[Page 272].—Hyrcanus unites in himself the three offices of the Messiah, prophet, prince, and priest.] Josephus (Bell. J. i. 2. 8. &c.) gives several instances of the prophetic inspiration of Hyrcanus, Ant. xiii. 10. 7. 12. 1.
[Page 273].—First watch of the night.] According to the original division of time among the Jews, there were only three watches in the night. See Judges vii. 19. They afterwards borrowed from the Romans the division into four watches. Matth. xiv. 25. Mark xiii. 35. See Lewis, Hebrew Republic, Book vii. chap. 2. The water-clock, or clepsydra, was invented by Ctesibius, (Vitruv. ix. 9. Athen. lib. iv, p. 174) a native of Alexandria, in the reign of Ptolemy Physcon. In earlier times the dial appears to have been the only measurer of time among the Hebrews.
[Page 274].—Great Hallel.] “Quarto epoto poculo, nihil amplius tota nocte libare præter nisi aquam licebat, nisi quis vellet super quintum poculum cantare ilium eximium hymnum qui incipit confitemini dominum (Psalm cxxxvi.) et pertinet ad usque super flumina Babylonis.” (Psalm cxxxvii.) Maim. de Sol. Pasch. Fascic. Hist. et Phil. Sacr. vii. 897.
[Page 275].—Soon after midnight.] Τῶν ἀζύμων τῆς εορτῆς ἀγομένης, ἐκ μέσης νυκτὸς ἐν ἔθει ἤν τοῖς ἱερεῦσι ἀνοιγνύναι τοῦ ἱερου τοὺς πυλῶνας. Jos. Ant. xviii. 2.
[Page 276].—Usual morning sacrifice.] Exod. xxx. 7. 9. xxix. 38-46. Numb. xxviii. 1-8. The special offering for the Passover, Numb. xxviii. 16-25.
[Page 277].—Garments of the high-priest.] See Exod. xxviii. xxxix. 1. 39. Jos. Bell. Jud. v. 57.
[Page 282].—Music of the Levites.] According to Josephus, Ant. vii. 12. 3. the instruments of the Levites were a ten-stringed instrument, called Cinyra, struck with the plectrum; a twelve-stringed, Nabla, played with the fingers; and cymbals. The Rabbins say (Lightfoot, i. 921.) that a flute, or hautboy, was used on particular days, of which the Passover was one.
[Page 284].—Gesture of the high-priest in blessing.] See Vitringa, Lib. de Syn. iii. 2. 20. p. 1119. Lightfoot, i. 947.
[Page 285].—A thank-offering.] Thank-offerings, freewill-offerings, and offerings for vows, went under the general denomination of peace-offerings. The laws respecting them are found Lev. iii. vii. 11-34. xix. 5-8. xxii. 17-33. The thank-offering was to be wholly consumed on the same day; the freewill-offering on the same or the following day.
[Page 286].—Ceremonies with which the first sheaf was cut.] See Lightfoot, i. 969. Reland, Ant. Heb. 466. The climate of the valley of the Jordan is much warmer than that of Jerusalem. Justin, xxxvi. 3. Shaw, 335. Jos. B. Jud. iv. 8, 3. The law for the offering of the first-fruits is found Lev. xxiii. 9-14.