THE FIRST TEMPLE PERIOD
AND THE LONG DAVIDIC DYNASTY

Sacrificial rites

Various offerings of the gods, in the form of libations (wine, oil, milk), bread or animal sacrifices, were made at places of worship. On the site of the town of Megiddo, continuously occupied for 5,000 years, a temple from the early 3rd millennium BCE and several Canaanite temples or altars from later periods have been unearthed.

Incense altar. Collection Israel Antiquities Authority, exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization

Late 7th century BCE
Pashhur, Priest in the First Temple

Pashhur son of Immer, the priest who was chief officer of the House of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesy these things.

Jeremiah 20:1

The Bible recounts that Pashhur, a priest and chief officer of the Temple, struck the prophet Jeremiah after hearing him announcing to the people that terrible misfortunes would afflict the kingdom of Judah. He even had Jeremiah placed in the stocks-causing Jeremiah to tell him that the Lord would no longer call him Pashhur, but "Terror-all-around"!

Like royalty, the position of priest was handed down from father to son. The ostraca (pottery shards used as writing surfaces) discovered at Arad, including one bearing the name "Pashhur," are some of the rare objects found to date associated with an Israelite temple outside of Jerusalem.

Ostraca from the temple at Arad. Collection Israel Antiquities Authority, exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization

Priestly benediction on an amulet. Israel Antiquities Authority Collection, exhibited at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem Photo © Israel Museum, Jerusalem