That’s a great question. I’ll admit that I don’t know the answer to most of it, although I’ll point out that the Levites may well have had something to do with it. What is likely is that the prevalence of incense used at sacrificial services across the whole ancient Near East is almost certainly a way of dealing with the smell. Strong frankincense would be pretty much the only thing available in those days to mask the very, very strong smell of blood and animals.Over the many years of its use, thousands of animals were slaughtered in the Jerusalem Temple. Has anybody ever heard a reasonable explanation of how it was cleaned? If it wasn’t it would have become infested with stench, disease, rodents, insects, etc. I’ve never heard the cleanup discussed, particularly in view of the fact that only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies.
Inquiring minds want to know!
The animals were not sacrificed inside of the Holy of Holies. The altar was outside of the Holy of Holies.Over the many years of its use, thousands of animals were slaughtered in the Jerusalem Temple. Has anybody ever heard a reasonable explanation of how it was cleaned? If it wasn’t it would have become infested with stench, disease, rodents, insects, etc. I’ve never heard the cleanup discussed, particularly in view of the fact that only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Leviticus actually provides some clues. There are instructions for dumping parts of the animals that weren’t burned, etc. And as TimothyH pointed out, the Holy of Holies wasn’t used for animal sacrifices. Nor was the “Holy Place.” Animal sacrifices were done in the outer court. The Levites would have been in charge of cleanup. I’m sure that their standards of hygiene weren’t ours, and in fact one reason incense was used was to cover up bad smells. But I’m not sure why you’re assuming that there was no cleanup.Over the many years of its use, thousands of animals were slaughtered in the Jerusalem Temple. Has anybody ever heard a reasonable explanation of how it was cleaned? If it wasn’t it would have become infested with stench, disease, rodents, insects, etc. I’ve never heard the cleanup discussed, particularly in view of the fact that only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Many of the botanicals used in incense and anointing oils (e.g., frankincense, myrrh, etc) also have antiseptic properties. The burning of the offerings along with the incense and oils used, helped kill bacteria. I’m certain the Levites kept the temple clean.That’s a great question. I’ll admit that I don’t know the answer to most of it, although I’ll point out that the Levites may well have had something to do with it. What is likely is that the prevalence of incense used at sacrificial services across the whole ancient Near East is almost certainly a way of dealing with the smell. Strong frankincense would be pretty much the only thing available in those days to mask the very, very strong smell of blood and animals.
Maybe, but what about all the sprinkled blood in the Holy of Holies, as in 2 or 300 years of sprinkled blood?I wrote to a rabbi, and got this answer, “There was built in drainage system and running water.”
Indeed there was, at least in the Second Temple.I wrote to a rabbi, and got this answer, “There was built in drainage system and running water.”