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This book uncovers the meaning and significance of the Jewish Temple and its service during the last centuries of its existence. The sources indicate that the Temple and its rites were seen as holding the universe together, providing order and meaning to a world which could otherwise easily lapse into chaos. The author offers a careful analysis of surviving accounts of the Temple and its service. All the central texts are provided in translation, with a detailed commentary. While descriptions of the Temple and its service are available, discussions of the meaning of these things are less easily found. This study clearly illustrates how the Temple was seen as a meeting point between heaven and earth, its service being an earthly representation of heavenly reality. Jews regarded the Temple service therefore as having significance for the whole created world. The Jewish Temple offers a valuable collection of materials both for those looking for an introduction to the topic and for the scholar interested in grasping the meanings beyond those texts.
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