not shoes, might be worn in the Temple, the priests being barefoot only during their

actual ministry. Nor did they otherwise wear any distinctive dress, not even the high-

priest himself, nor yet those who performed in the Temple other than strictly sacrificial

servic es. 70

As for the Levites, they had no clerical dress at all, but only wore the white linen (2

Chron 5:12), till they obtained from Agrippa II permission to wear priestly garments --as

Josephus rightly remarks, 'contrary to the laws of our country' (Ant. xx. 9, 6).

We know that on Sabbaths at least, when one company gave place to another, or,

rather, as the outgoing course left the Temple precincts, they parted from each other

with a farewell, reminding us of St. Paul's to the Corinthians (2 Cor 13:11), 'He that has

caused His name to dwell in this house cause love, brotherhood, peace, and friendship

to dwell among you.' Each of the twenty-four 'courses' into which not only the priests

and Levites, but also all Israel, by means of representatives, were divided, served for

one week, from Sabbath to Sabbath, distributing the daily service among their respective

'families' or 'houses.' For the Sabbath the new ministrants came earlier than on week-

days. 71

As the 'family' whose daily 'ministration was accomplished' left the Temple, the massive

gates were closed by priests or Levites, some requiring the united strength of twenty

men. Then the Temple keys were hung up in a hollow square, under a marble slab in the

'fire-room' (Beth-ha-Moked), which may also be designated as the chief guard -room of

the priests. Now, as the stars were shining out on the deep blue Eastern sky, the priests

would gather for converse or the evening meal. 72

Pieces of the sacrifices and the 'prepared' first-fruits (the Therumoth) supplied the

needful refreshments. 73

Though the work of the day was over, certain arrangements had yet to be made. For the

Levites in charge of collecting the tithes and other business details were wont to

purchase in large quantities what each who brought any sacrifice needed for meat- and

drink-offerings, and to sell it to the offerers. This was a great accommodation to the

worshipper, and a source of daily profit to the Temple. On payment of a price, fixed by

tariff every month, the offerer received his proper counterfoil, 74 in exchange for which a

Temple official gave him what he needed for his sacrifice. Now, the accounts of these

transactions had to be made up and checked every evening.

But already the night-watches had been set in the Temple. By day and night it was the

duty of the Levites to keep guard at the gates, to prevent, so far as possible, the unclean

from entering. To them the duties of the Temple police were also entrusted, under the

command of an official known to us in the New Testament as the 'captain of the Temple'

(Acts 4:1, etc.), but in Jewish writings chiefly as 'the man of the Temple Mount.' The

office must have been of considerable responsibility, considering the multitude on feast-

days, their keen national susceptibilities, and the close proximity of the hated Romans in

Fort Antonia. At night guards were placed in twenty-four stations about the gates and

courts. Of these twenty-one were occupied by Levites alone; the other innermost three

jointly by priests and Levites. 75

Each guard consisted of ten men; so that in all two hundred and forty Levites and thirty

priests were on duty every night. The Temple guards were relieved by day, but not