Comparative studies of priesthood (James, Sabourin) and especially some recent publications on priesthood in Egypt (Vittmann) and in Mesopotamia (Menzel) have opened up new perspectives on Israelite/Jewish priesthood in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, facilitating the appraisal of its characteristics. The social implications and the economic significance of the sanctuary are better understood and freed from the polemical dichotomy "house of prayer" vs. "robber's den" derived from the Second Testament passages as in the clearing of the temple in Mk 11:2-18 and parallels. The history of priesthood during the Second Jewish Commonwealth (see Encyclopedia Judaica [1971] 13, esp. 1084-86) was for the most part the subject of First Testament studies. Consequently, the treatment ended with the Persian period, the later phases not being covered by First Testament sources.
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