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

efore his redemption; but if his father died in the
interval, the child had to redeem himself when of
age. As the Rabbinic law expressly states, that the
shekels were to be of * Tyrian weight,'* the value
of the * redemption-money' would amount to about
ten or twelve shillings. The redemption could be
made from any priest, and attendance in the
Temple was not requisite. It was otherwise with
Hhe purification' of the mother.^ The Rabbinic law
fixed this at forty-one days after the birth of a son,
and eighty-one after that of a daughter,' so as to
make the Biblical terms quite complete.® But it
might take place any time later—^notably, when
attendance on any of the great feasts brought a
family to Jerusalem. Thus, we read of cases when
a mother would ofier several sacrifices of
purification at the same time.* But, indeed, the
woman was not required to be personally present
at all, when her ofiering was presented, or, rather
(as we shall see), provided for—say, by the
representatives of the laity, who daily took part in
the services for the various districts from which
they came. This also is specially provided for in