THE LAST 1SRAELITISH BLOOD SACRIFICE 



45 



outer clothing, shod 

 and bearing a staff 

 or cane in imitation 

 of the equipment on 

 the flight from Egypt. 

 Now the meat is 

 sprinkled with minced 

 bitter herbs, and straw 

 trays of unleavened 

 bread are placed at 

 hand. The high priest, 

 in the midst, in qua- 

 vering tones, says : 

 "In the name of God 

 I call, 'Hear O Israel, 

 our God is one God,' ' ; 

 etc., while all voices 

 join in singing an an- 

 cient Exodus hymn in 

 which mention is made 

 of the multitudes of 

 Israel that left Egypt 

 as the issue of only 

 seventy souls who 

 went down into that 

 land in the days of 

 Joseph. 



Every one now be- 

 gins to eat ravenously, 

 pulling the meat from 

 the bones with the 

 fingers. No forks or 

 knives are used, and 

 great care is observed 

 not to break a bone. 

 The flesh is consumed 

 quickly, for the de- 

 vout are truly hungry, 

 having eaten little sub- 

 stantial food during 

 the previous day. 

 "And they shall eat 

 the flesh in that night, 

 roast with fire, and unleavened bread ; 

 and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 

 And thus shall ye eat it : with your loins 

 girdled, your shoes on your .feet, and 

 your staff in your hand : and ye shall eat 

 it in haste : it is the Lord's Passover" 

 (Ex. 12 : 8 and i.i). 



Those who are unable to leave their 

 tents because of sickness have a portion 

 sent to them, and, no matter how ill, 

 they always partake of a little. Even the 

 nursing babies have their lips touched with 

 a morsel, all in literal compliance with 



THE SACRED SCROEE OF THE SAMARITANS USED ON GERIZIM 

 (REAR view) 



The scroll is contained in a copper case inlaid with silver and 

 gold, with designs representing the temple sacrificial altar, table of 

 shewbread, the golden censer, cup of manna, and other temple 

 furnishings. 



the command that any one refraining 

 from eating it shall be cut off from Israel. 

 Within a few minutes the meal is over 

 and the high priest, leaning picturesquely 

 upon his staff, recites a short prayer. 

 Every bit and bone remaining is now col- 

 lected and taken to the altar. Across the 

 end. where the offal has been burned the 

 wickerwork oven cover is now thrown, 

 and upon it all the spits are piled, to- 

 gether with the bones and leavings. A 

 fire is lighted under them. Every person 

 now washes with hot water from the ket- 



