chief，nortothehighpriest，buttoReligionandtoGod。81Thearmy，orthehosts，werecalledthearmyofGod，orthehostsofGod。82ForthisreasonGodwascalledbytheHebrewstheGodofArmies；andthearkofthecovenantwasborneinthemidstofthearmyinimportantbattles，whenthesafetyordestructionofthewholepeoplehungupontheissue，sothatthepeoplemight，asitwere，seetheirKingamongthem，andputforthalltheirstrength。
17:83Fromthesedirections，leftbyMosestohissuccessors，weplainlyseethathechoseadministrators，ratherthandespots，tocomeafterhim；
forheinvestednoonewiththepowerofconsultingGod，wherehelikedandalone，consequently，noonehadthepowerpossessedbyhimselfofordainingandabrogatinglaws，ofdecidingonwarorpeace，ofchoosingmentofillofficesbothreligiousandsecular:allthesearetheprerogativesofasovereign。84Thehighpriest，indeed，hadtherightofinterpretinglaws，andcommunicatingtheanswersofGod，buthecouldnotdosowhenheliked，asMosescould，butonlywhenhewasaskedbythegeneral-in-chiefofthearmy，thecouncil，orsomesimilarauthority。85Thegeneral-in-chiefandthecouncilcouldconsultGodwhentheyliked，butcouldonlyreceiveHisanswersthroughthehighpriest；sothattheutterancesofGod，asreportedbythehighpriest，werenotdecrees，astheywerewhenreportedbyMoses，butonlyanswers；theywereacceptedbyJoshuaandthecouncil，andonlythenhadtheforceofcommandsanddecrees{LiketheseparationofpowersintheUnitedStatesofAmerica。}
17:86Thehighpriest，bothinthecaseofAaronandofhissonEleazar，waschosenbyMoses；norhadanyone，afterMoses\'death，arighttoelecttotheoffice，whichbecamehereditary。87Thegeneral-in-chiefofthearmywasalsochosenbyMoses，andassumedhisfunctionsinvirtueofthecommands，notofthehighpriest，butofMoses:indeed，afterthedeathofJoshua，thehighpriestdidnotappointanyoneinhisplace，andthecaptainsdidnotconsultGodafreshaboutageneral-in-chief，buteachretainedJoshua\'spowerinrespecttothecontingentofhisowntribe，andallretaineditcollectively，inrespecttothewholearmy。88Thereseemstohavebeennoneedofageneral-in-chief，exceptwhentheywereobligedtounitetheirforcesagainstacommonenemy。89ThisoccurredmostfrequentlyduringthetimeofJoshua，whentheyhadnofixeddwelling。
place，andpossessedallthingsincommon。[17:7]90Afterallthetribeshadgainedtheirterritoriesbyrightofconquest，andhaddividedtheirallottedgains，they，becameseparated，havingnolongertheirpossessionsincommon，sothattheneedforasinglecommanderceased，forthedifferenttribesshouldbeconsideredratherinthelightofconfederatedstatesthanofbodiesoffellow-citizens。91InrespecttotheirGodandtheirreligion，they，werefellow-citizens；but，inrespecttotherightswhichonepossessedwithregardtoanother，theywereonlyconfederated: