Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf Read Free Book Online Page B

shouting out their wares in Greek and Aramaic, and the air was filled with the bleating of frightened animals.
    I always tried not to think about the rivers of blood that would be shed on the Temple altars. Lord Benjamin always bought our lamb inside the Temple, even though it was more expensive. To be accepted as a sacrifice, the lamb had to be declared unblemished, and the priests often declared the lambs that came from outside unfit, forcing the poor pilgrim to buy a second lamb, this time from the Temple. Lord Benjamin said it was a way for the priests to make money, and the only way to avoid the swindle was to take no chances and buy your lamb from them.
    The smells were almost as overwhelming as the noise and the crowds. Food from all the countries of the Empire was being sold at market stands, and those odors, combined with the stench of sweat and the pungent oils that people had anointed themselves with, were enough to make my stomach churn.
    When we finally reached the Temple, we had to separate so each of us could take a
mikvah
, the ritual bath that was necessary before one could be admitted to the Temple proper. About half the family hadgathered in the Court of the Gentiles by the time I joined them, my
mikvah
finished. The court was almost as crowded and noisy as the streets had been. The money changers were set up, ready to exchange foreign currency into ritually clean shekels, and the merchants were spread all over the vast area, selling a variety of sacrificial birds and animals as well as ritually pure lambs. Some enterprising souls were even trying to sell souvenirs to visitors from foreign lands.
    Once all the family had gathered, we went up the stairs into the next court, the Court of the Women. This was where the real Temple started. It was open only to Jews, unlike the Court of the Gentiles, and merchants were not allowed in here. This court was meant for relaxing, for socializing, for meeting old friends. It was also the place where worshippers made their donations to the upkeep of the Temple. Lord Benjamin had given each member of his household a shekel for the Temple treasury, and I felt very important as I dropped my offering into one of the huge chests shaped like a ram’s horn.
    As the family dispersed to seek out friends they hadn’t seen since last Passover, I attached myself to Daniel, and loyal Ruth attached herself to me. The Court of the Women was the place where all the famous scholars taught their students, the place where Daniel himself would shortly be a student. We followed him as he walked about, listening to the scholars as they questioned their students.
    I tried not to dwell on our coming separation. How was I going to get through each day without seeing him? Without speaking to him? I couldn’t bear to think about it, so I tried to concentrate on what was being said by the scholars.
    Beside me Ruth squealed, and I watched as she and another girl embraced and began to chatter. I turned back to the discourse Daniel was listening to so intently. The scribe was speaking about the Messiah,and for the first time I began to wonder if such a being might come in my lifetime.

    The women and children remained in the Women’s Court, while the men went through the magnificent bronze Nicanor Gate to ascend to the next court, the Court of Israel. From this vantage point, they could witness the priests making sacrifices and burnt offerings upon the altars in the Court of the Priests.
    Women weren’t allowed beyond the Women’s Court, which suited me well. I found the thought of all that blood running down the Temple funnels into the valley below distressing. On these occasions I always remembered one of the psalms that Daniel had taught me, the one where the Lord says that He needs no bulls or goats from us as sacrifice, that all He wants from His people is our worship and thanksgiving.
    Apparently the priests of the Temple hadn’t taken that psalm seriously.
    Finally the men returned, and