Already the evening sacrifice had been offered. Ordinarily it was slain at 2:30 p.m., and

offered at about 3:30. But on the eve of the Passover, as we have seen, it was killed an

hour earlier; and if the 14th of Nisan fell on a Friday--or rather from Thursday at eve to

Friday at eve--two `63 hours earlier, so as to avoid any needless breach of the Sabbath.

On the occasion to which we refer the evening sacrifice had been slain at 1:30, and

offered at 2:30. But before the incense was burned or the lamps were trimmed, the

Paschal sacrifice had to be offered.122

It was done on this wise:--The First of the three festive divisions, with their Paschal

lambs, was admitted within the Court of the Priests. Each division must consist of not

less than thirty persons (3 x 10, the symbolical number of the Divine and of

completeness). Immediately the massive gates were closed behind them. The priests

drew a threefold blast from their silver trumpets when the Passover was slain.

Altogether the scene was most impressive. All along the Court up to the altar of burnt-

offering priests stood in two rows, the one holding golden, the other silver bowls. In

these the blood of the Paschal lambs, which each Israelite slew for himself (as

representative of his company at the Paschal Supper), was caught up by a priest, who

handed it to his colleague, receiving back an empty bowl, and so the bowls with the

blood were passed up to the priest at the altar, who jerked it in one jet at the base of the

altar. While this was going on, a most solemn 'hymn' of praise was raised, the Levites

leading in song, and the offerers either repeating after them or merely responding. Every

first line of a Psalm was repeated by the people, while to each of the others they

responded by a 'Hallelujah,' or 'Praise ye the Lord.' This service of song consisted of the

so-called 'Hallel,' which comprised Psalms 113 to 118. Thus--

The Levites began: 'Hallelu Jah' (Praise ye the Lord).

The people repeated: 'Hallelu Jah.'

The Levites: 'Praise (Hallelu), O ye servants of Jehovah.'

The people responded: 'Hallelu Jah.'

The Levites: 'Praise (Hallelu) the name of Jehovah.'

The people responded: 'Hallelu Jah.'

Similarly, when Psalm 113 had been finished--Psalm 114:

The Levites: 'When Israel went out of Egypt.'

The people repeated: 'When Israel went out of Egypt.

The Levites: 'The house of Jacob from a people of strange language.'

The people responded: 'Hallelu Jah.'

And in the same manner, repeating each first line and responding at the rest, till they

came to Psalm 118, when, besides the first, these three lines were also repeated by the

people (vv 25, 26):

'Save now, I beseech Thee, Jehovah.'

'O Jehovah, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity'; and

'Blessed be He that cometh in t he name of Jehovah.'