioun, þat hem grijſlich Y make loſt. Þe whiche fellen redi into þe face, and ſeiden, Mooſt ſtroong God of þe ſpirytis of al fleſh, wheþer oon ſynnynge, aȝens alle þi wraþ ſhal waxe cruel? And þe Lord ſeiþ to Moyſes, Comaund to al þe puple, þat it be ſeuerd fro þe tabernaclis of Chore, and Datan, and Abiron. And Moyſes aroos, and wente to Datan and Abiron; and folwynge hym þe aldren of Yrael, he ſeide to þe puple, Goþ awey fro tabernaclis of vnpitows men, and wole ȝe not touche þat to hem parteynen, leſt ȝe be wrapped in þe ſynnes of hem. And whanne þei weren goon fro þe tentes of hem bi enuyroun, Daþan and Abiron goon out, ſtoden in þe entre of her tentes, wiþ wyues, and free children, and al þe felowſhipe. And Moyſes ſeiþ, Yn þis ȝe knowen þat þe Lord ſente me, þat I doo alle þe þingis þat ȝe ſeen, and not of propre herte hem I brynge forþe. If þurȝ vſid deeþ of men þei dien, and viſyte hem a veniaunce, wiþ þe which and oþer ben woned to be viſytid, þe Lord haþ not ſente me; if forſoþe a newe þing þe Lord doo, þat þe erþe opnynge his mouþ ſwelowe hem, and alle þingis þat to hem perteynen, and goon down lyuynge into helle, ȝe ſhulen wyte þat þei han blasfemyd þe Lord. Anoon þanne as he ceſyde to ſpeke, þe erþe is brokun vndur þe feet of hem, and openynge his mouþ deuowride hem, wiþ her tabernaclis, and al þe ſubſtaunce of hem; and þei deſſendiden quyk into helle, couerd wiþ þe erþe, and þei perſhyden fro þe myddil of þe multitude. And forſoþe al Irael þat ſtood bi enuyroun, fleeȝ fro þe crie of hem periſhynge, ſeiynge, Leſt perauenture and vs þe erþe ſwelow. But and fier goon out fro þe Lord, ſlewȝ two hundrid and fifti men þat offerden encenſe. And þe Lord ſpaak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Comaund to Eleazar, þe ſone of Aaron, preeſt, þat he take þe encenſers þat liggen in þe brennynge, and þe fier hidir and þidir ſcater he; for þei ben halwid in þe deþis of ſynful men; and beet he hem forþe into platis, and fitche he to þe auter, forþi þat þere is offerd in hem encenſe to þe Lord, and be halwid, þat þe ſones of Yrael biholden hem for tookne and mynde. Þanne Eleazar, þe preeſt, took þe braſen cenſerys, in þe whiche offerden þes whom þe tendynge deuowride, and he bette hem forþe into plates, fitchynge to þe auter; þat aftirward þe ſones of Yrael myȝten haue, bi þe whiche þei ſhulden take mynde, leſt eny of oþer kynrede, and þat is not of þe ſeed of Aaron, come niȝ to offre encenſe to þe Lord, leſt he ſuffre as Chore ſuffrede, and al þe multitude of hym, ſpekynge þe Lord to Moyſes. Forſoþe al þe multitude of þe ſones of Irael grutchide þe day folwynge aȝens Moyſes and Aaron, ſeiynge, Ȝe han ſlayn þe puple of þe Lord. And whanne þere was ſprongun diſſencioun, and noyſe wiþ ynne waxed, Moyſes and Aaron flowen to þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; þe whiche aftir þei ben goon ynne, couerde a clowde þe tabernacle, and aperyde þe glorie of þe Lord. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes and Aaron, Goþ a wey fro þe myddil of þis multitude, alſo nowe I ſhal doo hem awey. And whanne þei lyen in þe erþe, Moyſes ſeide to Aaron, Take a cenſer, and fier drawun vp fro þe auter, put incenſe þere aboue, goynge anoon to þe puple, þat þow preye for hem; now forſoþe is goon out wraþ fro þe Lord, and a veniaunce waxiþ wood. Þe whiche þing whanne Aaron hadde do, and hadde runne to þe myddil multitude, þat nowe waſtid þe brynnynge, he offrede þe maad encenſe; and ſtondynge betwix þe deed and þe lyuynge, for þe puple preyde, and þe veniaunce ceſide. Þere weren forſoþe þat weren ſmyttun fourtene þowſynd of men and ſeuen hundrid, wiþ outen hem þat perſhiden in þe diſſencioun of Chore. And Aaron turnede aȝen to Moyſes, at þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, aftir þat reſtide þe deeþ.

Capitulum XVII. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and tak of hem ſondry ȝeerdis, bi her kynredis, of alle þe princes of þe lynagis twelue ȝerdes; and of echon þe name þow ſhalt vpon write to his ȝerde; þe name forſoþe of Aaron ſhal be in þe lynage of Leuy, and o ȝerde alle þe meynees of hem ſhal conteyn. And þow ſhalt putte hem in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, before þe witneſſynge, where I ſhal ſpeke to þee; whom of hem Y ſhal cheſe, ſhal buriowne his ȝerde; and I ſhal chaſtyſe fro me þe pleyntes of þe ſones of Yrael, in þe whiche aȝens ȝow þei grutchen. And Moyſes ſpak to þe ſones of Yrael; and alle þe princes ȝauen to hem ȝerdes, bi alle þe lynages; and þere weren twelue ȝerdes, wiþ out þe ȝerde of Aaron. Þe whiche whanne Moyſes hadde putte before þe Lord, in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, þe day folwynge he goon aȝen, foond þat þe ȝerde of Aaron, in þe houſe of Leuy, hadde buriowned; and ſwellynge þe gemmes, breken out flowres, þei ſpred a brood wiþ leeues, into almaundes be fourmed. Þanne Moyſes brouȝte forþe alle þe ȝerdes fro þe ſiȝt of þe Lord to alle þe ſones of Yrael; and eche ſeen, and token her ȝerdes. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Ber aȝen þe ȝerde of Aaron into þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, þat it be kept þere into tokne of þe rebel ſones of Irael, and þe querels of hem reſten fro me, leſt þei dien. And Moyſes dide, as þe Lord comaundide. Þe ſones of Yrael forſoþe ſeiden to Moyſes, Loo! we ben waſtid, and alle we periſſhen; who ſo euer comeþ niȝ to þe tabernacle of þe Lord, dieþ; wheþer vnto þe deeþ alle we ben to be doon awey?

Capitulum XVIII. edit

And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes and Aaron, Þow, and þi ſones, and þe hows of þi fader wiþ þee, ſhal bere þe wickidnes of þe ſeyntuarie; and þou and þi ſones togidere ſhulen ſuffre þe ſynnes of ȝoure preeſþod. But and þi briþeren of þe lynage of Leuy, and þe ſeptre of þi fader tak wiþ þee, and redi be þei, and mynyſtre to þee. Þow forſoþe and þi ſones ſhulen mynyſtre in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge; and þe Leuytes ſhulen wake to þin heeſtis, and to alle þe werkis of þe tabernacle; ſo oonlich þat to veſſels of þe ſeyntuarie, and to þe auter þei comen not nyȝ, leſt and þei dien, and ȝe periſhen togidre. Be þei forſoþe wiþ þee, and waake þei in þe wardis of þe tabernacle, and in alle þe cerymonyes of it. Of anoþer lynage ſhal not be meengid to ȝow. Wake ȝe into þe waarde of þe ſeyntuarye, and in þe ſeruyce of þe auter, leſt indignacioun ſprynge vpon þe ſones of Yrael. Y haue ȝyue to ȝow þe Leuytes ȝoure briþeren, fro þe myddil of þe ſones of Yrael, and I haue takun a ȝift to þe Lord, þat þei ſeruen in þe ſeruyces of his tabernacle. Þow forſoþe and þi ſones, kepe ȝe ȝoure preſþod; and alle þingis þat to þe heriynge of þe auter perteynen, and wiþ ynne þe veil ben, bi þe preeſtis ſhal be mynyſtred; and if eny of oþer lynage come niȝ, he ſhal be ſlayn. And þe Lord ſpak to Aaron, Loo! Y haue ȝyue to þee kepynge of my cheef fruytis; alle þingis þat ben halowid of þe ſones of Yrael, to þee I haue take, and to þi ſones, for þe preeſtis office lawful euerlaſtynge. Þes þingis þanne þow ſhalt take of þes þingis þat ben halowid, and offerd to þe Lord; al offrynge, and ſacrifice, and what euer þing for ſynne and for treſpas is ȝoldun to me, and falliþ into holy of halowis, þin ſhal ben, and of þi ſones. In þe ſeyntuarye þow ſhalt eete it; maalis oonli ſhulen eete of it, for it is ſacryd to þe Lord. Þe cheef fruytis forſoþe þat þe ſones of Yrael han vowid and offred, Y haue ȝouun to þee, and to þe ſones, and þi douȝtres, bi perpetuel riȝt; he þat is clene in þin hows, ſhal eete hem. Al þe mary of oyle, and of wyne, and of whete, what euer þing þei ſhulen offre of firſt fruytis to þe Lord, to þee Y haue ȝeuen. Alle þe bigynnyngis of fruytis þat þe erþe getiþ, and to þe Lord ben brouȝt, þei ſhulen falle into þin vſis; he þat is clene in þin hows, ſhal eete of hem. Al þing þat of auowe þe ſones of Yrael ȝeuen, ſhal be þin. What euer þing firſte ſhal breek out of þe wombe of al fleſh, þat þei offren to þe Lord, wheþer of men, or of beeſtis it were, of þi riȝt ſhal be; ſo oonlich þat for þe firſt getun of man prijs þow ſhalt take, and al beeſte þat is vnclene, þou make be aȝen bouȝt; whos aȝenbiggynge ſhal be after o moneþ, wiþ fyue ſiclis of ſiluer, bi peiſe of þe ſeyntuarie; a ſicle haþ twenti halpens. Þe firſt goten forſoþe of oxe, and of ſheep, and of ſhee goot, þou ſhalt not maak be aȝen bouȝt, for þei ben halowid to þe Lord; oonli þe blood of hem þow ſhalt heelde vpon þe auter, and þe talwȝ þow ſhalt brenne into mooſt ſwete ſmel to þe Lord. Þe fleſh forſoþe ſhal falle in to þin vſe, as þe ſacryd litil breſt and þe riȝt ſhulder, ſhulen be þin. Alle þe firſte fruytis of þe ſeyntuary, þat þe ſones of Yrael offren to þe Lord, to þee I haue ȝeue, and to þi ſones and þi dowȝtren, bi perpetuel riȝt; þe couenaunt of ſalt is euer laſtynge before þe Lord, to þee, and to þi ſones. And þe Lord ſeide to Aaron, In þe loond of hem no þing ȝe ſhulen weelde, ne ȝe ſhulen haue part amonge hem; Y þe part and þi herytage, in þe myddil of þe ſones of Yrael. To þe ſones forſoþe of Leuy Y haue ȝyue alle þe dymes of Yrael into poſſeſſioun, for þe ſeruyce þat þei ſeruen to me in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; þat þe ſones of Yrael comen nomore nyȝ to þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, ne doo ſynne þat bryngiþ yn deeþ, oonly þe ſones of Leuy, to me in þe tabernacle ſeruynge, and berynge þe ſynnes of þe puple; lawful euerlaſtynge it ſhal be in ȝoure generaciouns. Noon oþer þing þei ſhulen weelde, of þe offrynge of dymes payed, þe whiche into þe vſis of hem and neceſſaries Y haue ſeuerde. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Comaund to þe Leuytes, and tel out, Whanne ȝe taken dymes of þe ſones of Yrael, þat Y haue ȝyue to ȝow, þe firſte fruytis of hem offre ȝe to þe Lord, þat is, þe tenþe part of þe dyme, þat it be put to ȝow in þe offrynge of þe cheef þingis, as wel of þe flores as of þe preſſis; and of alle þingis of þe whiche ȝe taken þe firſte fruytis, offre ȝe to þe Lord, and ȝyue to Aaron, þe preeſt. Alle þingis þat ȝe offren of dymes, and into þe ȝiftis of þe Lord ȝe ſhulen ſeuere, þe beſt and choſen alle ſhulen be. And þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, If þe more clene and þe beter eche þingis ȝe offren to þe Lord of þe dymes, it ſhal be put to ȝow, as of þe flore and of þe preſſe ȝe ȝeuen þe firſte fruytis. And ȝe ſhulen eete hem in alle ȝoure places, as wel ȝe as ȝoure meyne, for prijs it is for þe ſeruyce þat ȝe ſeruen in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge. And ȝe ſhulen not ſynne vpon þat, þe noble and þe fatt to ȝow reſeruynge, leſt ȝe poluten þe offrynge of þe ſones of Yrael, and dyen.

Capitulum XIX. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes and Aaron, ſeiynge, Þis þe religioun of ſlayn offrynge, þat þe Lord haþ ordeynde. Comaunde to þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei brengen forþe a reede kowe of hool age, in þe which no ſpot be, ne beriþ ȝok. And ȝe ſhulen take hir to Elyazar, þe preeſt, þe which hir, lad out of þe tentes, ſhal offre in þe ſiȝt of alle; and wetynge þe fyngre in hir blood, ſhal ſpreynge aȝens þe ȝates of þe tabernacle ſeuen ſiþes. And he ſhal bren hir, alle men ſeynge, as wel wiþ ſkynne and fleſh of hir as wiþ þe blood and dryt, to þe flawme ȝe ſhulen take. Cedre forſoþe tree, and yſoop, and fijr reede ſilk twies died, þe preeſt ſhal putte into þe flawme þat vowriþ þe kowe. And þanne at þe laſt, þe cloþis waſſhid, and his body, he ſhall goo into þe tentes, and he ſhal be defoulid vnto þe euen. But and he þat ſhal brenne hir, ſhal waſſhe his cloþis, and bodi, and vnclene ſhal be vnto þe euen. A clene forſoþe man ſhal gedre þe aſken of þe kowe, and heelde hem out of þe tentes in þe mooſt clene place, þat þei ben to þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael into kepynge, and into water of ſprengynge; for for ſynne þe kowe is brent. And whanne he haþ waſſhe his cloþes, þat beer þe aſkis of þe kowe, he ſhal be vnclene vnto þe euen. And þe ſones of Yrael, and comlyngis þat dwellen amonge hem, ſhulen han þis holi bi perpetuel rijt. He þat towchiþ þe careyn of a man, and for þat ſeuen daies were vnclene, he ſhal be ſpreynt of þis water þe þridde day, and þe ſeuenþe, and ſo he ſhal be clenſid. If þe þridde day he were not ſpreynt, þe ſeuenþe day he may not be maad vtterly clene. Al þat towchiþ of mannus ſoul þe faln to deeþ, and wiþ þis mengynge were not ſpreynt, he polutiþ þe tabernacle of þe Lord, and ſhal periſhe fro Yrael; for wiþ þe water of purgynge he is not ſpreynt, he ſhal be vnclene, and his filþe ſhal dwelle vpon hym. Þis is þe lawe of man þat dieþ in þe tabernacle; eche þat goþ into þe tente of hym, and alle þe veſſels þat þere ben, ſhal be polutid ſeuen daies. Þe veſſel þat haþ not a couerynge, ne byndynge þere aboue, ſhal be vnclene. If eny man towche in þe feelde a careyn of a ſlayn man, or of þe bi hym ſilf deed, oþir þe mouþ of hym, or þe ſepulcre, ſhal be vnclene ſeuen daies. And þei ſhulen take of þe aſkes of brennynge, and of ſynne, and þei ſhulen putte quyk waters vpon hem, into þe veſſel; in þe which whanne a clene man wetiþ yſoop, he ſhal ſprenge of it þe tente, and al þe purtenaunce, and þe polut men wiþ ſiche a maner towchynge. And wiþ þis maner þe clene ſhal goo about þe vnclene, þe þridde and þe ſeuenþe day; and clenſid þe ſeuenþe day, he ſhal waſſhe hym ſilf, and his cloþis, and vnclene he ſhal be vnto þe euen. If eny man wiþ þis rijt were not purgid, ſhal periſhe þe ſoule of hym fro þe myddil of þe chirche; for þe ſeyntuarie of þe Lord he polutide, and he is not ſpreynt wiþ þe water of enuyrownynge. Þis ſhal be þe heeſt lawful euerlaſtynge. He forſoþe þat ſhal ſprenge þe watrys, ſhal waſſhe his cloþis; eche þat towchiþ þe watris of purgynge, ſhal be vnclene vnto þe euen. What þing þe vnclene towchiþ, he ſhal make vnclene; and þe ſoule þat of þes þingis eny þing towchiþ, ſhal be vnclenem vnto þe euen.

Capitulum XX. edit

And þe ſones of Yrael camen, and al þe multitude into þe deſeert of Syn, þe firſte moneþ. And þe puple dwelte in Cades; and Mary is þere deed, and byryed in þe ſame place. And whanne þe puple nedide water, þei camen aȝens Moiſes and Aaron, and, turned into diſſencioun, ſeiden, Wold God we hadden periſſhide amonge oure briþeren, before þe Lord. Whi han ȝe ladde out þe chirche of þe Lord into wilderenes, þat and we and oure beeſtis dyen? Whi han ȝe maad vs to ſtie vp fro Egipt, and ȝe han ladde into þis worſt place, þat may not be ſowid, þe whiche ne fige getiþ, ne vynes, ne powmgarnettis, more ouer and water it haþ not to drynke? And Moyſes and Aaron, þe multitude laft, goon into þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, fellen down redi into þe erþe, and cryeden to God, and ſeiden, Lord God, here þe crye of þis puple, and opyn to hem þi treſour, þe welle of quyk water, þat, hem fillid, ceeſe her grutchynge. And þe glorye of þe Lord aperide vpon hem; and þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Tak þe ȝerde, and gedre þe puple, þow, and Aaron þi broþer; and ſpeke ȝe to þe ſtoon before hem, and it ſhal ȝyue watris. And whanne þow haſt ladde out water fro þe ſtoon, ſhal drynke al þe multitude, and þe beeſtis of it. Þanne Moyſes took þe ȝerde, þat was in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, as he comaundide to hym, þe multitude gedryd before þe ſtoon; and he ſeyde to hem, Here ȝe, rebells and harde to bileue; wheþer of þis ſtoon water to ȝow we mowen caſt out? And whanne Moyſes hadde areryde þe hoond, ſmytynge wiþ þe ȝerde twijs þe flynt, wenten out mooſt large watris, ſo þat þe puple myȝt drynke, and þe beeſtis. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes and Aaron, For ȝe bileueden not to me, þat ȝe halweden me before þe ſones of Irael, ȝe ſhulen not lede in þes puples into þe loond þat I ſhal ȝyue to hem. Þis is þe water of contradiccioun; þere þe ſones of Yrael iangleden aȝens þe Lord, and he is halwid in hem. Moyſes þere amonge ſente meſſengers fro Cades to þe kyng of Edom, þe whiche ſhulden ſeie, Þes þingis ſendiþ to þee þi broþer Yrael. Þow haſt knowun al þe traueyl þat haþ cauȝt vs, what maner oure faders deſcendiden into Egipt, and we han dwelte þere myche tyme, and þe Egipciens han tourmentide vs, and oure fadres; and what maner wyſe we han cried to þe Lord, and he haþ herd vs, and he haþ ſent an aungel, þat haþ ladde vs out of Egipte. And loo! we ſett in þe cytee of Cades, þat is in þin uttermooſt cooſtis, biſechen, þat to vs it be leueful to paſſe bi þi loond; we ſhulen not goo bi feeldis, ne bi vynes, ne we ſhulen drynke watris of þi pittis; but we ſhulen goo þe comoun weye, ne to þe ryȝt ne to þe left bowynge, to þe tyme þat we paſſen þi cooſtis. To whom anſwerde Edom, Ȝe ſhulen not paſſe bi me, ellis armed Y ſhal come aȝens þee. And þe ſones of Yrael ſeyden, Bi þe beryd weye we ſhulen goon, and if we ſhulen drynke þi watris, we and oure beeſtis, we ſhulen ȝyue þat is riȝt; no difficulte ſhal be in þe prijs, oonli ſwiftly paſſe we. And he anſwerde, Ȝe ſhulen not paſſe. And anoon metynge he wente out, wiþ a multitude wiþ out noumbre, and wiþ a ſtronge hoond, and he wolde not aſſente to hym preiynge, þat he graunte paſſynge bi his cooſtis. Wherfor turnede aſide fro hym Yrael. And whanne þei hadden meuyde tentis fro Cades, þei camen into þe hil of Hor, þat is in þe cooſtis of þe loond of Edom; where þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, Aaron, he ſeiþ, go he to his puplis; forſoþe he ſhal not goo into þe loond þat I haue ȝeue to þe ſones of Yrael, forþi þat he were harde of bileue to my mouþ, at þe watris of contradiccioun. Tak Aaron, and his ſone wiþ hym, and þow ſhalt lede hem into þe hil of Hor; and whanne þow haſt made nakyd þe fader of his clooþ, þow ſhalt cloþe wiþ it Eleazar, his ſone, and Aaron ſhal be leide togidre, and die þere. And Moyſes dide as þe Lord comaundide; and þei ſtieden vp into þe hil of Hor, before al þe multitude. And whanne Aaron he hadde ſpuylid his cloþis, he cloþide wiþ hem Eleazar, his ſone; and hym deed in þe brenk of þe hil, he deſcendide wiþ Eleazar. Al forſoþe þe multitude ſeynge Aaron to haue died, wept vpon hym þretti dayes, bi alle her meynees.

Capitulum XXI. edit

That whanne Arad, þe Chanane kyng, þat dwellide at þe ſouþ, hadde herde, þat Yrael was comen bi þe eſpiours weye, fauȝte aȝens hym, and ouercomer beynge, brouȝte of hym a prey. And Yrael bi vowe hym ſilf to þe Lord obleſchynge, ſeiþ, If þow takiſt þis puple in myn hoond, Y ſhal doo awey his citees. And þe Lord haþ harde þe preyers of Yrael, and haþ take Chanane; þe which he haþ ſlayn, turned vpſedoun þe citees of hym; and he clepide þe name of þat place Horma, þat is, a curſynge. And forſoþe þei wenten forþ fro þe hil of Hor, by þe weie þat lediþ to þe reede ſee, þat þei myȝten goo about þe loond of Edom; and it biganne to greue þe puple, of þe weie and of þe traueyl. And ſpeken aȝens þe Lord and Moyſes, ſeiþ, Whi haſt þow ladde vs out of Egipte, þat we dien in wildirnes? þere fayliþ to vs breed, watris þere ben not; oure ſoule now wlatiþ vpon þis mooſt liȝt meet. Wherfore þe Lord haþ ſente into þe puple eddres a fier; at whos woundis and deþes of manye, þei comen to Moyſes, and ſeiden, We han ſynned, for we han ſpoken aȝens þe Lord and þee; prey, þat he take fro vs eddres. And Moyſes preiede for þe puple; and þe Lord ſpak to hym, Mak a braſun addre, and put it for a tokne; who ſmytun biholdiþ it, ſhal lyue. Þanne Moyſes maade a braſun eddre, and putte for a ſigne; whom þe ſmytun biholdynge, were maad hool. And þe ſones of Yrael goon forþe, ſetten tentis in Oboþ; fro whens goon out, þei piȝten tentis in Jeabarym, in þe wildernes, þat biholdiþ Moab, aȝens þe eeſt cooſt. And fro þens meuynge, þei camen to þe rynnynge water of Zareþ; þe whiche leuynge, þei ſetten tentis aȝens Arnon, þat is in deſeert, and fer ſtondiþ ouer in þe cooſtis of Amorrey. Forſoþe Arnon is þe eende of Moab, dyuydynge Moabites and Amorreis. Wherfor it is ſeide in þe book of bateyls of þe Lord, As he haþ doo in þe rede ſee, ſo he ſhal doo in þe rennynge watris of Arnon; þe roches of þe rennynge watris ben bowid, þat þei reſten in Arnon, and þat þei liggen in þe cooſtis of Moabites. Of þat place aperide a pitt, vpon þe which þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, Geder þe puple, and I ſhal ȝyue to hym watir. Þanne Yrael ſong þis ditee, Sty vp þe pit; þei ſongen togidre, Þe pit þat delueden þe prynces, and greiþeden þe dukis of þe multitude, in þe ȝeuer of þe lawe, and in her ſtaues. And þei wenten fro þe wildrenes of Maþana, fro Maþana to Naaliel, fro Naaliel into Bamoþ; Bamoþ is a valey in þe regioun of Moab, in þe frount of Phaſga, þat biholdiþ aȝens þe deſeert. And Yrael ſent meſſangers to Seon, þe kyng of Amorreys, ſeiynge, I biſeche þat it be leueful to me to paſſe bi þi loond; we ſhulen not bowe down to þe riȝt ne to þe left; we ſhulen not paſſe bi feelds and vynes, ne we ſhulen not drynke watris of pittis; þe kyngis weye we ſhulen goo, to þe tyme þat we paſſen þi cooſtis. Þe which woold not graunt þat Yrael myȝte paſſe bi his cooſtis, but raþir, þe ooſt gedryd togidre, wente out to mete in deſeert. And he cam into Jaſa, and he fauȝte aȝens hym; of whom he is ſmytun in þe mouþ of þe ſwerd, and his loond is weeldid fro Arnon vnto Jebboþ and to þe ſones of Amon; for wiþ a ſtronge helpe weren holde þe cooſtis of Amonytes. Þanne Irael took alle þe citees of hym, and dwelte in þe wallid towns of Amorrey, in Eſebon þat is, and in þe litil touns of it. Þe cytee of Eſebon was of Seon, þe kyng of Amorrey, þat fauȝte aȝen þe kyng Moab, and took al þe loond þat was of his comaundynge, vnto Arnon. Þerfor it is ſeyd in prouerbe, Come ȝe into Eſebon, be bilde, and maad vp þe citee of Seon; fier went out of Eſebon, and flawme of þe wallid town of Seon, and deuowryde Arnon of Moabites, and þe dwellers of þe hie þingis of Arnon. Woo to þee, Moab! þow, puple of Chamos, haſt periſhid; he haþ ȝyue þe ſones of hym into fliȝt, and þe douȝtren into caytiftee to Seon, þe kyng of Amorreis; þe ȝok of hem he ſcatrede, fro Eſebon vnto Dibon; wery þei camen into Ophe, and vnto Medaba. And ſo Yrael dwelt in þe loond of Amorrey. And Moyſes ſente þe whiche ſhulden aſpie Jaſar, whos litil towns þei token, and weeldeden þe dwellers. And þei turneden hem ſilf, and ſtieden vp bi þe weie of Baſan. And aȝen wente to hem Og, þe kyng of Baſan, wiþ al his puple, to fiȝtynge in Edray. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Ne drede þow hym, for in þin hoond Y haue takun hym, and al þe loond, and þe puple of hym; and þow ſhalt doo to hym as þow haſt doon to Seon, þe kyng of Amorreis, þe dweller of Eſebon. Þow haſt ſmytun þerfore and þis wiþ his ſones, and al his puple, vnto þe deþ; and þei weelden þe loond of hym.

Capitulum XXII. edit

And þei goon forþe, ſettiden tentes in þe wijlde feeldes of Moab, where biȝonde Jordan Jericho is ſet. Seynge forſoþe Balach, þe ſone of Sophor, alle þinges þat Yrael dide to Amorrei, and þat Moabites dredden hym, and þe feerſnes of hym þei myȝten not bere, he ſeide to þe more þurȝ birþe of Madian, So þis puple ſhal doo awey alle þat in oure cooſtis dwellen, what maner is woned an oxe to take eerbe vnto þe rotys. He forſoþe was kyng þat tyme in Moab. Þanne he ſente meſſangers to Balaam, þe ſone of Beor, dyuynour, þat dwelled vpon þe flood of þe loond of þe ſones of Amon, þat þei myȝten clepe hym, and ſeye, Loo! a peple is goon out of Egipte, þat couereþ þe vttermooſt of þe erþe, ſittynge aȝens me. Com þerfore, and curs to þis puple, for it is ſtrenger þan I, if eny maner Y may ſmyte, and þrowe hym out of my loond; Y haue knowun forſoþe, þat he is bliſſid to whom þow bliſſiſt, and curſid in whom þow caſtiſt curſyngis. Þe aldren of Moab and þe more þurȝ birþe of Madian wenten forþe, hauynge prijs of þe dyuynynge in þe hoondes; and whanne þei weren comen to Balaam, and hadden toold alle þe wordes of Balach, he anſwerde, Dwelle ȝe here þe nyȝt, and Y ſhal anſwere what þing ſhal ſeie to me þe Lord. Hem forſoþe dwellynge anentis Balaam, cam God, and ſeide to hym, What to hem wolen þes men anent þee? He anſwerde, Balac, þe ſone of Sephor, kynge of Moabites, ſente to me, ſeynge, Loo! þe puple þat is goon out of Egipte couereþ þe vttermoſt of þe loond; come, and curſe to hem, if eny maner Y fiȝtynge may dryue hem out. And God ſeide to Balaam, Wol þow not goo wiþ hem, ne curs þow to þe puple, for it is bliſſid. Þe which eerli aryſynge, ſeide to þe prynces, Goo ȝe into ȝoure loond, for God haþ defended me to come wiþ ȝow. Þe princes, turned aȝen, ſeiden to Balac, Balaam wold not come wiþ vs. Eftſones he many mo, and nobler þan he bifore hadde ſent, ſende; þe whiche whanne þei weren comen to Balaam, ſeiden, Þus ſeiþ Balac, þe ſone of Sephor, And tary þow not to come to me, redi to worſhipe þee; and what euere þow wolt, Y ſhal ȝyue to þee; com, and curs to þis puple. Balaam anſwerde, If Balac ȝyue to me his hows ful of ſiluer and of gold, Y ſhal not mowe chaunge þe word of my God, þat oþer more or laſſe I ſpeke. Y biſeche, þat here ȝe dwellen alſo in þis nyȝt, þat Y may wite what to me eft þe Lord anſweriþ. Þanne þe Lord cam to Balaam þe nyȝt, and ſeiþ to hym, If þes men comen to clepe þee, aryſe, and go wiþ hem, ſo oonly þat þat Y comaunde to þee, þow doo. Balaam roos eerlich, and maad redy þe ſhee aſſe, wente forþe wiþ hem. And God is wrooþ. And an aungel of þe Lord ſtood in þe weye aȝens Balaam, þat ſatt to þe aſſe, and two children wiþ hym he hadde. Þe aſſe biholdynge an aungel ſtondynge in þe weye, wiþ a ſwerd drawun out, turnede hir out of þe weie, and wente bi þe feelde. Þe which whanne Balaam bette, and wold lede aȝen to þe paþ, þe aungel ſtood in þe narwenes of two ſtonen wallis, to þe whiche vynes weren boundun. Whom ſeynge, þe aſſe ioynede hym ſilf to þe wal, and briſide þe foot of þe ſitter; and he eftſones bette. And neuerþelater þe aungel to a ſtreyt place goynge, where noþer at þe riȝt ne at þe left myȝt goon out of þe weie, metynge ſtood. And whanne þe aſſe hadde ſeen þe aungel ſtondynge, ſhe felle down vndir þe feet of þe ſitter, þe which more hydowſly wrooþ, bette wiþ a ſtaf þe ſides of hir. And þe Lord openyde þe mouþ of þe aſſe, and ſhe ſpak, What haue I doo to þee? whi ſmytiſt þow me, loo! now þe þridde tyme? Balaam anſwerde, For þou haſt deſeruyde, and bigilide me; wold God Y hadde a ſwerd, þat I myȝte ſmyte þee. And þe aſſe ſeide, Wheþir Y am not þi beeſte, to þe which euermore þow were wont to ſitte vnto þe day þat is now? ſey, what þing lijk euer Y dide to þee? And he ſeiþ, Neuer. Anoon þe Lord openyde þe eyen of Balaam, and he ſeeȝ an aungel ſtondynge in þe weie, holdynge a drawun ſwerd in þe hoond; and he lowtide hym redi to þe erþe. To whom þe aungel, Whi, he ſeiþ, þries þow haſt bette þin aſſe? Y am comen, þat I be aduerſarie to þee, for ſhrewid is þi weie, and contrarie to me; and but þe aſſe hadde bowide fro þe weye, ȝyuynge ſtede to þe wiþſtonder, þee I hadde ſlayn, and ſhe ſhulde haue lyued. And Balaam ſeide, I haue ſynned, vnwitynge þat þow ſtood aȝens me; and now, if it diſpleſe to þee þat Y goo, Y ſhal turne aȝen. Þe aungel ſeiþ, Go wiþ þeſe, but be war leſt eny oþer þing þan Y comaunde to þee þow ſpeke. He wente þanne wiþ þe prynces. Þe which þing whanne Balac hadde herde, he wente out into aȝenmetynge of hym, in þe wallid town of Moabitis, þat is ſett in þe vttermooſt cooſtis of Arnon. And he ſeide to Balaam, Y haue ſent meſſangeris, þat I clepe þee; whi anoon come þow not to me? wheþer for I miȝte not ȝeelde mede to þi comynge? To whom he anſwerde, Loo! I am nyȝ, wheþer oþir þing Y may ſpeke but þat God ſhal putte in my mouþ? Þanne þei wenten forþe togidre, and camen into þe cytee, þat was in þe vttermooſt cooſt of his kyngdom. And whanne Balac hadde ſlayn ſheep and oxen, he ſente to Balaam and þe prynces þat wiþ hym weren, ȝiftis. Morwnynge forſoþe doon, he ladde hym to hye þingis of Baal, and he beheelde þe vttermooſt part of þe puple.

Capitulum XXIII. edit

And Balaam ſeide to Balac, Bilde to me here ſeuen auters, and mak redi as feel calues, and of þe ſame noumbre weþers. And whanne he hadde doon after þe word of Balaam, þei putten to gydre a calf and a weþer vpon þe auter. And Balaam ſeyde to Balac, Stoond a litil while biſide þi brent ſacrifice, to þe tyme þat Y goo, if perauenture þe Lord aȝen come to me; and what euer þing he comaunde I ſhal ſpeke to þee. And whanne he hadde goon awey ſwiftli, God aȝen come to hym; and Balaam ſpak to hym, Seuen, he ſeiþ, auters Y haue areryd, and putte in a calf and a weþer þere aboue. Þe Lord forſoþe putte þe word in þe mouþ of hym, and ſeiþ, Turn aȝen to Balac, and þes þingis þow ſhalt ſpeke. He turned aȝen, foonde Balac ſtoondynge biſidis his brent ſacrifice, and alle þe prynces of Moabitees. And takun to his parable, ſeiþ, Fro Aran haþ ladde me Balac, þe kyng of Moabites, fro þe hillis of þe eeſt; Com, he ſeiþ, and curs to Jacob; go forþe, and wari to Iſrael. What maner wiſe ſhal I curſe to whom God haþ not curſid? bi what reſoun ſhal Y wary whom God warieþ not? Fro þe hieſt flyntis Y ſhal ſee hym, and fro þe hillis Y ſhal biholde to hym; þe puple aloon ſhal dwelle, and amonge þe gentilis he ſhal not be rekned. Who may ful noumbre þe powdre of Jacob, and knowe þe noumbre of þe lynage of Yrael? Dye my ſoule þurȝ þe deeþ of riȝtwiſe men, and ben maad my laſt lijk to þes! And Balac ſeide to Balaam, What is þat þat þow doſt? þat þow ſhuldiſt curſe to myn enemyes, Y clepide þee, and þow aȝenward bliſſiſt to hem. To whom he anſwerde, Wheþer oþer þing Y may ſpeke but þat þe Lord ſhal comaunde? Þanne Balac ſeide to Balaam, Com wiþ me into anoþer place, whens a part of Irael þow ſeeȝ, and al ſeeȝ þow may not; þens curs þow to hym. And whanne he hadde ladde hym into an hye place, vpon þe cop of þe hil of Phaſga, he bilde to Balaam ſeuen auters, and putt yn þere aboue calues and weþers, he ſeide to Balac, Stond here biſide þi ſacrifice, to tyme þat Y go metynge. To whom whanne þe Lord was aȝen comen, and hadde putte þe word in þe mouþ of hym, ſeiþ, Turn aȝen to Balac, and þes þingis þow ſhalt ſpeke to hym. Turned aȝen, he fonde hym ſtondynge biſidis his ſacrifice, and þe princes of Moabites wiþ hym. To whom Balac, What þing, he ſeiþ, haþ þe Lord ſpokun? And he takid to his parable, ſeiþ, Stoond Balac, and herkne; here, þow ſone of Sephor. God is not as man, þat he lye, ne as þe ſone of man, þat he be chaungid; þanne he ſeide, and ſhal not doon? he haþ ſpokun, and ſhal not fulfille? To bleſſe I am brouȝt forþe, bleſſynge Y may not defende. Þere is no mawmet in Jacob, ne fals liknes is ſeen in Yrael; þe Lord God of hym is wiþ hym, and þe noyſe of þe victorie of þe kyng is in hym. Þe Lord God haþ ladde hym out of Egipte, whos ſtrengþe is lijk to an vnycorn; þere is no dyuynynge bi briddis in Jacob, ne dyuynacioun in Yrael. In his tymes it ſhal be ſeide to Jacob and to Yrael, What þe Lord haþ wrouȝt! Loo! þe puple as a liones ſhal aryſe togidre, and as a lioun ſhal be reryd; þe lioun ſhal not ligge, to þe tyme þat he deuowre þe prayȝ, and drynke þe blood of þe ſlayn. And Balac ſeide to Balam, Ne curs þow to hym, ne bliſſe þow. And he ſeiþe, Wheþer ſeide Y not to þee, þat what euer þing God comaundide to me, þat Y wolde doo? And Balac ſeide to hym, Com, and Y ſhal lede þee to anoþer place, if perauenture it pleſe to God þat fro þens þow curſe to it. And whanne he hadde ladde hym out vpon þe cop of þe hil of Phegor, þat biholdiþ þe wildernes, Balaam ſeide to hym, Bilde here to me ſeuen auters, and mak redy ſo feel calues, and of þe ſame noumbre weþers. Balac dide as Balaam ſeide, and putte yn calues and weþers, bi eche auters.

Capitulum XXIIII. edit

And whanne Balaam hadde ſeen þat he ſhulde pleſe to þe Lord for to bleſſe to Yrael, he wente not as he wente bifore, for to ſeche dyuininge, but dreſſynge his chere aȝens þe deſeert, and arerynge þe eyen, ſawȝ Irael in þe tentis dwellynge bi her lynagis. And þe Spirit of God fallynge into hym, takun to a parable, ſeiþ, Balaam, þe ſone of Beor, ſeide, a man whos eye is ſtoppid ſeide, þe herer of þe wordes of God ſeide, þe which þe ſiȝt of þe almyȝti God haþ inwardli lokid, þe which falliþ, and ſo ben openyd his eyen, How feyr þi tabernaclis, Jacob, and þi tentis, Yrael! as wodi valeys, and as watri gardeyns biſide þe flodis, as þe tabernacles þat þe Lord piȝte, as cedres biſide watres; and watris ſhal flowe of his boket, and þe ſeed of hym ſhal be into many watris. Þe kyng of hym for Agag ſhal be take a wey, and þe kyngdom of hym ſhal be doon a wey. God haþ ladde hym out of Egipte, whos ſtrengþe is lijk to an vnycorn; gentilis ſhulen deuowre þe enemyes of hym, and þe boonus of hem þei ſhulen breek, and þrille wiþ arwis. Liggynge he ſhal ſleep as a lioun, and as a liones, þat no man ſhal be hardi to rere. Who bleſſiþ to þee, he ſhal be bleſſid; and who curſiþ, into curſynge ſhal he be rettyd. And Balac wrooþ aȝen Balaam, wiþ wrongun hoondis ſeiþ, To curſe to my enemyes I haue clepid þee, to whom aȝenward þe þridde tyme þow haſt bliſſid. Turn aȝen to þi place; Y ordeynede forſoþe hugeli to honoure þee, but þe Lord haþ priuyde þee þi worſhip ſet down. Balaam anſwerde to Balac, Wheþer ſeide Y not to þi meſſangers, þat þow ſendiſt to me, If Balac ȝyue to me his hous ful of ſiluer and gold, Y may not ouerpaſſe þe word of þe Lord my God, þat oþer of good or of yuel I ſpeke of myn herte, but what þing ſeiþ þe Lord, þat I ſhal ſpeke? Neþeles goynge to my puple, I ſhal ȝyue to þee counſel, what þi puple to þis puple ſhal doo þe laſt tyme. Þanne þe parable taken, eft ſeiþ, Balaam, þe ſone of Beor, ſeide, a man whos ſtoppid is þe eye, ſeide, þe herer of þe wordis of God ſeide, þat knewe þe lore of alþir heiȝeſt, and þe ſeynge of þe Almyȝti ſeeiþ, þat fallynge haþ þe eyen openyd, I ſhal ſe hym, but not now; I ſhal inwardly loke hym, but not nyȝ; a ſterre ſhal ſprynge of Jacob, and a ȝeerde ſhal ryſe of Yrael; and he ſhal ſmyte þe dukis of Moab, and he ſhal waſt alle þe ſones of Seþ; and Ydume ſhal be þe poſſeſſioun of hym, þe herytage of Seir ſhal falle to his enemyes; Yrael forſoþe ſtrongly ſhal doo, of Jacob ſhal be þat lordſhip, and leeſe þe relykes of þe cytee. And whanne he hadde ſeen Amalech, takynge to a parable, ſeiþ, Þe bigynnynge of gentiles Amalech, whos eendis ſhulen be loſt. He ſeeȝ forſoþe Cyneum, and taken to a parable, ſeiþ, Stronge forſoþe is þi dwellynge place, but if yn a ſtoon þow puttiſt þi neſt, and were choſen of þe lynage of Synne, how longe mowe þow dwelle? Aſſur forſoþe ſhal take þee. And taken to a parable, eft ſpak, Alas! who to lyuynge, whanne þe Lord ſhal doo þes þingis? Þei ſhulen come in greet ſhippis fro Ytalie, and þei ſhulen ouercome Aſſiries, and þei ſhulen waaſt þe Ebrewis, and at þe laſt þei alſo ſhulen periſhe. And Balaam roos, and is turned aȝen into his place; Balac forſoþe þe weye þat he cam, turnyde aȝen.

Capitulum XXV. edit

Irael forſoþe dwelt þat tyme in Sechym, and þe puple dide fornycacioun wiþ þe douȝtres of Moab; þe which clepen hem to her tabernacles, and þei eten, and honoureden þe goddis of hem; and Irael ſacrifiede to Belphagor. And þe Lord was wrooþ to Moyſes; Tak, he ſeiþ, alle þe prynces of þe puple, and honge hem aȝens þe ſunne in iebettis, þat my woodnes be turned a wey fro Yrael. And Moyſes ſeide to þe domeſmen of Yrael, Sle echon his neiȝbors, þat han ſacrifiede to Belphegor. And loo! oon of þe ſones of Yrael wente yn before his bryþeren to a Madyanyte ſtrompet, ſeeynge Moyſes, and al þe puple of þe ſones of Yrael, þe whiche wepten before þe ȝatis of þe tabernacle. Þe which þinge whanne hadde ſeen Phynees, þe ſone of Eleazar, ſone of Aaron, preeſt, roos fro þe myddil of þe multitude, and, cauȝt a ſwerd, wente yn after þe man of Yrael into þe hoorhows, and he ſtikide þurȝ boþ togidre, þe man, þat is, and þe womman, in þe genytale places. And þe veniaunce ceſide fro þe ſones of Yrael, and þere ben ſlawe foure and twenti þowſandis of men. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Phynees, þe ſone of Eleazar, ſone of Aaron, preeſt, haþ tak awey my wraþ fro þe ſones of Irael; for þurȝ my loue he is ſtyryd aȝens hem, þat I my ſilf dide not a wey þe ſones of Yrael in my gelouſte. Þerfore ſpek to hym, Loo! I ȝyue to hym þe pees of my boond of pees, and it ſhal be, as wel to hym as to his ſeed, euerlaſtynge couenaunt of preſþod; for he haþ loued for his God, and haþ purgid þe hidows ſynne of þe ſones of Yrael. Þe name forſoþe of þe man of Yrael, þat was ſlayn wiþ þe Madianyte, was Zambri, þe ſone of Salu, duke of þe kynrede of þe lynage of Symeon. Forſoþe þe womman of Madianyte þat togidre was ſlayn, was clepid Chobry, þe douȝtre of Sur, mooſt noble prynce of Madianytees. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Enemyes feele ȝow þe Madianytees, and ſmyte ȝe hem; for and þei enemylich han doo aȝeyns ȝow, and han bigilid bi aſpies, bi þe mawmet of Phegor, and þe douȝtre Chobry of þe duke of Madian, hys ſiſter, þat is ſmytun in þe day of veniaunce, for þe ſacrilegie of Phegor.

Capitulum XXVI. edit

Aftir þat þe blood of gilti men is ſhed, þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes and to Eleazar, þe ſone of Aaron, þe preeſt, Noumbre ȝe al þe ſumme of þe ſones of Yrael, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, by howſes, and þer kynredis, and alle þat mowen goo forþ to batails. And ſo ſpeken Moyſes and Eleazar, þe preeſt, in þe wijlde feeldes of Moab, vpon Jordan, aȝens Jerico, to hem þat weren of twenti ȝeer and aboue, as þe Lord comaundide; of whom þis is þe noumbre. Ruben, þe firſt getun of Yrael; of þis þe ſone Enoch, of whom þe meyne of Enochitees; and Fallu, of whom þe meyne of Falluytees; and Eſrom, of whom þe meyne of Eſromytees; and Charmy, of whom þe meyne of Charmytis. Þes ben þe meyneis of þe lynage of Ruben, whos noumbre is foundun þre and fourty þowſandes ſeuen hundrid and þretti. Þe ſone of Fallu of Heliab; of þis þe ſones, Namuel, and Datan, and Abiron. Þes ben Daþan and Abyron, þe princes of þe puple, þat ryſen aȝens Moyſes and Aaron, in þe diſſencyoun of Chore, whanne aȝens þe Lord þei rebelden, and þe erþe openynge his mouþ, deuowride Chore, diynge many, whanne þe fier brente two hundrid and fifti men; and a greet myracle was done, þat Chore periſhynge, his ſones perſhiden not. Þe ſones of Symeon bi her kynredes; Namuel, of þis þe meyne of Namuelitis; Jamyn, of þis þe meyne of Jamynytees; Jachym, of þis þe meyne of Jachymytis; Zare, of þis þe meyne of Zarenytis; Saul, of þis þe meyne of Saulitis. Þes ben þe meynees of þe lynage of Symeon, of whom al þe noumbre was two and twenti þouſandis and two hundrid. Þe ſones of Gad bi her kynredes; Sephon, of þis þe meyne of Sephonytis; Aggy, of þis þe meyne of Aggitis; Sumy, of þis þe meyne of Sumytis; Ozny, of þis þe meyne of Oznytis; Hery, of þis þe meyne of Hereytis; Arod, of þis þe meyne of Aroditis; Ariel, of þis þe meyne of Aryelitis. Þes ben þe meyne of Gad, of whom al þe noumbre was fourti þowſand and fyue hundred. Þe ſones of Juda, Her and Onan, þe whiche boþ ben deed in þe loond of Chanaan. And þere weren þe ſones of Juda bi his kynredis, Sela, of whom þe meyne of Selaytis; Phares, of whom þe meyne of Phareſitis; Zare, of whom þe meyne of Zareitis. Forſoþe þe ſones of Phares; Eſrom, of whom þe meyne of Eſromytis; and Amul, of whom þe meine of Amulitis. Þes ben þe meynees of Jude, of whom al þe noumbre was ſeuenti þowſynd and fyue hundrid. Þe ſones of Yſachar bi her kynredis; Thola, of whom þe meyne of Tholaytis; Phua, of whome þe meyne of Phuaytis; Jaſub, of whom þe meyne of Jaſubitis; Semram, of whom þe meyne of Semramytis. Þes ben þe kynredis of Yſachar, of whom þe noumbre was foure and ſexti þowſandis and þre hundrid. Þe ſones of Zabulon bi her kynredes; Sared, of whom þe meyne of Saradites; Helon, of whom þe meyne of Helonytis; Jalel, of whom þe meyne of Jelelitis. Þes ben þe kynredis of Zabulon, of whom þe noumbre was ſexti þouſynd and fyue hundrid. Þe ſones of Joſeph bi his kynredis, Manaſſes and Effraym. Of Manaſſe is commen Machir, of whom þe meyne of Macherytis. Machir gat Galaad, of whom þe meyne of Galaditis. Galaad hadde ſones; Yezer, of whom þe meyne of Yezerytis; and Helech, of whom þe meyne of Helechitis; and Ariel, of whom þe meyne of Arielitis; and Sechem, of whom þe meyne of Sechemytis; and Semyda, of whom þe meyne of Semydaytis; and Epher, of whom þe meyne of Epherytis. Epher forſoþe was fader of Saphaad, þat had no ſones, but oonli douȝtres, of whom þes ben þe names; Maala, and Noha, and Egla, and Melcha, and Therſa. Þes ben þe meynees of Manaſſe, and þe noumbre of hem two and fifti þowſand and ſeuen hundryd. Þe ſones forſoþe of Effraym bi her kynredis weren þes; Suþala, of whom þe meyne of Suþalitis; Beþer, of whom þe meyne of Beþeritis; Theen, of whom þe meyne of Theennytis. Forſoþe þe ſone of Suþala was Heram, of whom þe meyne of Heramytis. Þes ben þe kynredis of þe ſones of Effraym, of whom þe noumbre was two and þretti þowſand and fyue hundrid. Þes ben þe ſones of Joſeph, bi his meynees. Þe ſones of Beniamyn in his kynredis; Bale, of whom þe meyne of Baleytis; Aſbel, of whom þe meyne of Azbelitis; Ahiram, of whom þe meyne of Ahyramytis; Suphan, of whom þe meyne of Suphanytis; Huphan, of whom þe meyne of Huphanytis. Þe ſones of Bale, Hered, and Noeman; of Hered þe meyne of Heredytis; of Noeman þe meyne of Noemanytis. Þes ben þe ſones of Beniamyn bi his kynredis, of whom þe noumbre was fyue and fourti þowſand and ſix hundryd. Þe ſones of Dan bi his kynredis; Suhan, of whom þe meyne of Suhanytis. Þes ben þe kynredis of Dan bi his meynees; alle weren Sunanitis, of whom þe noumbre was foure and ſixti þowſynd and foure hundrid. Þe ſones of Aſer bi his kynredes; Jemma, of whom þe meyne of Jemmanytis; Jeſuy, of whom þe meyne of Jeſuitis; Brye, of whom þe meyne of Brieytis. Þe ſones of Brye; Haber, of whom þe meyne of Haberytis; and Melchiel, of whom þe meyne of Melchielitis. Þe name forſoþe of þe douȝter of Azar was Sara. Þes ben þe kynredes of þe ſones of Aſer, and þe noumbre of hem foure and fyfty þowſand and foure hundryd. Þe ſones of Neptalym bi his kynredis; Jeſyel, of whom þe meyne of Jeſyelitis; Guny, of whom þe meyne of Gunytis; Jeſer, of whom þe meyne of Jeſerytis; Sellem, of whom þe meyne of Sellemytis. Þes ben þe kynredis of þe ſones of Neptalym bi his meynees, of whom þe noumbre was fyue and fourti þouſyndis and foure hundrid. Þis is þe ſumme of þe ſones of Yrael, þat ben noumbred, ſix hundryd þowſand and a þowſand and ſeuen hundrid and þretti. And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, To þes ſhal þe loond be dyuydid, aftir þe noumbre of þe names into her poſſeſſiouns; to þe moo þe more part þow ſhalt ȝyue, and to þe fewer þe laſſe; to eche as þei ben noumbred ſhal be take þe poſſeſſioun; ſo oonli þat lot dyuyde þe loond to þe lynagis and meynes. What euer þing bi lot falle, þat oþere mo taken or fewe. Þis forſoþe is þe noumbre of þe ſones of Leuy bi her meynees; Gerſon, of whom þe meyne of Gerſonytis; Caaþ, of whom þe meyne of Caaþitis; Merary, of whom þe meyne of Meraritis. Þes ben þe meynees of Leuy; þe meyne of Lobny, þe meyne of Ebron, þe meyne of Mooli, þe meyne of Muſy, þe meyne of Chory. And forſoþe Caaþ geet Amram, þat hadde a wijf, Jochobeþ, þe dowȝter of Leuy, þat is bore to hym in Egipte. Þes geet to hir man Amram ſones, Aaron, and Moyſen, and Mary, þe ſiſtir of hem. Of Aaron ben comen forþe Nadab, and Abyu, and Eleazar, and Yþamar; of whom Nadab and Abyu ben deed, whanne þei hadden offred alien fier before þe Lord. And alle þat ben noumbred weren þre and twenty þowſynd of maal kynde, fro o moneþ and aboue, þe whiche ben not noumbred amonge þe ſones of Yrael, ne to hem wiþ oþere is ȝouen poſſeſſioun. Þis is þe noumbre of þe ſones of Yrael, þat ben diſcryued of Moyſes and Eleazar, þe preeſt, in þe wijld feeldis of Moab, vpon Jordan, aȝens Jerycho; among whoom noon of hem was þat before ben noumbred of Moyſes and Aaron, in þe deſeert of Synay; þe Lord forſoþe ſeide before, þat alle þei ſhulden dye in wildernes, and noon of hem abood but Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone, and Joſue, þe ſone of Nun.

Capitulum XXVII. edit

Camen nyȝ forſoþe þe douȝtres of Salphaad, ſone of Ephor, ſone of Galaad, ſone of Machir, ſone of Manaſſe, þat was þe ſone of Joſep; of whom þes ben þe names; Maala, and Noba, and Egla, and Melcha, and Therſa. And þei ſtoden before Moyſen and Eleazar, þe preeſt, and alle þe prynces of þe puple, at þe dore of þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees; and ſeiden, Oure fader is deed in deſeert, and was not in þe diſſencioun, þat is ſtyryd aȝens þe Lord, vndur Chore, but in his ſynne is deed; þis hadde not maal children. Whi is take þe name of hym fro his meyne, for he hadde no ſone? Ȝyfe ȝe to vs poſſeſſions amonge þe coſynes of oure fader. And Moyſes toolde þe cauſe of hem to þe doom of þe Lord; þe which ſeide to hym, Ryȝtwiſe þingis aſken þe douȝtres of Salphaad; ȝyf to hem poſſeſſiouns amonge þe coſyns of her fader, and to hym in heritage come þei aftir. To þe ſones forſoþe of Yrael þow ſhalt ſpeke þes þingis, A man whanne he were deed wiþ out ſone, to þe douȝter ſhal paſſe þe herytage; if he haue no douȝter, he ſhal haue ſucceſſours his briþeren; and if þere weren no briþeren, ȝe ſhulen ȝyue þe herytage to þe briþeren of þe fader of hym; if forſoþe he haue not men briþeren to his fader, þe herytage ſhal be ȝeue to hem þat ben next to hym. And þis ſhal be hooly to þe ſones of Yrael, bi perpetuel law, as þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes. Þe Lord forſoþe ſeide to Moyſes, Sty vp into þis hil of Abarym, and bihold fro þens þe loond, þat I am to ȝyuynge to þe ſones of Irael. And whanne þow ſeeſt it, and þow ſhalt goo to þi puple, as wente þi broþer Aaron; for þow haſt offendide me in þe deſeert of Syn, in þe contradiccioun of þe multitude, ne halowe me ȝe wolden before it, vpon þe watris. Þes ben þe watris of contradiccioun in Cades, of þe deſeert of Syn. To whom anſwerde Moyſes, Puruey þe Lord God of þe ſpyritis of al fleſhe a man þat be vpon þis multitude, and may goo out, and goo yn before hem, and leden hem out, or leden hem yn; leſt þe puple of þe Lord be as ſheep wiþ out ſheepherd. And þe Lord ſeyde to hym, Take Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, a man in whom is þe ſpirit of God, and put þin hoond vpon hym; þe which ſhal ſtoond before Eleazar, þe preeſt, and al þe multitude. And þow ſhalt ȝyue to hym heeſtys, alle men ſeynge, and a part of þi glorye, þat al þe ſynagoge of þe ſones of Yrael here hym. For þat if eny þing ſhal be to doynge, Eleazar, þe preeſt, ſhal counſeil þe Lord; at þe word of hym ſhal goo out, and ſhal goo yn; he, and al þe ſones of Yrael wiþ hym, and þat oþer multitude. Moyſes dide as þe Lord comaundide, and whanne he hadde takun Joſue, he ſette hym before Eleazar, þe preeſt, and al þe myche comynge of þe puple; and putt þe hoondis to his heed, alle þingis aȝen told þat þe Lord comaundide.

Capitulum XXVIII. edit

The Lord forſoþe ſeide to Moyſes, Comaund to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, Myn offrynge, and looues, and encenſe of mooſt ſwete ſmelle offre ȝe bi ȝoure tymes. Þes ben þe ſacrifices þat ȝe ſhulen offre; loombes of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, two eche day into brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge. Oon ȝe ſhulen offre eerliche, and anoþer at euen. Þe tenþe part of ephi of tryed flour, þat be ſpreynt wiþ mooſt pure oyle, and haue þe ferþe part of hyn. Þe biſy ſacrifice is, þat ȝe offreden in þe mownt of Synay, into ſmelle of mooſt ſwete enſence to þe Lord. And ȝe ſhulen offre of wyn þe ferþe part of hyn, bi eche loombes, in þe ſeyntuarye of þe Lord. And anoþer loomb alſo ȝe ſhulen offre at euen, and aftir al þe rijt of þe morwtide ſacrifice, and of þe offryd licours of it, an offrynge of mooſt ſwete ſmelle to þe Lord. Þe ſaboþ day forſoþe ȝe ſhulen offre two loombes of oo ȝeer, vnwemmed, and two dymes of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, in þe ſacrifice, and þe offryd licours, þat lawfullich ben held, bi eche ſabotis, into brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge. In þe calendis forſoþe, þat is, in þe bigynnyngis of monþes, ȝe ſhulen offre brent ſacrifice to þe Lord, calues of þe droue two, o weþer, ſeuen loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, and þre dymes of tryed flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, in ſacrifice, bi eche calues, and two dymes of tryed flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, bi eche weþers; and þe tenþe of þe tenþe of tried flour of oyle, in ſacrifice, bi eche loombis; brent ſacrifice, and of mooſt ſwete ſmelle, and of encenſe it is to þe Lord. Þe offryngis forſoþe of wyn, þat bi eche ſlayn ſacrifices ben to be held, ſhulen be þes; half part of hyn bi eche calues, þe þridde bi a weþer, þe ferþe bi a loomb; þis ſhal be þe brent ſacrifiſis bi eche monþis, þat to hem ſilf þe ȝeer turnynge about comen aftir. A goot forſoþe ſhal be offred to þe Lord for ſynnes, into brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, wiþ þis offryngis of licours. Þe firſte forſoþe moneþ, þe fourtenþe day of þe monþe, ſhal be þe paſk of þe Lord; and in þe fiftenþe day þe ſolempnyte of þerf looues. Seuen daies þei ſhulen eete þerf looues; of þe whiche þe firſte day worſhipful and holy ſhal be; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not doon in it. And ȝe ſhulen offre into encenſe brent ſacrifice to þe Lord, calues of þe droue two, o weþer, loombes of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, ſeuen; and þe ſacrifices of eche, of tried flour, þat be ſpreynt wiþ oyle, þre dymes bi eche calues, and two dymes bi o weþer, and þe tiþe of þe tiþe bi eche loombis, þat is, bi ſeuen loombis; and o goot for ſynne, þat it be purgid for ȝow, biſide þe morwtide brent ſacrifice, þat euermore ȝe ſhulen offre. So ȝe ſhulen doo bi eche dayes of þe ſeuen dayes, into þe noriſhynge of þe fier, and into þe mooſt ſwete ſmel to þe Lord, þe which ſhal ryſe of þe brent ſacrifice, and of þe offred licours of echon. Þe ſeuenþe forſoþe day ſhal be mooſt ſolempne and holi to ȝou; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not don in it. Þe dayes alſo of þe fyrſte fruytis, whanne ȝe ſhulen offre newe cornys to þe Lord, þe ſeuen wykis fulfillid, worſhipful and holy ſhal be; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not do in it. And ȝe ſhulen offre brent ſacrifice to þe Lord, into mooſt ſwete ſmel; calues of þe droue two, o weþer, loombes of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, ſeuen; and in þe ſacrifices of hem, of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, þree dymes bi eche calues, bi weþers two, bi loombes þe tenþe of þe tiþe, þe whiche ben to gidre ſeuen loombes; a goot forſoþe þat is offred for þe purgynge, biſyde þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe offrid licours of it; ȝe ſhulen offre alle þingis vnwemmed, wiþ her ſacrified licours.

Capitulum XXIX. edit

Of þe ſeuenþe moneþ forſoþe þe firſte day holy and worſhipful ſhal be to ȝow; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not doon in it, for þe day of noyſe it is, and of trompes. And ȝe ſhulen offre brent ſacrifice, into mooſt ſwete ſmel to þe Lord, a calf of þe droue oon, o weþer, and loombes of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, ſeuen; and in þe ſacrifices of hem, of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle, þre dymes bi eche calues, two dymes bi a weþer, o dyme bi a loomb, þat ben togidre ſeuen loombes. And a goot for ſynne ſhal be offred, in clenſynge of þe puple, biſide þe brent ſacrifice of calendis, wiþ her ſacrifices, and brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, wiþ woned offred licours; wiþ þe ſame ſerymoyns ȝe ſhulen offre into þe mooſt ſwete ſmel, encenſe to þe Lord. Þe tenþe forſoþe day of þis ſeuenþe monþe ſhal be to ȝow hooly and worſhipful, and ȝe ſhulen traueyl ȝoure ſoulis; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not doo in it. And ȝe ſhulen offre brent ſacrifice to þe Lord, into mooſt ſwete ſmel; a calf of þe droue oon, a weþer oon, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, ſeuen; and in þe ſacrifices of hem, of tried flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle þre dymes bi eche calues, two dymes bi a weþre, a dyme of þe tiþe bi eche loombis, þat ben togidir ſeuen loombis; and o goot for ſynne, wiþ outen hem þat ben woned to be offred for treſpas in purgynge, and þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge in ſacrifice, and offrid licours of hem. Þe fiftenþe forſoþe day of þe ſeuenþe monþe, þe which to ȝow ſhal be holi and worſhipful; al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not doo in it, but ȝe ſhulen halwe þe ſolempnyte to þe Lord ſeuen days; and ȝe ſhulen offre brent ſacrifice, into þe mooſt ſwete ſmel to þe Lord, calues of þe droue þreteen, weþers two, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and in þe ſacrifices of licours of hem, of tryed flour ſpreynt wiþ oyle þre dymes bi eche calues, þat ben to gidre calues þretteen, and two dymes to o weþer, þat is, to two weþers to gidre, to o weþer oon, and þe tiþe of a dyme to eche loombis, þat ben to gidre loombis fourteen; and o goot for ſynne, wiþ out þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice, and þe ſacrified licour of it. In þat oþer day ȝe ſhulen offre calues of þe droue twelue, weþers two, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and ſacrifices, and ſacrified licours of echon, bi þe calues, and weþers, and loombis, dulich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ outen brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offrynge of licours. Þe þridde day ȝe ſhulen offre calues elleuen, weþers two, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe ſacrified licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombs, dulich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ outen brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice, and þe offryng of licours of it. Þe ferþe day ȝe ſhulen offre calues ten, weþers two, loombs of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe ſacrified licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombis, duelich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ oute þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offringe of licours. Þe fifþe day ȝe ſhulen offre nyne calues, weþers two, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe offrynge of licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombs, duelich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ out þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offrynge of licours. Þe ſixte day ȝe ſhulen offre calues eiȝt, and weþris two, loombes of o ȝeer, and vnwemmed, fourteen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe offryngis of licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombis, duelich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ out þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offrynge of licours. Þe ſeuenþe day ȝe ſhulen offre calues ſeuen, weþers two, loombs of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, fourteen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe offryngis of licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombs, duelich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and o goot for ſynne, wiþ oute þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offrynge of licours. Þe eiȝtiþ day þat is mooſt ſolempne, al ſeruyle werk ȝe ſhulen not doo, offrynge brent ſacrifice into þe mooſt ſwete ſmel to þe Lord, o calf, o weþer, loombis of o ȝeer, vnwemmed, ſeuen; and þe ſacrifices, and þe offryngis of licours of echon, bi calues, and weþers, and loombs, duelich ȝe ſhulen halwe; and a goot for ſynne, wiþ out þe brent ſacrifice euerlaſtynge, and þe ſacrifice of it, and þe offrynge of licours. Þes þingis ȝe ſhulen offre to þe Lord, in ȝoure ſolempnytees, biſide þe vowes, and wilful offryngis, in brent ſacrifice, in ſacrifice, in offrynge of licour, and in peſible ooſtis.

Capitulum XXX. edit

Moyſes forſoþe tolde to þe ſones of Yrael alle þingis þat þe Lord comaundide hym. And he ſpak to þe princes of þe lynagis of þe ſones of Yrael, Þis is þe word þat þe Lord comaundide, If eny of men auowe to þe Lord auowid, oþer hym ſilf bi ooþ ſtreynede, he ſhal not make at noȝt his word, but al þat he bihiȝt he ſhal fulfil. A womman ȝif eny þing ſhe auowiþ, and hir ſilf ſtreyn bi ooþ, þe which is in þe hows of hir fader, ȝit in childis age, if þe fader knowe þe vowe, þat ſhe haþ bihoot, and þe ooþ, bi þe which hir ſoul ſhe haþ obliſhid, and holde his pees, ſhe ſhal be gilti of þe auowe; what þing ſhe haþ bihoot and ſweriþ, in werk ſhe ſhal fulfil. If forſoþe anoon as þe fader heriþ, he wiþſeiþ it, and þe vowis and þe ooþis of hir ſhulen be at nouȝt, ne ſhe ſhal be holdun gilti to þe biheeſt, forþi þat þe fader aȝenſeide it. If ſhe haue an houſboond, and auowe eny þing, and onys a word of hir mouþ goynge out þe ſoul of hir obliſhe bi ooþ, what day þe man heriþ, and wiþſeiþ not, ſhe ſhal be gilti of þe vowe; what þing euer ſhe haþ bihoot, ſhe ſhal ȝelde. If forſoþe anoon herynge he wiþſeiþ, and he makiþ at nouȝt al þe biheſt of hir, and þe wordis by þe which ſhe ſtreynede hir ſoul, þe Lord ſhal forȝyue to hir. A widew, and a departid, what þing þei auowen þei ſhulen ȝeelde. A wijf in þe hows of hyr man, whanne ſhe byndiþ hir bi auowe, and bi ooþ, if þe man here, and holde his pees, ne wiþſeiþ to þe biheeſt, ſhe ſhal ȝeeld what euer þing ſhe haþ bihoot. If forſoþe anoon he wiþſeiþ, ſhe ſhal not be holdun gilti of þe biheeſt, for þe huſboond wiþſeiþ, and þe Lord ſhal forȝyue to hir. If ſhe auowe, and bi ooþ ſtreyne hir ſelf, þat bi faſtynge and abſtynens of oþer þingis ſhe traueyl hir ſoul, in þe dome of þe man it ſhal be, þat ſhe do it, or not do it. And if þe man herynge holde his pees, and into anoþer day deferre þe ſentence, what euer þing ſhe haþ vowid and bihoot, ſhe ſhal ȝeeld, for anoon as he herde, he heelde his pees. If forſoþe he wiþſeiþ, after þat he aſſentide, he ſhal bere þe wickidnes of hir. Þes ben þe lawes þat þe Lord ordeynde to Moyſes, bitwix man and womman, bitwix fader and douȝter þat is ȝit in childis age, oþer þat in þe hows of fader and modir dwelleþ.

Capitulum XXXI. edit

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Venge firſt þe ſones of Yrael of þe Madianytis, and ſo þow ſhalt be gedryd to þi puple. And anoon Moyſes, Arme ȝe, he ſeiþ, of ȝow men to þe fiȝt, þat mowen þe veniaunce of þe Lord out take of þe Madianytis. A þowſand men of ech lynagis ben choſun of Yrael, þat ben ſent to batayl. And þei ȝeuen þowſandis of eche lynagis, þat is, twelue þowſandis of men, redy to þe fiȝt; whom Moyſes ſente wiþ Fynees, þe ſone of Eleazar, þe preeſt. Forſoþe þe hooli veſſels, and þe trumpes to crye, he took to hem. And whanne þei hadden fouȝt aȝens Madianytes, and hadden ouercomen, alle þe maalis þei ſlewen, and þe kyngis of hem, Euy, and Reem, and Sur, and Hur, and Rebe, fyue princes of þe folk of hem. Balaam forſoþe, þe ſone of Beor, þei ſlewen wiþ ſwerd. And þei token þe wymmen of hem, and children, and alle þe beeſtis, and al purtenaunce; what þing euer þei myȝten haue, þei deſtruyden; as wel cytees as litil towns and caſtels bi flawme he brent. And þei token praye, and alle þat þei token, as wel of men as of beeſtis, and brouȝten to Moiſes, and Eleazar, þe preeſt, and to al þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael. Forſoþe oþer vſable þingis þei beren to þe tentis, in þe wijld feeldis of Moab, biſide Jordan, aȝen Jericho. And Moyſes and Eleazar, þe preeſt, wenten out, and alle þe prynces of þe ſynagoge, into aȝencomynge of hem, out of þe tentis. And Moyſes wrooþ to þe prynces of þe ooſt, leders of þouſandis, and gouernours of hundredis, þat camen fro þe batayl, ſeiþ, Whi han ȝe kept þe wymmen? ben not þes þat han deſeyued þe ſones of Yrael, at þe ſuggeſtioun of Balaam, and han maad ȝow treſpaſſe in þe Lord, vpon þe ſynne of Phegor, wherfor and þe puple was ſmytun? Þerfor al ſlee ȝe what euer þing is of maal kynde, and litil children; and wymmen þat han knowun men in goynge togidre, kytte ȝe þe þrootis; mayde children, and alle wymmen maydens kepe ȝe to ȝow, and dwelliþ out of þe tentes ſeuen days. Who ſleeþ a man, or a man ſleyn touchiþ, ſhal be paſſid about þe þridde day, and þe ſeuenþe; and of al þe praye, wheþer cloþing it were, oþer veſſel, and eny þing into vſable þingis maad redi, of þe ſkynnes of gootis, and heerys, and tree, it ſhal be purgid. Eleazar forſoþe, þe preeſt, to þe men of þe ooſt þat hadden fowȝt, þus ſpak, Þis is þe maundement of þe lawe, þat þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes, Gold, and ſiluer, and braſſe, and yren, and tynne, and leed, and al þat may paſſe bi flawmes, ſhal be purgid þurȝ fier; forſoþe what euer þing fier ſhal not mowe ſuſteyn, wiþ water of clenſynge ſhal be halowid. And ȝe ſhulen waſſhe ȝoure cloþis þe ſeuenþe day; and puryfied afterward ȝe ſhulen goo into þe tentes. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Take þe ſumme of hem þat ben takun, fro man vnto beeſt, þow, and Eleazar, þe preeſt, and alle þe prynces of þe comoun. And þow ſhalt dyuyde euen þe praye among hem þat fauȝten and wenten out to þe batayl, and among al þe laft multitude. And þow ſhalt ſeuer a part to þe Lord, of hem þat han fouȝten, and weren in þe batayl, o ſoule of fyue hundrid, as wel of men, as of oxen, and aſſis, and ſheep. And þow ſhalt ȝyue it to Eleazar, þe preeſt, for þe cheef fruytis of þe Lord þei ben. Of þe half forſoþe part of þe ſones of Irael, þow ſhalt taak þe fiftiþ heed of men, and of oxen, and of aſſes, and of ſheep, and of al hauynge ſoule; and þow ſhalt ȝyue hem to þe Leuytes, þat waken in þe waardis of þe tabernacle of þe Lord. And Moyſes and Eleazar diden as þe Lord comaundide. Forſoþe þe pray was þat þe ooſt took, of ſheep ſix hundrid fyue and ſeuenti þowſand, of oxen two and ſeuenti þowſand, of aſſis ſexti þowſand and o þowſand; þe ſoules of men of wymmen kynde, þat knowen no men, two and þretti þowſand. And þe half part is ȝeuen to hem þat weren in þe batayl, of ſheep þre hundrid ſeuen and þretti þowſand and fyue hundrid; of þe whiche into þe part of þe Lord ben noumbred ſheep ſix hundryd and ſeuenti and fyue; and of oxen ſix and þretti þowſand, oxen ſeuenti and two, of aſſis þretti þowſand and fyue hundrid, aſſis ſexti and oon; of þe ſoules of men ſixtene þowſand, fellen into þe part of þe Lord, two and þretti ſoulis. And Moyſes took þe noumbre of þe chefe fruytis of þe Lord to Eleazar, þe preeſt, as it was comaundid, of þe half part of þe ſones of Irael, þat he ſeuerde to hem þat in þe batayl weren. Of þe half part forſoþe þat felle to þat oþer multitude, þat is, of ſheep þre hundryd ſeuen and þretti þouſand and fyue hundrid, and of oxen ſix and þretti þouſand, and of þretti þowſand aſſis and fyue hundrid, and of ſixtene þowſand men, Moyſes took þe fiftiþ heed, and ȝaf to þe Leuytis, þat wakiden in þe tabernacle of þe Lord, as þe Lord comaundide. And whanne þe prynces of þe ooſt weren goon to Moyſes, and þe leders of þowſandis, and rewlers of hundredis, ſeiden, We þi ſeruauntis han tolde þe noumbre of fiȝters, þe which we hadden vndre oure hoond, and not oon forſoþe faylid; for what cauſe we offren in þe places of þe free ȝiftis of þe Lord, eche, þat in þe praye of gold we myȝten fynde, wymmens ournementis about her reynes, and ournementis about her ſhuldres, and rynges, and ournementis about her armes, and ournementis about her neckis, þat þow preye þe Lord for vs. And Moyſes and Eleazar þe preeſt, token al þe gold in dyuers ſpices, bi peyſe of þe ſeyntuarye, ſixtene þouſand ſeuen hundrid and fifti ſiclis, of þe leders of þowſandis, and rewlers of hundredis. Forſoþe echon þat he cauȝte in þe praye, was his; and þe taken þei brouȝten into þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, into mynde of þe ſones of Irael, before þe Lord.

Capitulum XXXII. edit

The ſones forſoþe of Ruben and Gad hadden many beeſtis, and þer was to hem in beſtis ſubſtaunce wiþ outen noumbre. And whanne þei hadden ſeen Jaſer and Galaad, able loondis to beeſtis to be fedd, þei camen to Moyſes and Eleazar, þe preeſt, and prynces of þe multitude, and ſeyden, Aſtaroþ, and Dibbon, and Jaſer, and Nemra, Eſebon, and Eleale, and Sabam, and Nebo, and Beon, þe loond þat þe Lord ſmoot in þe ſiȝt of þe ſones of Yrael, is of a regioun mooſt plenteuous to þe food of beeſtis; and we þi ſeruauntis han many beeſtis; and we preyen, if we han foundun grace before þee, þat þow ȝyue to vs þi ſeruauntis it into poſſeſſioun, ne maak þow vs paſſe ouer Jordan. To whom anſwerde Moyſes, Wheþer ȝoure briþeren ſhulen go to þe fiȝt, and ȝe here ſhulen ſitte? Whi myſturnen ȝe þe þouȝtes of þe ſones of Irael, þat þei doren not paſſe into þe place þat þe Lord is to ȝyuynge to hem? Wheþer diden not ſo ȝoure fadres, whanne Y ſente fro Cades Barne to aſpie þe loond, and whanne þei camen to þe valey of Cluſter, al þe regioun about paſſid, þei myſturneden þe herte of þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei wenten not in to þe cooſtis, þat þe Lord ȝaf to hem. Þe which wrooþ, ſwaar, ſeiynge, Þes men ſhulen not ſeen, þat ſtieden vp fro Egipte, fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, þe loond þat under ooþ Y bihiȝte to Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, and þei wolden not ſue me, ſaue Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone, Ceneze, and Joſue, þe ſone of Nun; þes fulfilden my wille. And þe Lord wrooþ aȝens Yrael, ladde hym about by deſeert fourti ȝeer, to þe tyme þat were endyd al þe generacioun þat dide þe yuel in þe ſiȝt of hym. And, Loo! he ſeiþ, ȝe han ryſen for ȝoure fadres þe waxyngis and þe norſhid of ſynful men, þat ȝe encreſen þe woodnes of þe Lord aȝens Yrael. And if ȝe wolen not folwe hym, in wildirnes þe puple he ſhal forſaak, and ȝe þe encheſoun ſhulen be of þe deeþ of alle. And þei nyȝ comynge to, ſeiden, We ſhulen make vs fooldis of ſheep, and ſtablis of beeſtis, to oure litil children forſoþe waardid cytees. Forſoþe we oure ſilf armed and gyrd, we ſhulen goo to batayl before þe ſones of Irael, to þe tyme þat we leden hem into her places; oure children, and what euer þing we mowen han, ſhulen be in þe waardid citees, for þe aſpies of þe dwellers. We ſhulen not turnen aȝen into oure howſis, into þe tyme þat þe ſones of Yrael welden her herytage; ne eny þing we ſhulen ſeche biȝonde Jordan, for nowe we han oure poſſeſſioun in þe eeſt cooſt of it. To whom ſeiþ Moiſes, If ȝe doon þat ȝe bihooten, fulſpede goo ȝe before þe Lord into fiȝt; and eche fiȝtynge man armed paſſe he ouer Jordan, to þe tyme þat þe Lord turne doun his enemyes, and al þe loond be ſuget to hym; þanne ȝe ſhulen be vnculpable anentis God, and anentis Irael, and ȝe ſhulen weeld þe regiouns, þe whiche ȝe wolen, before þe Lord. If forſoþe þat ȝe ſeyn, ȝe doon not, to no man dowt is, þat ne ȝe ſynnen aȝens God; and wite ȝe, þat ȝour ſynne ſhal catche ȝow. Bilde ȝe þanne cytees to ȝoure children, and fooldis and ſtablis to ſheep and beeſtis; and þat ȝe han bihoot, fulfilliþ. And þe ſones of Gad and Ruben ſeiden to Moyſes, Þi ſeruauntis we ben; we ſhulen doo þat þe Lord comaundiþ. Oure litil children, and wymmen, and feeldbeeſtis, and howſbeeſtis we ſhulen leeue in þe cytees of Galaad; forſoþe we þi ſeruauntis alle fulſpede ſhulen goo to batayl, as þow, lord, ſhalt ſpeek. Þanne Moyſes comaundide to Eleazar, þe preeſt, and to Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, and to þe prynces of þe meynees, bi þe lynagis of Irael, and he ſeide to hem, If þe ſones of Gad and þe ſones of Ruben wiþ ȝow paſſen ouer Jordan alle armed, to bateil before þe Lord, and to ȝow were þe loond ſuget, ȝyue ȝe to hem Galaad into poſſeſſioun; if forſoþe þei wolen not paſſe wiþ ȝow into þe loond of Chanaan, among ȝow take þei places of dwellynge. And þe ſones of Gad and þe ſones of Ruben anſwerden, As þe Lord haþ ſpoken to his ſeruauntis, ſo we ſhulen doon; we armed ſhulen goo before þe Lord, into þe loond of Chanaan, and we knowlechen, þat we han take now poſſeſſioun biȝonde Jordan. And ſo Moyſes ȝaf to þe ſones of Gad and of Ruben, and to þe half lynage of Manaſſe, þe ſone of Joſeph, þe kyngdam of Seon, kyng of Amorrei, and þe kyngdam of Og, kyng of Baſan, and þe loond of hem, wiþ her cytees, bi enuyroun. Þanne þe ſones of Gad maden out Dibon, and Aſtaroþ, and Aroer, and Roþ-Sophan, and Jazer, and Jeebaa, and Beþ-Neura, and Beþaran, waardid citees; and fooldis to her beeſtis. Þe ſones forſoþe of Ruben edifieden Eſebon, and Eleale, and Cariaþiarym, and Nabo, and Balmyon, turned þe names, Sabama forſoþe; puttynge names to þe cytes þat þei maden out. Forſoþe þe ſones of Machir, ſone of Manaſſe, wenten forþ into Galaad, and waſtiden it, Amorre ſlayn, þe dweller of it. Þan Moyſes ȝaf þe loond of Galaad to Machir, ſone of Manaſſe, þat dwellide in it. Forſoþe Jair, þe ſone of Manaſſe, wente, and ocupiede þe ſtretis of it, þe whiche he clepide Anochiair, þat is, þe townes of Jayr. Forſoþe Nobe wente, and cauȝte Canaþ, wiþ his litil townes, and he clepide it, of his name, Nobe.

Capitulum XXXIII. edit

Theſe ben þe dwellyngis of þe ſones of Yrael, þat wenten out fro Egipte, bi her companyes, in þe hoond of Moyſes and Aaron; þe whiche Moyſes diſcryuede biſide þe places of þe tentis, þe whiche weren chaungid þurȝ þe heeſt of þe Lord. Þerfor þei goon forþ fro Rameſſe, þe firſte moneþ, þe fiftenþe day of þe firſte moneþ, diden þat oþer day paſk þe ſones of Yrael, in an hiȝ hoond, ſeiynge alle þe Egipciens, and byryyng þe firſt gotun, þe whiche þe Lord hadde ſmytun; forſoþe and in þe goddis of hem he enhauncide veniaunce. Þei ſetten tentis in Socoþ, and fro Socoþ þei camen in to Eþam, þat is in þe vttermeſt cooſtis of wildirnes; þens þei goon out, camen aȝens Phiairoþ, þat biholdiþ Beelſephon, and þei ſetten tentis before Magdalun. And þei goon forþ fro Phiairoþ, paſſiden þurȝ þe myddil ſe in wildirnes, and þei goynge þre dayes þurȝ þe deſeert of Eþan, ſetten tentis in Maara. And þei goon forþ fro Maara, camen into Helym, where weren twelue wellis of water, and ſeuenti palmes; and þere þei ſettiden tentis. But and þennes þei goon out, piȝten tentes vpon þe Reed See. And þei goon forþ fro þe Reed See, ſettiden tentis in þe deſeert of Synay, fro whens þei goon out, camen into Delpheca. And þey goon forþ fro Delpheca, ſettiden tentis in Halijs. And þei goon fro Halijs, piȝten tentes in Raphidyn, where to þe peple water faylide to drynke. And þei goon forþ fro Raphidyn, ſettiden tentes in deſeert of Synay. But and fro þe wildirnes of Synay goon out, þei camen to þe Sepulcres of Luſt. And þei goon forþ fro þe Sepulcris of Luſt, ſettiden tentes in Aſſeroþ. And fro Aſſeroþ þei camen into Reþma. And þei goon forþ fro Reþma, ſettiden tentes in Remmon Phares; fro whens þei goon out, camen into Lemphna. And fro Lemphna þei ſettiden tentis in Reſſa. Goon out fro Reſſa camen in Celaþa; fro whens goon forþ, ſettiden tentis in þe hil of Sepher. Goon out fro þe hil of Sepher, camen into Arada; þens goynge forþ, ſettiden tentes in Maceloþ. And goon forþ fro Maceloþ, camen into Thaat. And fro Thaat þei ſettiden tentis in Thare; fro whennus gon out, þei fitchiden tentis in Meþcha. And fro Meþcha þei ſettiden tentis in Eſmona. And gon forþ fro Eſmona, þei camen into Moſeroþ, and fro Moſeroþ þei ſettiden tentis in Benelachan. And goon forþ fro Benelachan, camen into þe hil of Galgad; fro whens goon forþ, þei ſettiden tentes in Jeþebacha. And fro Jeþebaca þei camen into Ebrona. And goon out fro Ebrona, ſettiden tentis in Aſion Gaber; and þens goon forþ, camen into þe deſeert of Syn; þis is Cades. And goon out of Cades, ſettiden tentes in þe hil of Hor, in þe vttermooſt of þe loond of Edom. And Aaron, þe preeſt, ſteyede vp in to þe hil of Hor, comaundynge þe Lord, and þere died, þe fourtiþe ȝeer of þe goynge out of þe ſones of Yrael fro Egipte, þe fifþe moneþ, þe fyrſt day of þe moneþ; whanne he was of ȝeres an hundrid and þre and twenti. And Chanane, þe kyng Arad, þat dwelt at þe ſouþ, in þe loond of Chanaan, herde þat þe ſones of Yrael weren comen. And goon forþ fro þe hil of Hor, ſettiden tentis in Salmana; fro þens goon out, camen into Phynon. And goon forþ fro Phynon, þei ſettiden tentes in Oboþ. And fro Oboþ camen into Jeabarym, þat is in þe cooſtis of Moabitis. And goon forþ fro Jeabarym, þei piȝten tentis in Dibongad; fro whens goon out, þei ſettiden tentis in Helmon Deblaþaym. And goon out of Helmon Deblaþaym, camen into þe hillis of Nabarym, aȝens Nabo. And goon fro þe hillis of Abarym, wenten to þe wijld feeldis of Moab, vp Jordan, aȝens Jericho. And þere þei ſettiden tentis, fro Beþſymon vnto Belſaþym, in þe more pleyn places of Moabites, where þe Lord ſpak to Moyſen, Comaund to þe ſones of Yrael, and ſey to hem, Whanne ȝe paſſen Jordan, goynge into þe loond of Chanaan, ſcater ȝe alle þe dwellers of þat region; breeke ȝe þe calues, and þe ymagis deſtrye ȝe, and alle þe hyȝe þingis waſte ȝe, clenſynge þe loond, and alle þe dwellers in it. Y forſoþe haue ȝeue to ȝou it into poſſeſſioun, þe which ȝe ſhal dyuyde to ȝou bi lot; to þe mo ȝe ſhulen ȝyue þe bradder, and to þe fewer þe narwer; to ech as þe lot falliþ, ſo ſhal be ȝeue þe herytage; bi lynagis and meynees þe poſſeſſioun ſhal be dyuydid. Forſoþe if ȝe wolen not ſle þe dwellers of þe loond, þat abiden, þei ſhulen be to ȝow as nayles in eyen, and ſperis in ſidis; and þei ſhulen contrarye ȝou in þe loond of ȝoure dwellinge; and what euer þing I þowȝt to do to hem, I ſhal doo to ȝow.

Capitulum XXXIIII. edit

The Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Comaunde to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, Whanne ȝe goon into þe loond of Chanaan, and into poſſeſſioun to ȝow felle bi lot, wiþ þes eendis it ſhal be endid. Þe ſouþ part ſhal bigyn fro þe wildirnes of Syn, þat is biſide Edom, and it ſhal haue termes aȝens þe eeſt, and mooſt ſalt ſee, þe which ſhal enuyroun þe ſouþ cooſt bi þe ſtiyng up of ſcorpioun, ſo þat þei paſſen into Sennam, and camen to þe ſouþ, vnto Cades Barne; fro whens ſhulen goo oute, þe nyȝ cooſtis, to a toun, Abder bi name, and þei ſhulen ſtrecche vnto Aſſemonam; and þe cooſt ſhal goo bi enuyroun fro Aſſemona vnto þe rennynge water of Egipte, and it ſhal be endid in þe brenk of þe greet ſee. Þe weſt plage forſoþe ſhal begynne fro þe greet ſee, and wiþ þat his eend ſhal be cloſid. Forſoþe to þe norþ plage, fro þe greet ſee teermes ſhulen begynne, ful comynge vnto þe mooſt hiȝe hil, fro þe which þei ſhulen come into Emaþ, vnto þe eendis of Sedeba; and þe nyȝ cooſtis ſhulen go vnto Effrona, and þe town of Enan. Þes ſhulen be þe teermes in þe part of þe norþ. Þens ſhulen be ſett þe eendis aȝens þe eeſt plage, fro þe toun of Henam vnto Sephama; and fro Sephama þe termes ſhulen deſcende vnto Reblaþ, aȝens þe welle of Daphym; þens þei ſhulen come aȝens þe eeſt to þe ſee of Cenereþ; and þei ſhulen ſtretche vnto Jordan, and at þe laſt þei ſhulen be cloſid wiþ þe mooſt ſalt ſee. Þis loond ȝe ſhulen haue bi ȝoure cooſtis in enuyroun. And Moyſes comaundide to þe ſones of Yrael, ſeiynge, Þis ſhal be þe loond þat ȝe ſhulen welde bi lot, and þat þe Lord comaundide to be ȝeuen to nyne lynagis, and to þe half lynage; forſoþe þe lynage of þe ſones of Ruben bi her meynees, and bi þe lynage of þe ſones of Gad, aftir þe kynrede and noumbre, and þe half lynage of Manaſſe, þat is, two lynagis and an half, token her parte beȝonde Jordan, aȝens Jericho, at þe eeſt plage. And þe Lord ſeiþ to Moyſes, Þes ben þe names of þe men þat ſhulen dyuyde þe loond to ȝow, Eleazar, þe preeſt, and Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, and alle þe prynces of alle lynagis; of whom þe names ben þes, of þe lynage of Juda, Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone; of þe lynage of Symeon, Samuel, þe ſone of Amyud; of þe lynage of Beniamyn, Elyad, þe ſone of Caſſelon; of þe lynage of þe ſones of Dan, Bochri, þe ſone of Jogli; of þe ſones of Joſeph and þe lynage of Manaſſe, Hamyel, þe ſone of Ephoþ; of þe lynage of Effraym, Camuel, þe ſone of Sepþan; of þe lynage of Zabulon, Elizaphan, þe ſone of Pharnaþ; of þe lynage of Yſachar, duke Phaltiel, þe ſone of Ozan; of þe lynage of Aſer, Abyud, þe ſone of Salomy; of þe lynage of Neptalym, Fedahel, þe ſone of Amyud. Þes ben, to whom þe Lord comaundide, þat þei ſhulden dyuyde to þe ſones of Yrael þe loond of Chanaan.

Capitulum XXXV. edit

Theſe þingis forſoþe ſpak þe Lord to Moyſes, in þe wijlde feeldis of Moab, vpon Jordan, aȝens Jerycho, Comaunde to þe ſones of Irael, þat þei ȝyuen to þe Leuytis, of her poſſeſſiouns, citees to dwellen yn, and þe ſuburbs of hem bi enuyroun, þat þei dwellen in wallid towns, and þe ſuburbis ben to feelde beeſtis, and houſbeeſtis; þe whiche fro þe wallis of þe citees wiþ outen forþ bi enuyroun ben ſtretchid, bi ſpace of a þowſand paaſe; aȝens þe eeſt, two þowſand ſhulen be þe cubitis, and aȝens þe ſouþ, alſo two þowſand; forſoþe at þe ſee þat biholdiþ to þe weſt, þe ſame meſure ſhal be, and þe norþ plage bi euen teerme ſhal be eendid. And citees ſhulen be in þe myddil, and ſuburbis wiþoute. Forſoþe of þilk wallid townes alſo to þe Leuytes ȝe ſhulen ȝyue, ſix ſhal be ſeuerd into þe helpes of fugityues, þat he þat ſhediþ blood, fleeȝ to hem; and out taken hem, oþir two and fourti wallid townes, þat ben to gidre eiȝt and fourti, wiþ her ſuburbis. And þilk citees þat ſhulen be ȝeuen, of þe poſſeſſiouns of þe ſones of Yrael, of hem þat more han, mo ſhulen be take awey, and þat laſſe, fewer; eche aftir þe meſure of her herytage, ſhulen ȝyue wallid townes to þe Leuytes. Þe Lord ſeiþ to Moyſes, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, Whanne ȝe goon ouer Jordan, into þe loond of Chanaan, biholdiþ what citees owen to be into þe helpis of fugityues, þat not wilnyng ſheeden blood. In þe whiche whanne þe forþ fleer fleeȝiþ, þe coſyn of þe ſlayn man ſhal not mowe ſlee hym, to þe tyme þat he ſtoond in þe ſiȝt of þe multitude, and þe cauſe of hym be demed. Of þilk forſoþe citees þat ben ſeuerd to þe helpis of þe fugityues, þre ſhulen be beȝonde Jordan, and þree in þe loond of Chanaan; as wel to þe ſones of Yrael as to comlyngis and pilgrimes; þat he fleeȝ to hem, þe which not wilnynge ſhediþ blood. If eny man ſmytiþ a man wiþ yren, and were deed, he þat is ſmyter ſhal be gilti of mannus ſlauȝter, and he ſhal dye. If a ſtoon he þrowe, and wiþ þe caſt ſleeþ, lijk maner he ſhal be puniſhid. If wiþ a tree ſmyten he dye, in blood of þe ſmyter he ſhal be vengid. Þe nyȝ kynne of þe ſlayn þe man ſleer ſhal ſlee; anoon as he catchiþ hym, he ſhal ſlee. If bi haat eny man a man aȝen puttiþ, oþer þrowiþ eny þing into hym bi aſpies, oþer whanne he were enemye wiþ hoond ſmytiþ, and he were deed, þe ſmyter ſhal be gilti of manſlauȝter. Anoon þe coſyn of þe ſlayn, whanne he fyndiþ hym, ſhal kyt his þroot. And if bi hap, and wiþ outen haat and enemytees, eny þing of þeſe doþ; and þat herynge þe puple were pryuyd, and bitwix þe ſmyter and þe nyȝ of þe blood þe queſtyoun were meuyd, þe innocent ſhal be delyuerd fro þe hoond of þe vengeſour, and he ſhal be brouȝt aȝen bi ſentence into þe cytee, to þe which he fleeȝ, and he ſhal dwelle þere, to þe tyme þat þe greet preeſt þat wiþ hooli oyle is anoynt, dye. If þe ſleer out of þe cooſtis of þe cytees þat to outlawis ben ordeynd, were foundun, and ſmytun of hym þat is vengeſour of þe blood, wiþouten gilt ſhal he be þat ſlewe hym; þe forþ fleer forſoþe ſhulde vnto þe deeþ of þe biſſhop in þis citee dwelle ſtil; aftirward forſoþe þat he dye, þe manſleer ſhal turne aȝen in his loond. Þes þingis euerlaſtynge ſhulen be, and lawful in alle ȝoure dwellyngis. A manſleer vndur witneſſe, ſhal be puniſhid; at þe witneſſynge of oon no man ſhal be condempnyd. Ȝe ſhulen not take prijs of hym þat is gilti of blood, anoon and he ſhal dye. Outlawis, and ferre fleeȝers, before þe deeþ of þe biſſhop no wiſe into her citees mowen turne aȝen, leſt ȝe poluten þe loond of ȝoure dwellynge, þe which is defoulid bi þe blood of þe innocentis, ne oþer wayes may be purgyd, but bi his blood, þat þat oþers blood ſhedde. And ſo ſhal be clenſid ȝoure poſſeſſioun, me dwellynge wiþ ȝou; forſoþe Y am þe Lord, þat dwelle among þe ſones of Iſrael.

Capitulum XXXVI. edit

Camen nyȝ forſoþe and þe prynces of þe meynees of Galaad, þe ſone of Machir, þe ſone of Manaſſe, of þe lynage of þe ſones of Joſeph, and ſpeken to Moyſes before þe princes of Yrael, and ſeyden, To þee oure lord comaundide þe Lord, þat þe loond bi lot þow ſhuldiſt dyuyde to þe ſones of Yrael, and þat to þe douȝtres of Salphaad, oure broþer, þow ſhuldeſt ȝyue poſſeſſioun duwe to þe fader. Þe whiche if men of anoþer lynage taken to wyues, ſhulen folwe her poſſeſſioun, and tranſlatid to anoþer lynage, of oure herytage ſhal be laſſid; and ſo ſhal be doo, þat whanne þe iubyle, þat is þe fiftiþe ȝeer of remyſſioun, come, be confoundid þe delynge of lottis, and oþer mennus poſſeſſioun paſſe to oþir. And Moyſes anſwerde to þe ſones of Yrael, and, þe Lord comaundynge, ſeiþ, Ryȝt þe lynage of þe ſones of Joſeph haþ ſpoken, and þis lawe vpon þe douȝtren of Salphaad of þe Lord is opynly ſhewid; wedden þei to whom þei wolen, oonly to þe men of her lynage; leſt þe poſſeſſyouns of þe ſones of Yrael be mengid fro lynage into lynage. Forſoþe alle men ſhulen take wyues of her lynage, and of her kynrede, and alle wymmen houſboondes of þe ſame lynage take þei, þat þe herytage dwelle in þe meynees, ne to hemſilf be mengid þe lynagis, but ſo dwelle þei, as of þe Lord þei ben ſeuerd. And þe douȝters of Salphaad diden, as to hem was comaundid. And Maala, and Therſa, and Egla, and Melcha, and Noha, weren weddid to þe ſones of þe broþer of her fader, of þe meynee of Manaſſe, þat was þe ſone of Joſeph. And þe poſſeſſioun þat was to hem delyuerd, abood in þe lynage and þe meynee of þe fader of hem. Þes ben þe maundementis and domes, þat þe Lord comaundide bi þe hoond of Moyſes, to þe ſones of Yrael, in þe wijlde feeldis of Moab, vpon Jordan, aȝens Jericho.

Here endiþ þe book of Numeri and nowe bygynneþ þe book of Deutronomy.