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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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efore <strong>the</strong> Passover; while o<strong>the</strong>rs would fix on it<br />

as <strong>the</strong> time for going up to Jerusalem before <strong>the</strong><br />

feast *to purify <strong>the</strong>mselves***— i»stJoimxii that<br />

is, to undergo <strong>the</strong> prescribed purification in any<br />

case <strong>of</strong> Levitical defilement. But what must have<br />

appealed to every one in <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> was <strong>the</strong><br />

appearance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> * money-changers'<br />

(Shulchanim), who opened <strong>the</strong>ir stalls in every<br />

country-town on <strong>the</strong> 15th <strong>of</strong> Adar (just a month<br />

before <strong>the</strong> feast). <strong>The</strong>y were, no doubt, regularly<br />

accredited <strong>and</strong> duly authorised. For, all Jews <strong>and</strong><br />

proselytes—women, slaves, <strong>and</strong> minors excepted<br />

—had to pay <strong>the</strong> annual Temple-tribute <strong>of</strong> half a<br />

shekel, according to <strong>the</strong> 'sacred' st<strong>and</strong>ard, equal to<br />

a common Galilean shekel (two denars), or about<br />

la, 2d. <strong>of</strong> our money. From this tax many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

priests—to <strong>the</strong> chagrin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rabbis—claimed<br />

exemption, on <strong>the</strong> ingenious plea that in Lev. vi. 23<br />

(A.V.) every <strong>of</strong>lFering <strong>of</strong> a priest was ordered to<br />

be burnt, <strong>and</strong> not eaten; while from <strong>the</strong> Templetribute<br />

such <strong>of</strong>ierings were paid for as <strong>the</strong> two<br />

wave loaves <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> shewbread, which were<br />

afterwards eaten by priests. Hence, it was argued,

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