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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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to realise <strong>the</strong> vast accumulation <strong>of</strong> wealth in <strong>the</strong><br />

Temple-treasury. But some idea <strong>of</strong> it may be<br />

formed Arom <strong>the</strong> circumstance that, despite many<br />

previous spoliations, <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gold <strong>and</strong><br />

silver which Crassus* carried fix)m •»*-wb^ <strong>the</strong><br />

Temple-treasury amounted to <strong>the</strong> enormous sum <strong>of</strong><br />

about two <strong>and</strong> a half millions sterling. Whe<strong>the</strong>r or<br />

not <strong>the</strong>se Temple moneychangers may have<br />

transacted o<strong>the</strong>r banking business, given drafts, or<br />

cashed those from correspondents, received <strong>and</strong><br />

lent money at interest—all which was common at<br />

<strong>the</strong> time—must remain undetermined.<br />

Readers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Testament know, that <strong>the</strong> noisy<br />

<strong>and</strong> incongruous business <strong>of</strong> an Eastern moneylender<br />

was not <strong>the</strong> only one carried on within <strong>the</strong><br />

sacred Temple-enclosure. It was a great<br />

accommodation, that a person bringing a sacrifice<br />

might not only learn, but actually obtain, in <strong>the</strong><br />

Temple from its <strong>of</strong>ficitJs what was required for <strong>the</strong><br />

meat- <strong>and</strong> drink-<strong>of</strong>fering. <strong>The</strong> prices were fixed by<br />

tariff every month, <strong>and</strong> on payment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stated<br />

amount <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ferer received one <strong>of</strong> four

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