right over against it, not a hundred yards distant,16 where they must, of course, have
distinctly heard the sound of the trumpets and the shouts of the people as Solomon was
proclaimed king.17
8. Jer. Sukk. iv. 3, p. 54 b.
7. Sukk. iv. 5.
9. For a full discussion of this point, see p. 636, note 3.
10. Rather more than two
pints.
11. Curiously, in that passage the spring of the river is designated by the word Moza.
12. Comp. Neh. iii. 15.
13. 2 Chron. xxxii. 30; 2 Kings xx. 20.
14. St. John ix. 7.
15. 1 Kings i. 33, 38.
16. 1 Kings i. 9.
17. ver. 41.
But to return. When the Temple -procession had reached the Pool of Siloam, the Priest
filled his golden pitcher from its waters.18 Then they went back to the Temple, so timing
it, that they should arrive just as they were laying the pieces of the sacrifice on the great
Altar of Burnt -offering,19 towards the close of the ordinary Morning -Sacrifice service. A
threefold blast of the Priests' trumpets welcomed the arrival of the Priest, as he entered
through the 'Water -gate,'20 which obtained its name from this ceremony, and passed
straight into the Court of the Priests. Here he was joined by another Priest, who carried
the wine for the drink -offering. The two Priests ascended 'the rise' of the altar, and
turned to the left. There were two silver funnels here, with narrow openings, leading
down to the base of the altar. Into that at the east, which was somewhat wider, the wine
was poured, a nd, at the same time, the water into the western and narrower opening,
the people shouting to the Priest to raise his hand, so as to make sure that he poured
the water into the funnel. For, although it was held, that the water-pouring was an
ordinance instituted by Moses, 'a Halakhah of Moses from Sinai,'21 this was another of
the points disputed by the Sadducees.22 And, indeed, to give practical effect to their
views, the High-Priest Alexander Jannæ s had on one occasion poured the water on
u
the ground, whe n he was nearly murdered, and in the riot, that ensued, six thousand
persons were killed in the Temple.23
18. Except on a Sabbath, and on the first day of the Feast. On these occasions it had
been provided the day before.
19. Tos. Sukk iii. 8.
20. One of the gates that opened from 'the terrace' on the south side of the Temple.
21. Jer. Sukk. iv. 6; Sukk. 44 a.
22. On the other hand, R. Akiba maintained, that the 'water -pouring' was prescribed in
the written Law.
23. Sukk. iv. 9: Jos . Ant. xiii. 13. 5.