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had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to
the priests.
The dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the animals sold, and
they shared their profits with the priests and rulers, who thus enriched
themselves at the expense of the people. The worshipers had been
taught to believe that if they did not offer sacrifice, the blessing of God
would not rest on their children or their lands. Thus a high price for
the animals could be secured; for after coming so far, the people would
not return to their homes without performing the act of devotion for
which they had come.
A great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the
Passover, and the sales at the temple were very large. The conse-
quent confusion indicated a noisy cattle market rather than the sacred
temple of God. There could be heard sharp bargaining, the lowing of
cattle, the bleating of sheep, the cooing of doves, mingled with the
chinking of coin and angry disputation. So great was the confusion
that the worshipers were disturbed, and the words addressed to the
Most High were drowned in the uproar that invaded the temple. The
Jews were exceedingly proud of their piety. They rejoiced over their
temple, and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as blasphemy; they
were very rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected with
it; but the love of money had overruled their scruples. They were
scarcely aware how far they had wandered from the original purpose
of the service instituted by God Himself.
When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, the place was conse-
crated by His presence. Moses was commanded to put bounds around
the mount and sanctify it, and the word of the Lord was heard in warn-
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ing: “Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or
touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely
put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be
stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live.”
Exodus 19:12, 13
. Thus was taught the lesson that wherever God man-
ifests His presence, the place is holy. The precincts of God’s temple
should have been regarded as sacred. But in the strife for gain, all this
was lost sight of.
The priests and rulers were called to be the representatives of God
to the nation; they should have corrected the abuses of the temple
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court. They should have given to the people an example of integrity