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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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utter confusion <strong>of</strong> historical notices in Rabbinic<br />

writings <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir constant practice <strong>of</strong> antedating<br />

events, it is impossible to furnish satisfactory<br />

details, <strong>the</strong> general development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> institution<br />

can be traced with sufficient precision. If Ezra is<br />

described in Holy Writ ** as * a ready (expertua)<br />

Scribe,' who had ' set his heart to seek (seek out<br />

<strong>the</strong> full meaning <strong>of</strong>) <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord, <strong>and</strong> to do<br />

it, <strong>and</strong> to teach in Israel,' ^ this might indicate to<br />

his successors, <strong>the</strong> Sopherim (Scribes), <strong>the</strong><br />

threefold direction which <strong>the</strong>ir studies afterwards<br />

took: <strong>the</strong> Midrashj <strong>the</strong> HcdaJchdhy <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Haggadah^^ ' <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong> one pointed to<br />

Scriptural investigation, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r to what was to<br />

be observed, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> third to oral teaching in <strong>the</strong><br />

widest* sense. But Ezra left his work uncompleted.<br />

On Nehemiah's second arrival in Palestine, he<br />

found matters again in a state <strong>of</strong> utmost confusion.^<br />

He must have felt <strong>the</strong> need <strong>of</strong> establishing some<br />

permanent authority to watch over religions<br />

affidrs. This we take to have been * <strong>the</strong> Great<br />

Assembly,' or, as it is commonly called, * <strong>the</strong><br />

Great Synagogue.' It is impossible with certainty to

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