330 THE EVOLUTION OF THEOLOGY Till 



their worshippers according to their moral con- 

 duct, yet neglect to pay due respect to the 

 deities, and forgetfulness to keep them in good 

 humour, might be visited with even worse conse- 

 quences than moral delinquency. And those who 

 will carefully study the so-called "Mosaic code '' 

 contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and 

 Numbers, will see that, though Jahveh's prohi- 

 bitions of certain forms of immorality are strict 

 and sweeping, his wrath is quite as strongly 

 kindled against infractions of ritual ordinances. 

 Accidental homicide may go unpunished, and 

 reparation may be made for wilful theft. On the 

 other hand, Nadab and Abihu, who " offered strange 

 fire before Jahveh, which he had not com- 

 manded them," were swiftly devoured by Jahveh's 

 fire ; he who sacrificed anywhere except at the 

 allotted place was to be " cut off from his people " ; 

 so was he who eat blood ; and the details of the 

 upholstery of the Tabernacle, of the millinery of 

 the priests' vestments, and of the cabinet work of 

 the ark, can plead direct authority from Jahveh, 

 no less than moral commands. 



Amongst the Tongans, the sacrifices were 

 regarded as gifts of food and drink offered to the 

 divine Atuas, just as the articles deposited by the 

 graves of the recently dead were meant as food 

 for Atuas of lower rank. A kava root was a 

 constant form of offering all over Polynesia. In 

 the excellent work of the Rev. George Turner, 



