Volume 2

Feast of Tabernacles
349
signs that accompanied their birth.
In all the places through which Jesus had passed lately,
preparations were busily going forward for the Feast of
Tabernacles. They were transporting lathwork from place
to place and putting up light tents and huts made of
foliage here and there on the roofs of Betharamphtha.
The maidens were busied with plants and flowers which
they put into water and set in the cellars to keep fresh.
There were so many fast days before the feast, and so
much was needed on account of the entertainments given
upon it, that everything had to be prepared some time
before. Such cares were entrusted to many of the poor,
who received food and money in return for their services.
When all was over they were entertained at a grand feast
and again recompensed. In all these places no open shops
were to be seen. Outside the Temple in Jerusalem, there
were some places around upon which stood shops; in
other cities, here and there, but chiefly at the gate, was a
tent in which covers were sold. One never saw in
Palestine people sitting together in the public houses.
Here and there in the corner of a wall might be seen a
man standing with a leathern bottle or pitcher. The traveller
in passing got his little jug replenished, but rarely
did he sit down to drink. A drunkard was never seen on
the streets. The water vendors carried a pole across the
shoulder on which were hung two leathern bottles, one in
front, the other behind. As for dishes and vessels of iron,
to procure thenl a man had to mount his ass and go to
where they were fabricated.
On the following day Jesus cured, on the walled-in
road between the Jewish and the heathen quarters, all the
poor, sick pagans who were lying so miserably in the
cavities of the wall, and the disciples distributed alms
among them. After that until the time of His departure,
Jesus taught in the synagogue. As the feast then celebrated
was likewise commemorative of the sacrifice of