Changes

==173:1. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE==

==173:1. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE==

173:1.1 A huge commercial traffic had grown up in association with the services and ceremonies of the temple worship. There was the business of providing suitable animals for the various sacrifices. Though it was permissible for a worshiper to provide his own sacrifice, the fact remained that this animal must be free from all " blemish " in the meaning of the Levitical law and as interpreted by official inspectors of the temple. Many a worshiper had experienced the humiliation of having his supposedly perfect animal rejected by the temple examiners. It therefore became the more general practice to purchase sacrificial animals at the temple, and although there were several stations on near-by Olivet where they could be bought, it had become the vogue to buy these animals directly from the temple pens. Gradually there had grown up this custom of selling all kinds of sacrificial animals in the temple courts. An extensive business, in which enormous profits were made, had thus been brought into existence. Part of these gains was reserved for the temple treasury, but the larger part went indirectly into the hands of the ruling high-priestly families.

173:1.1 A huge [[commercial]] [[traffic]] had grown up in [[association]] with the services and [[ceremonies]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Temple the temple] [[worship]]. There was the [[business]] of providing suitable [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin-offering animals] for the various [[sacrifices]]. Though it was permissible for a [[worshiper]] to provide his own [[sacrifice]], the [[fact]] remained that this [[animal]] must be free from all " blemish " in the [[meaning]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban#In_the_Book_of_Leviticus Levitical law] and as [[interpreted]] by official inspectors of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the temple]. Many a [[worshiper]] had [[experienced]] the [[humiliation]] of having his supposedly [[perfect]] [[animal]] [[rejected]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen the temple examiners]. It therefore became the more general [[practice]] to purchase [[sacrificial]] animals at the [[temple]], and although there were several stations on near-by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Olivet] where they could be bought, it had become the [[vogue]] to buy these animals directly from the [[temple]] pens. Gradually there had grown up this [[custom]] of selling all kinds of [[sacrificial]] [[animals]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple#Life_in_and_around_the_temple temple courts]. An extensive [[business]], in which enormous [[profits]] were made, had thus been brought into [[existence]]. Part of these gains was reserved for the [[temple]] [[treasury]], but the larger part went indirectly into the hands of the ruling [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high-priestly] [[families]].

173:1.2 This sale of animals in the temple prospered because, when the worshiper purchased such an animal, although the price might be somewhat high, no more fees had to be paid, and he could be sure the intended sacrifice would not be rejected on the ground of possessing real or technical blemishes. At one time or another systems of exorbitant overcharge were practiced upon the common people, especially during the great national feasts. At one time the greedy priests went so far as to demand the equivalent of the value of a week's labor for a pair of doves which should have been sold to the poor for a few pennies. The " sons of Annas " had already begun to establish their bazaars in the temple precincts, those very merchandise marts which persisted to the time of their final overthrow by a mob three years before the destruction of the temple itself.

173:1.2 This [[Business|sale]] of [[animals]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the temple] prospered because, when the [[worshiper]] purchased such an [[animal]], although the price might be somewhat high, no more fees had to be paid, and he could be sure the intended [[sacrifice]] would not be [[rejected]] on the ground of [[possessing]] real or [[technical]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban#In_the_Book_of_Leviticus blemishes]. At one time or another [[systems]] of exorbitant overcharge were [[practiced]] upon the common people, especially during the great [[national]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Feasts feasts]. At one time the [[greedy]] [[priests]] went so far as to demand the [[equivalent]] of the [[value]] of a week's [[labor]] for a pair of doves which should have been sold to the [[poor]] for a few pennies. The " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas sons of Annas] " had already begun to [[establish]] their [[bazaars]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the temple] precincts, those very [[merchandise]] marts which [[persisted]] to the time of their final overthrow by a mob three years before the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_the_Temple destruction of the temple itself].

173:1.3 But traffic in sacrificial animals and sundry merchandise was not the only way in which the courts of the temple were profaned. At this time there was fostered an extensive system of banking and commercial exchange which was carried on right within the temple precincts. And this all came about in the following manner: During the Asmonean dynasty the Jews coined their own silver money, and it had become the practice to require the temple dues of one-half shekel and all other temple fees to be paid with this Jewish coin. This regulation necessitated that money-changers be licensed to exchange the many sorts of currency in circulation throughout Palestine and other provinces of the Roman Empire for this orthodox shekel of Jewish coining. The temple head tax, payable by all except women, slaves, and minors, was one-half shekel, a coin about the size of a ten cent piece but twice as thick. By the times of Jesus the priests had also been exempted from the payment of temple dues. Accordingly, from the 15th to the 25th of the month preceding the Passover, accredited money-changers erected their booths in the principal cities of Palestine for the purpose of providing the Jewish people with proper money to meet the temple dues after they had reached Jerusalem. After this ten-day period these money-changers moved on to Jerusalem and proceeded to set up their exchange tables in the courts of the temple. They were permitted to charge the equivalent of from three to four cents commission for the exchange of a coin valued at about ten cents, and in case a coin of larger value was offered for exchange, they were allowed to collect double. Likewise did these temple bankers profit from the exchange of all money intended for the purchase of sacrificial animals and for the payment of vows and the making of offerings.

173:1.3 But traffic in sacrificial animals and sundry merchandise was not the only way in which the courts of the temple were profaned. At this time there was fostered an extensive system of banking and commercial exchange which was carried on right within the temple precincts. And this all came about in the following manner: During the Asmonean dynasty the Jews coined their own silver money, and it had become the practice to require the temple dues of one-half shekel and all other temple fees to be paid with this Jewish coin. This regulation necessitated that money-changers be licensed to exchange the many sorts of currency in circulation throughout Palestine and other provinces of the Roman Empire for this orthodox shekel of Jewish coining. The temple head tax, payable by all except women, slaves, and minors, was one-half shekel, a coin about the size of a ten cent piece but twice as thick. By the times of Jesus the priests had also been exempted from the payment of temple dues. Accordingly, from the 15th to the 25th of the month preceding the Passover, accredited money-changers erected their booths in the principal cities of Palestine for the purpose of providing the Jewish people with proper money to meet the temple dues after they had reached Jerusalem. After this ten-day period these money-changers moved on to Jerusalem and proceeded to set up their exchange tables in the courts of the temple. They were permitted to charge the equivalent of from three to four cents commission for the exchange of a coin valued at about ten cents, and in case a coin of larger value was offered for exchange, they were allowed to collect double. Likewise did these temple bankers profit from the exchange of all money intended for the purchase of sacrificial animals and for the payment of vows and the making of offerings.