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CHAPTER V.

THE DAY AFTER THE PASSOVER.

WHILE the paschal lamb was eaten by the people, the priests in the temple were cleansing the altar of burnt-offering. This was commonly done in the last watch of the night, towards the cock-crowing, but on this occasion during the first. Next they themselves partook of the paschal lamb, and soon after midnight the gates were opened, for the ingress of the children of Israel, many of whom were there, even at this early hour, in order to see the splendour of the illuminated temple. As soon as the watchman had answered in the affirmative the customary question of the priest, "Does it begin to be light as far as Hebron?” all the streets leading to the temple were filled

with men, dressed in their gayest clothes. On no other occasion of the year was the temple so crowded as on the morning after the Passover.

The usual morning sacrifice was first of all offered. The lamps were extinguished, incense was burnt upon the altar, and the lamb was sacrificed to Jehovah, with the usual meat and drink offering. Then followed the special offering for the feast, two young bullocks, a ram, seven yearling lambs with meat and drink offerings. Next, a goat was offered as a sin-offering; the Hallel was sung, and the blessing pronounced. The whole body of the priests was assembled; on ordinary days, only some families of the fathers were present; on the sabbath the whole course; but on high festivals the whole twenty-four courses, the collective body of the priesthood.

Helon had been among the first who had come up to the temple of Jehovah, at the crowing of the cock. He beheld all with deep interest and profound devotion, and as he gazed on the temple and the splendid ritual performed in it, the fond wish of his early childhood awoke

in his heart, that he too might be thought worthy to become a priest of Jehovah, and to minister at his altar. With increasing eagerness he looked for the appearance of the highpriest, the head and crown of the tribe of Levi and of all Israel. He had expected him to appear yesterday, and during the morning sacrifice, but he had not shown himself. Helon felt an enthusiastic admiration for the heroic family of the Maccabees, and none of them all had risen to such an eminence as John Hyrcanus. In Egypt, in Hebron, on the pilgrimage, and through the whole preceding day, he had been hearing the praises of the man whom he was now about to see.

He was standing upon the lowest of the fifteen steps, which led from the court of Israel to that of the women, when there arose a cry among the thousands who surrounded him, "The high-priest is coming!" He came from an adjoining building and walked towards the altar. The breastplate with its precious stones beamed from his breast. Over the ordinary white robe of the priests, which descended in

folds to his feet, he wore a magnificent upper robe of a blue purple. The bells between the pomegranates, on the borders of his robe, gave a clear sound as he walked. Over this upper garment he had a third, which was shorter, called the ephod, splendidly embroidered with purple, dark blue, crimson and thread of gold, on a white ground. On his head was a white turban, and over this a second, striped with dark blue. On his forehead he wore a plate of gold, on which the name of Jehovah was inscribed; and being at once high-priest and prince, this was connected with a triple crown on the temples and back part of the head.

The priests made way for him, as he entered in his glory, and stepped in majesty along. Arrived at the altar, he looked round on the innumerable multitude that were assembled, while silent congratulations were addressed to him by every heart. Helon thought on the splendid description of the high-priest Simon, the son of Onias, in the book of Jesus the son of Sirach.

"When he came from behind the veil, he

was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud; · and as the moon at the full. As the sun shines on the temple of the Most High; as the rainbow with its beautiful colours; as the beautiful rose in spring; as the lily by the rivers of waters; as the branches of the frankincense tree in time. of summer; as fire and incense in the censer; as a vessel of beaten gold, set with all manner of ornaments of precious stones; as a fair olivetree, budding forth fruit; as a cypress tree growing up to the clouds! When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with all his glory, and when he went up to the holy altar, he adorned the sanctuary all around. When he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, and stood by the hearth of the altar, and his brethren stood around him, he was as a young cedar in Lebanon, and they surrounded him like palm-trees. All the sons of Aaron in their glory had the oblations of the Lord in their hands before all the congregation of Israel. And he fulfilled the service at the altar, and offered up a pious oblation unto the Most High. He stretched out his hand to the cup and poured

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