The Jerusalem Temple

Sacrifices at Herod’s Temple were performed on a large horned altar directly outside the Temple, in the, Court of the Priests. In Jesus’ time Israelites would bring their animals to the Temple, present the animal to the priest and declare which kind of sacrifice they wanted to offer whether a peace offering, burnt offering or other type. Although slaves and women were not allowed into the Court of the Israelites, free men brought their animals into this court and laid their hands on the animal’s head to express their ownership so that the sacrifice would be acceptable on their behalf.¹