same extent. Besides, we must remember that its ecclesiastical boundaries extended
beyond the city.
28. Maaser. ii. 3.
29. Baba B. 89 a.
30. Jer. Ab. Z 44 b; Ab. Z. 58 a.
31. Jer. Dem 22 c.
32. Yoma 9 a.
33. On the question of officially fixing the market-price, diverging opinions are
expressed, Baba B. 89 b. It was thought that the market-price should leave to the
producer a profit of one-sixth on the cost (Baba B. 90 a). In general, the laws on these
subjects form a most interesting study. Bloch (Mos. Talm. Polizeir.) holds, that there
were two classes of market-officials. But this is not supported by sufficient evidence, nor,
indeed, would such an arrangement seem likely.
34. Sanh. 89 a.
35. Erub. x. 9.
36. Jos. War v. 8. 1.
37. Ibid. ii. 19. 4.
38. Tos. Baba Mets. iii.
39. That of Botnah was the largest, Jer. Ab. Z. 39 d.
40. Kerith. iii. 7; Temur. iii.5.
41. Makhsh. vi. 2.
42. Kethub. ix. 4.
If from these busy scenes we turn to the more aristocratic quarters of the Upper City, 43
we still see the same narrow streets, but tenanted by another class. First, we pass the
High-Priest's palace on the slope of the hill, with a lower story under the principal
apartments, and a porch in front. Here, on the night of the Betrayal, Peter was 'beneath in
the Palace.'44 Next, we come to Xystos, and then pause for a moment at the Palace of the
Maccabees. It lies higher up the hill, and westward from the Xytos. From its halls you
can look into the city, and even into the Temple. We know not which of the Maccabees
had built this palace. But it was occupied, not by the actually reigning prince, who always
resided in the fortress (Baris, afterwards Antonia), but by some other member of the
family. From them it passed into the possession of Herod. There Herod Antipas was
when, on that terrible Passover, Pilate sent Jesus from the old palace of Herod to be
examined by the Ruler of Galilee.45 If these buildings pointed to the difference between
the past and present, two structures of Herod's were, perhaps, more eloquent than any
words in their accusations of the Idumæan. One of these, at least, would come in sight in
passing along the slopes of the Upper City. The Maccabean rule had been preceded by
that of corrupt High-Priests, who had prostituted their office to the vilest purposes. One
of them, who had changed his Jewish name of Joshua into Jason, had gone so far, in his
attempts to Grecianise the people, as to build a Hippodrome and Gymnasium for heathen
games. We infer, it stood where the Western hill sloped into the Tyropoeon, to the south-
west of the Temple.46 It was probably this which Herod afterwards enlarged and
beautified, and turned into a theatre. No expense was spared on the great games held
there. The threatre itself was magnificently adorned with gold, silver, precious stones,
and trophies of arms and records of the victories of Augustus. But to the Jews this
essentially heathen place, over against their Temple, was cause of deep indignation and
plots.47 Besides this theatre, Herod also built an immense amphitheatre, which we must
locate somewhere in the north-west, and outside the second city wall.48