Jewish Temple Sections

Sections of the Jewish TempleMrs. McCurdy Mostly From Icons, p. 10-11 The Outer courtyard is in like manner known as the Court of Gentiles Gentiles or non-Jews were not allowed beyond this court. Traders could be found here selling birds and wolfs to be used for sacrifices. It was also a place to change Roman silver into Temple money (money-changers). When deliveryman got angry with these batch and threw them out of His Fathers House he did this because they were giving the people a very brusque exchange rate, and so were make lots of money at their expense, after all, they had to buy the sacrifices with Temple money The Court of Women Women and children were not allowed to beyond this area. It was a favourite meeting place for families when they came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. This was belike where Mary would have been looking for Jesus when he was 12 years old. The Court of Israelites Only Jewish men were allowed to enter here. They would see the altar of sacrifice and th e offers being made to God. At the time of Jesus, animal sacrifices were an important circumstances Temple worship. The Court of PriestsThis was exclusively reserved for priests. In this area was the altar on which the birds and animals were sacrificed. Only domestic animals would be sacrificed. This included pigeons and doves, the offerings of poor people. The Holy of Holies This was the innermost and most sacred part of the Tempe. A large veil covered its entrance. Only the high priest was allowed to enter, and he but went in once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. He offered sacrifices and asked Gods forgiveness in the call off of all the people.On this day only he spoke aloud, in full, the name of God. You will observe much later from the Gospel of Jesus trial that during this trial, before the High Priest, when asked, Jesus said he was the Son of the Blessed One. The Jewish authorities were then able to accuse Jesus of blasphem, because only the High Priest was al lowed to speak out aloud the name of God, so under Jewish law, Jesus was committing a grave sin. This day marked a new start, a renewal of faithfulness to the laws of God.