Israel and Humanity - Participation of the Gentiles to the worship of the Temple

From Hareidi English
Jump to: navigation, search

V.

Participation of the Gentiles to the worship of the Temple.

Not only were the Gentiles in the Temple in Jerusalem a reserved enclosure, not only could they make sacrifices at the altar, but they were even allowed to practice in the sanctuary of religious functions, to render service, very modest it is true, but which leave the point of having a unique importance to the topic at hand.

We have already said that at the time of Moses we saw in the camp of Israel, the Gentiles hewers of wood and drawers of water [1] and if we refer to some texts of the Prophets, we are entitled to conclude that this was the worship service. Indeed we see that the Gibeonites in Joshua's time will be responsible for this work to the needs of the sanctuary [2]. In the nomenclature of Ezra's companions include temple servants, who are none other than the Gibeonites "On Nethinim between David and the chiefs had been in the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all designated by their names" ref > Edras, VIII, 20 </ref> ", which confirms our explanation.

This kind of priesthood has even less, at least during the Second Temple period, the Office of musicians. This is the opinion of Rabbi Meir who claims that they were Gentiles, slaves of priests. What is certain is that time of Solomon three thousand six hundred converts will be responsible for religious music. One hundred and fifty thousand others were busy building the Temple, this work was not oppressive or [3] even imposed. The proselyte, even a simple Noachide, had the right to subsistence by the Israelites when they could ask him some work in exchange for which he was always free to provide relief by waiving him provided and perhaps even without waiving, for the law that gives it imposes no conditions.

These historical shed much light on this strange passage from the book of Isaiah which says that among the Gentiles who will bring back Israel to Jerusalem, he is to be attached to the priests and Levites [4]. We saw the same book speaks of aliens "who attach themselves to the LORD to serve [5] in terms of the Pentateuch employs about Levites, and he promised them in the house of God, a place and a reputation preferable to son and daughters. " Finally, we predicted that they will take part in the construction of the future Temple, which has also been produced in building sanctuaries all precedents and, in any case, reflects the role assigned to the Gentiles in the worship God.

Certainly these predictions also imply recognition of Israel's religious mission to the Gentiles which will pay tribute and could therefore be criticized for having a certain appearance policy. But critics, who might be tempted to see in such prophecies as manifestations of national pride, are obliged to admit that they attribute at least some religious reasons and must be seen in this Jewish domination announced the triumph of the God of Israel on the deities of all other peoples. But it is not there, as in the paganism of the victory of a particular god who has over his rivals on the worshipers of them that the right conferred by conquest. The triumph of the God of Israel is the perfect truth of copies more or less infidels who only have a plot and when he calls Him the faithful of God defeated, he simply repeated his property wherever it is because their rights are not only superior, but prior to those of the deity unsuccessful. When the pagans were converted to Him, they are deserters are covered by the tent they would never have left, prodigal sons [6] returning to the paternal home, fishermen who leave their old ways. What we want to see especially here, is that this return is provided by the organization of Judaism and that participation is limited to Gentile converts in the worship of Israel, without the full membership at its Mosaic or no requested.


References

  1. Deut. xxix. 10 comments in ELEC.
  2. Joshua, IX, 27
  3. Page 547
  4. Isaiah LXVI, 21 .
  5. Ibid. LXI, 4-6.
  6. Page 548