The Temple Ministry and Services at the Time of Jesus

CONTENTS 21
CHAP. XVII.
POST-MOSAIC FESTIVALS.
Object of these feasts The Feast of Purim Its origin and time
Was it ever attended by the Lord ? Services on the Feast of
Purim When and how the Megillah was read Modern
ceremonials The Feast of the Dedication of the Temple Its
of its
origin and duration The Hallei sung on each day
duration the ; people carried palm branches, and there was
a grand illumination of the Temple and of private houses
Suggestion that the date of Christmas was taken from this
feast Practice as to the illumination The Feast of the
Wood-offering on the last of the nine seasons of the year,
when such offerings were brought in the Temple Rabbinical
accounts of its origin Maidens dance in the vineyards on the
afternoon of that day Fasts, public and private Memorial
fasts The four great fasts mentioned in Zech. viii. Mode of
observing public fasts Page 330
CHAP. XVIII.
ON PURIFICATIONS.
Symbolical meaning of Levitical defilements and purifications
The purification of the Virgin Mary in the Temple Defile
ment by contact with death Six degrees of defilement
Sacrifice of the red heifer Preservation of its ashes, and use
of them in purification Symbolical meaning of this purifi
cation Analogy between the red heifer, the scape-goat, and
the living bird let loose in cleansing the leper Why was the
heifer -wholly burnt ?
Meaning of the use of the ashes of the
red heifer Rabbinical tradition about Solomon s ignorance
of the meaning of this rite Selection of the red heifer
Ceremonial in its sacrifice and burning Selection of one so
free from suspicion of defilement as to administer this purifi
cation Children kept in special localities for that purpose
Ceremonial connected with the purification How many red
heifers had been offered from the time of Moses Symbolical
meaning of leprosy Lepers admitted to special places in the
synagogue How the priests were to examine and pronounce
judgment on leprosy Explanation of Lev. xiii. 12, 13 Two
fold rites in restoring the healed leper First, or social stage
of purification Second stage after seven days seclusion The
rites to be observed in it Rabbinical account of the service
The meat-offering at the purification of a wife suspected of