Hebrew Literature Part 62

215 A cab contained 2.8333 pints.

216 A seah contained one peck and one pint.

217 On the altar.

218 The size of the priest's hands was proportionate to his stature.

219 That he had been struck dead.

220 Supposed by some to be the SUKHRAH in the present Mosque of OMAR.

From its position, however, it seems more probably to have been the foundation of the altar of burnt-offerings. This sacred rock is sixty feet across and five feet high. It is pierced quite through, to allow, as some think, the blood of the sacrifices to flow off into the "n.o.ble Cave" and the ca.n.a.ls beneath it.

221 A priest continued to stir the blood to prevent its coagulation.

222 Or, "as a thrasher."

223 Or, "as a thrasher."

224 Or, "the clean place."

_ 225 I.e._, the gardeners became liable for a trespa.s.s-offering.

226 R. Judah addresses in imagination the goat.

227 It seems, according to the Talmud, that there was no "laying on of hands" on either the morning or evening sacrifice; or on any other public sacrifice, excepting the scapegoat and the bullock, when the congregation had sinned through ignorance.

228 Lev. xvi. 30.

229 Or viaduct, or causeway.

230 Supposed to be Alexandrine Jews, so called from hatred to the Babylonians.

231 Zuk is supposed by Lieutenant Conder of the Palestine Exploration Fund to be the modern el Muntar, about six and a half miles east of Jerusalem in the direction of the Dead Sea, and on the way to the ruins of Mird (Mons Mardes). A well near the place is still called Bir es Suk.

_ 232 I.e._, broken to pieces.

233 Maimonides says that those connected with the red heifer and scapegoat were rendered unclean because these animals were "sin-bearing" animals. All that Israelites now have to offer on the day of atonement is for males a white c.o.c.k (because gever in Hebrew signifies a man and a c.o.c.k), and for females a hen. And they pray, "Let this be my subst.i.tute-this my atonement. This c.o.c.k goeth to death, but may I be gathered and enter into a long and happy life, and into peace."

234 "Place of the hollow."

235 Bereitha, or External Traditions.

236 Isaiah i. 18.

237 Lev. xvi.

238 Lev. xxiii. 27.

239 Num. xxix. 7.

240 Num. xxix. 7.

241 Urim and Thummin (lights and perfections), the Jews think, gave answer by the divine illumination of the suitable letters composing the names of the tribes which were graven on the breastplate of the High Priest.

242 Sandals were, however, allowed where there was fear of serpents and scorpions. Woollen socks might be used.

_ 243 I.e._, G.o.d omnipresent. The Jews in a spirit of reverence use the words "Place" and the "Name" to denote G.o.d. In reading they do not now p.r.o.nounce the word Jehovah, but subst.i.tute Adonai for it; and when Jehovah is followed by the word Adonai they then use the word Elohim. The true p.r.o.nunciation of the Name has been a subject of much contention. It has been variously given, as Yeheveh, Yehveh, Yahveh, Yahavah, Yahaveh, and Yehovah. When it was uttered on the Day of Atonement the wors.h.i.+ppers "fell on their faces" in reverence for it (vi. 2). It was spoken for the last time in the Temple by the mouth of Simon the Just. Henceforward, the Gemara says whoever attempts to p.r.o.nounce it shall have no part in the world to come.

244 According to Maimonides, we have in this treatise proof that it is coeval with the laws of Moses on the same subject.

245 The cloth would change it into a tent.

246 But he may go up on the middle days of the feast.

247 Lest he should render the food legally unclean with his unwashed hands. Mark vii. 2, 5.

248 Eccles. i. 15.

249 He lived about eighty years before the destruction of the Temple.

250 Deut. xiii. 13.

251 Supposed to be the mountain east of the Dead Sea, above Callirrhoe.

252 Lev. xix. 23.

253 Num. xviii. 11, 12.

254 Ps. cxviii. 1.

255 Ps. cxviii. 25.

256 Ps. cxviii. 25.

257 Ps. cxiii. to cxviii. inclusive.

258 These not being legally bound to this duty cannot act as deputies for another.

259 His ignorance of reading.

260 "I will praise thee," etc.-Ps. cxviii. 21 to end.

261 Lev. xxiii. 10, 11.

262 Permission arising out of his intention to fulfil the law.

263 Means a place exempt from taxation called Colonin, perhaps the modern Colonia. Some, however, say it was a place in the Kedron Valley.

264 Deut. x.x.xii. 39.