Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/62

 away. Yet it was a voice of gentleness and love; a voice so unlike that of the scribes in their teachings, that many who had before felt it sink down into their hearts, breathed forth, while they bowed the head, “of a truth this is the Prophet.” Still there were hearts which those accents could not reach. Busy whispers, angry murmurs, were heard. In the presence of Jehovah, was his messenger scorned. While music and incense yet hung around the sacred walls, evil passions were aroused against the Lord’s Anointed.

The throng thickened around him as he spake, though the scribes uplifted their voices in the courts, inviting the people to hear the law expounded. They sat down in the high places, and unrolled the records of the law; but no man came unto them. The Levites stood on the fifteen steps and sang psalms; but no one regarded. The elders of the people, and some members of the Sanhedrim, repaired to the Court of the Women with torches in their hands, and performed sacred dances, as was their wont at the times of the feasts; but none gazed save the women who filled the galleries above. At length, the