an entrance into a palace or house. (See _House_.) The great
courts belonging to the temple of Jerusalem were three; the first called
the court of the Gentiles, because the Gentiles were allowed to enter so
far, and no farther; the second was the court of Israel, because all the
Israelites, provided they were purified, had a right of admission into
it; the third was that of the priests, where the altar of
burnt-offerings stood, where the priests and Levites exercised their
ministry. Common Israelites, who were desirous of offering sacrifices,
were at liberty to bring their victims as far as the inner part of the
court; but they could not pass a certain line of separation, which
divided it into two; and they withdrew as soon as they had delivered
their sacrifices and offerings to the priests, or had made their
confession with the ceremony of laying their hands upon the head of the
victim, if it were a sin-offering. Before the temple was built, there
was a court belonging to the tabernacle, but not near so large as that
of the temple, and encompassed only with pillars, and veils hung with
cords.
courts belonging to the temple of Jerusalem were three; the first called
the court of the Gentiles, because the Gentiles were allowed to enter so
far, and no farther; the second was the court of Israel, because all the
Israelites, provided they were purified, had a right of admission into
it; the third was that of the priests, where the altar of
burnt-offerings stood, where the priests and Levites exercised their
ministry. Common Israelites, who were desirous of offering sacrifices,
were at liberty to bring their victims as far as the inner part of the
court; but they could not pass a certain line of separation, which
divided it into two; and they withdrew as soon as they had delivered
their sacrifices and offerings to the priests, or had made their
confession with the ceremony of laying their hands upon the head of the
victim, if it were a sin-offering. Before the temple was built, there
was a court belonging to the tabernacle, but not near so large as that
of the temple, and encompassed only with pillars, and veils hung with
cords.