john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
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FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLAReon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad,Asher, Naphtali, Joseph <strong>and</strong> Benjamin. TheLevites were set aside tojiave exclusive jurisdictionover <strong>the</strong> national worship, <strong>and</strong> as <strong>the</strong>y were not toinherit l<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> two sons <strong>of</strong> Joseph, Ephraim <strong>and</strong>Manasseh, were chosen as <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r's representatives<strong>and</strong> became progenitors in <strong>the</strong> twelve tribes<strong>of</strong> Israel. The tribe <strong>of</strong> Levi received, instead <strong>of</strong>a province, forty-eight cities scattered throughoutCanaan <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> tenth part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fruits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> field,<strong>and</strong> were allowed generally to settle throughout <strong>the</strong>l<strong>and</strong> where <strong>the</strong>y chose. Aaron, who was Moses'bro<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong> Levites, by a miraculousjudgment, became <strong>the</strong> first high priest. Moses directedthat twelve rods should be laid up in <strong>the</strong> Holy<strong>of</strong> Holies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tabernacle, one for each tribe; <strong>the</strong>name <strong>of</strong> Aaron on one rod to represent <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong>Levi, <strong>and</strong> Moses said, "The man's rod whom I shallchoose shall blossom." On <strong>the</strong> next day <strong>the</strong>se rodswere brought out <strong>and</strong> exhibited to <strong>the</strong> people,<strong>and</strong> while all <strong>the</strong> rest remained dry <strong>and</strong> wi<strong>the</strong>red,that <strong>of</strong> Aaron alone budded <strong>and</strong> blossomed <strong>and</strong>yielded fruit (Num. xvii.). Philo-Judaeus saysthat "Moses was instructed by <strong>the</strong> Egyptianpriests in <strong>the</strong> philosophy <strong>of</strong> symbols <strong>and</strong> hieroglyphicsas well as in <strong>the</strong> mysteries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sacredanimals." The sacred historian tells us he was"learned in all <strong>the</strong> wisdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Egyptians"; <strong>and</strong>Manetho <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r traditionary writers tell us tha<strong>the</strong> was educated at Heliopolis as a priest, under hisEgyptian name <strong>of</strong> Osarsiph, <strong>and</strong> that <strong>the</strong>re he wastaught <strong>the</strong> whole range <strong>of</strong> literature <strong>and</strong> science,which it was customary to impart to <strong>the</strong> priesthood<strong>of</strong> Egypt. It is not strange, when he began in <strong>the</strong>27