Reply Obj. 10:  [The Reply to the Tenth Objection is lacking in the codices.  The solution given here is found in some editions, and was supplied by Nicolai.] Silver and gold were reasonably forbidden (Deut. 7) not as though they were not subject to the power of man, but because, like the idols themselves, all materials out of which idols were made, were anathematized as hateful in God’s sight.  This is clear from the same chapter, where we read further on (Deut. 7:26):  “Neither shalt thou bring anything of the idol into thy house, lest thou become an anathema like it.”  Another reason was lest, by taking silver and gold, they should be led by avarice into idolatry to which the Jews were inclined.  The other precept (Deut. 23) about covering up excretions, was just and becoming, both for the sake of bodily cleanliness; and in order to keep the air wholesome; and by reason of the respect due to the tabernacle of the covenant which stood in the midst of the camp, wherein the Lord was said to dwell; as is clearly set forth in the same passage, where after expressing the command, the reason thereof is at once added, to wit:  “For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thy enemies to thee, and let thy camp be holy (i.e. clean), and let no uncleanness appear therein.”  The figurative reason for this precept, according to Gregory (Moral. xxxi), is that sins which are the fetid excretions of the mind should be covered over by repentance, that we may become acceptable to God, according to Ps. 31:1:  “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”  Or else according to a gloss, that we should recognize the unhappy condition of human nature, and humbly cover and purify the stains of a puffed-up and proud spirit in the deep furrow of self-examination.

Reply Obj. 11:  Sorcerers and idolatrous priests made use, in their rites, of the bones and flesh of dead men.  Wherefore, in order to extirpate the customs of idolatrous worship, the Lord commanded that the priests of inferior degree, who at fixed times served in the temple, should not “incur an uncleanness at the death” of anyone except of those who were closely related to them, viz. their father or mother, and others thus near of kin to them.  But the high-priest had always to be ready for the service of the sanctuary; wherefore he was absolutely forbidden to approach the dead, however nearly related to him.  They were also forbidden to marry a “harlot” or “one that has been put away,” or any other than a virgin:  both on account of the reverence due to the priesthood, the honor of which would seem to be tarnished by such a marriage:  and for the sake of the children who would be disgraced by the mother’s shame:  which was most of all to be avoided when the priestly dignity was passed on from father to son.  Again, they were commanded to shave neither head nor beard, and not to make incisions in their flesh, in order to exclude the rites of idolatry.  For the priests of the Gentiles shaved both head and beard, wherefore it is written (Bar 6:30):  “Priests sit in their temples having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven.”  Moreover, in worshipping their idols “they cut themselves with knives and lancets” (3 Kings 18:28).  For this reason the priests of the Old Law were commanded to do the contrary.