This landmark study by William Rainey Harper traces the evolution of Jewish rituals and religious practices from their origins in the early Hebrew Scriptures through the period of the Second Temple. Harper focuses in particular on the role of the priesthood and the development of the sacrificial system, exploring the theological and social implications of these practices for Jewish society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.