ds of imperious authority: "Away with
you from here, servants to Mammon! I command it. Take what belongs to
you and quit the holy place!"

One of the traders exclaimed in terror: "Come, let us go, that his
wrath destroy us not."

Then the priests, recovering somewhat their self-possession, stepped
forward to remonstrate. "Why troublest thou this people?" they asked.
"Everything here is for sacrifice. How canst thou forbid that which
the council has allowed?" And then the traders, led by one Dathan,
chimed in, in eager chorus: "Must there then be no more sacrifices?"

For answer Jesus stood forth and exclaimed: "There is room enough
outside the temple for your business. 'My house,' says the Lord,
'shall be called a house of prayer for all nations;' you have made it a
den of thieves."

And then crying, "Away with all this!" with one vigorous movement he
overturned the tables of the money-changers.

A rabbi exclaimed: "This must not be--thou darest not do this!" but his
voice passed unheeded in the tumult. The earthenware vessels fell
crashing to the ground, the money was scattered over the floor. Some
of the dismayed merchants crying, "My money, oh! my money," scrambled
for the glittering coins. Others stared in fury at the unceremonious
intruder. Half a dozen doves, released from their wicker baskets, took
to flight amid the despairing lamentation of their owners: "Oh, my
doves; who will compensate me for this loss?"

Their lamentations were rudely cut short. A small rope was hanging
near by. Seizing it in the middle and twisting it once or twice round
his hand, Jesus converted it into a whip of cords, with which he drove
out the traders. "Away! get you hence. I will that this desecrated
place be restored to the worship of the Father!"

The traders fled, but the priests remained, and, after muttering
together, they asked in angry tones: "By what miraculous sign dost thou
prove that thou hast the power to act in this wise?"

Jesus answered them: "You seek after a sign; yea, a sign shall be given
unto you. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will have built it
up again."

The priests replied, contempt mingling with indignation in their tones:
"What a boastful declaration! Six and forty years was this temple in
building, and thou wilt build it up again in three days!"

At this point the children who had been standing around watching the
altercation with the dealers, cried out in unison with