The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-28
tablet from the Temple OF fierod
In Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, inc noly lily, hdh pSth
passed by. To do away with this
reproach to a Christian people, and
in order to make scientific explora-
ton of the Holy Land, the "Pales-
tine Exploration Fund was formed
in England, and q party of Royal
Engineers was sent out to explore
the ruins of Jerusalem.
Much of interest was the result of
this investigation, but very few
memorials of the past, or inscrip-
tons, were brought to light. On ex-
amining the east wall of Herod's
Temple, on one of the stones was
found three letters painted in red.
On stones in other parts incised
characters were seen resembling the
letters H. and J.
On making this discovery the ex-
ploring party communicated with
the Palestine Exploration Fund, and
the late Emmanuel Deutsch, an
Oriental scholar then employed in
the British Museum, was sent to
examine the inscriptions. He pro-
nounced the characters PhRnician,
some of which were quarry signs,
but the exact meaning could not be
determined.
The most important of the discov-
cries was made by Clermont Gan
neau, who was Commissioner of the
Society. While examining portion
of the Temple, he had occasion to
pass through a grave yard near the
spot and noticing slab on the
ground, he cleared away the soil on
its face, and found there an inscrip-
ton in Greek, not pure Greek, but
such as was used in Jerusalem. On
deciphering the inscription he found
it read, "No foreigner to proceed
within the partition wall and en-
closure around the sanctuary; who
ever is caught in the same will OIL
that account be liable to incu
death"
Josephus, in describing the Ten
pie says: "When you went throug
these first cloisters into the secon
court of the Temple, there was
partition made of stone all aroun
whose height was three cubits; !
construction was very elegan
upon it stood pillars at equal di
tances from one another, declaril
the law of purity, some in Gree
and some in Latin letters, that
foreigner should go within the sane
uary, for that second court of Il
Temple was called the sanctuar
and was assembled to by fourte'
steps from the first court"
Here, then, after being buri
nineteen centuries, came to Zig
once more this warning tablet
Herod's Temple, which forbade
foreigners to penetrate beyond t
Court of the gentiles. In this col
were the animals required for t
sacrifices, and other sacrificial
auirements which were sold for t
purpose. The money-changers {
here, and once when they intrud
beyond the limits the Saviour Dire
them out of the Temple.
On one occasion Paul took W
him to Jerusalem an Ephesian ma
ed Trophimus. 1t is not kno
whether he introduced him into
Israelites' court or not, but this '
the supposition of the Jews.
great uproar ensued, and Paul '
roughly handled by the mob, be
rescued with great difficulty by
Roman guard!
This tablet explains Il passage
the Epistle to the Ephesians to
effect that Christ had 'broken dc
the middle wall of partition betw
us" that is, Christianity was off
to Jews and Gentiles alike. +
had seen this tablet threaten
death to all strangers that dare
pass beyond the partition wi
separated the Court of the Gen
from that of the Israelites.
tablet, placed on the partition,
plainly visible, and doubtless
in the Apostles mind when he
the simile.
In the Temple of Solomon
Jews were admitted, but '
Herod rebuilt the Temple, anS
10 conciliate the Egyptians, Rol
and Greeks residing in Jerusi
he added an outer court in W
they could assemble, but the '
ing tablets prepared them fol
consequences if they Penet
beyond.
1t will be seen, by reference
tablet, that all the letters are in
tails, and, with few exception
words are not divided, but ruI
each other. This tablet is the
important of the discoveries