JUDAISM. 143 



both being wrought with gold ; a mitre, or cap, with a gulden plate, 

 inscribed with HOLINESS TO THE LORD; and the breastplate of judg- 

 ment, bearing the Urim and Thummim, (or lights and perfections), 

 and set with twelve gems, inscribed with the names of the twelve 

 tribes of Israel. The priests were originally consecrated by anoint- 

 ing with oil, and sprinkling with blood ; a burnt offering and a sin 

 offering being burnt at the same time ; and a heave and a wave 

 offering eaten, by the priests ; so called, because they were first 

 heaved up, or waved in the air. 



A bullock was sacrificed every day by the high-priest, as a sin 

 offering, for atonement ; and two lambs were offered daily, as a 

 meat offering, with wine for a drink offering, from the people to the 

 Lord. Various offerings were required or made by individuals, at 

 various times ; as burnt offerings of choice animals ; meat offer- 

 ings, partly burnt and partly eaten by the priests ; peace offerings, 

 partly burnt, and partly eaten, in which the person offering them 

 participated ; and sin or trespass offerings, made to expiate uninten- 

 tional offences. The high-priest alone could enter the most holy 

 place, or holy of holies ; and this only on one day in the year, 

 the day of atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month ; with 

 self-purifications and offerings; and a ram and two goats for the 

 people : the ram for their burnt offering ; one goat for their sin 

 offering ; and the other to be let loose, as a scape-goat, to bear away 

 their sins. 



The annual Passover of the Jews, when they ate the paschal lamb, 

 and sprinkled their door posts with its blood, in commemoration of 

 their first born sons being preserved thereby in Egypt, was kept on 

 the fourteenth day of the first month, corresponding to our Easter. 

 Hence also, the first born males, both of man and beast, were sanc- 

 tified to the Lord ; and offerings were directed to be made by parents, 

 for the redemption of their first born sons. The feast of Unleavened 

 bread, commemorating their hasty departure from Egypt, commenced 

 the day after the passover, and continued one week ; on the first and 

 seventh days of which, there were holy convocations of the people ; 

 and on the second day was offered a sheaf of the first fruits of the 

 barley harvest. There were holy convocations, also, at the feast 

 of Pentecost, or of harvest, 50 days after the passover, to offer the 

 first fruits of the wheat harvest ; and at the feast of Trumpets, on 

 the first day of the seventh month, the beginning of the civil year, 

 announced by the blowing of trumpets, This last, was followed by 

 the feast of Tabernacles, fifteen days after it, completing the feast of 

 ingathering ; on the first and eighth days of which were also holy 

 convocations. The Jews were moreover required to observe every 

 seventh year, as a Sabbatical year, when there was no harvest; 

 and every fiftieth year was proclaimed by trumpets as a Jubilee; 

 when they rested two years in succession, living on their previous 

 stores : when servants were set free, and lands on lease, returned to 

 their proper owners. Of the laws concerning clean and unclean 

 animals, for food or sacrifice ; concerning leprosy, and other un- 

 cleanness ; purifications and circumcision, we have no room here to 

 speak. 



