The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-29


Besides, probably an equal amount
for precious stones, marble and other
building materials, making a grand to-
tai Of about $500, 000. 900. The above
figures are based on the account given
in l. Kings, ", and 1. Chronicles,
xxx, of David's preparations for
the Temple, together with the dona-
tions by the leaders of Isreal.
Herods temple was even superior
in beauty and more costly. 1T was
bunt of intersecting bevelled-edged
alabaster and marble. that resembled
the waves Of the sea-"
But even Herod was out-Heroded
by the magnificent labyrinth in the
dual metropolis OF Alexandra, Egypt,
controlled by the Hellenisttc Jewish
population, which r. Judah estimates
as twice 500, 600, the number Of Jews
in the Egyptian exodus. The laby-
rinth contained seventy-one cathedrals
for the seventy-one Sanhedrin of the
Great Assembly. Every cathedral
cost no less than 10000 talents Of gold.
This item alone, seventy-one times
100000 times $4,000, foots up $685.. $40
600, 600
When Jerusalem was besieged before
the second destruction, there were
three rich Jews named, respectively,
Nikodemon Ben Glorion, Ben Kalba-
Sabna and Ben TzitZithha- kesath.
They resolved, rather than to surren-
der to the enemy, to feed all the in
habitants of the Jerusalem, during
twenty-one years, il necessary. One
of them stipulated TO furnish wheat
and barley, another to furnish wine
and oil, and another firewood. Assum-
ing that the stipulation was 1000, 900
(by actual census at the Passover fes-
tiVal in the year 66, or three years be-
fore the destruction), and allowing but
500 a year for the maintenance of a
person, the sum would be 81 100 O0O, 900.
1t is interesting 10 note that the
daughter of Nikodemon was allowed,
by the Jewish court of Beth-din, a
daily sum of 400 gold denarim for her
cosmetics "a Roman copper denarim
was worth about II cents, and there
were twenty-five copper pieces in one
gold denarim, $425), and multiplied by
365 days equals S62,050,000 without TAX
ing into account various sums for her
headgear, dressmakers' bills, ornaments
and pin money. which in ordinary
cases exceeds 100 times, at least, the
value OF cosmetics. That would swell
the total to $l24, 100, O00, 600, outside of
other household expenses. And yet
| Miss Nikodemon appears TO have been
dissatisfied with the small appropri-
| alton for her cosmetics. as she sneer-
| ingly thanked" the rabbi Judges for
daughters TO fare no better. The rab-
bis, however, accepted the curse" with
grace and answered Amen"
B. JohanAn Ben Zakkai witnessed the
Kethuba marriage jointure) of Miss
Nikodemon, wherein was recorded her
dowry Of 100000 gold denarim. $425.-
600 900. besides the dowry of her faith
er-in-law. Nikode1non himself is re-
ported TO have stepped on silks all the
way from his house to the Beth Ha-
midrash, daily. and every time the silks
were allowed to be picked UP by the
poor.
Among other rich celebrities are r.
Elieber ben Azariah. who contributed
an annual 1.-THE of 1900 sheep. on an
income of 10000 sheep, or at so
| apiece, $1,200,000 per annum. and r.
Judah h-Nasi 1. whose stablemaster
was richer than King Shabur.
As rule the Agadic stories are in
tended only as moral lessons. Never
theless, like a good historical novel,
they have some basis in the under
ground. And no doubt there existed
immense riches in those times, more
than the average modern historian
| cares to admit.