278 The course Bilgah was fifteenth (1 Chron. xxiv. 14). Each course had a ring to which the heads of the victims were tied, and also a closet for stores. These were taken from the course Bilgah as a mark of disgrace. During the persecution of Antiochus, Miriam, a daughter of Bilgah, married a Syro-Grecian husband. When the Greeks took the Temple, she struck the altar with her shoe, exclaiming, “O wolf, wolf, how long art thou to consume the wealth of Israel, and canst not preserve them in their hour of need!” It was supposed that she must have learned something evil in her father’s house, and the whole course was therefore degraded. The Rabbis say that the courses of the priests were first ordained by Moses, and that he established eight of them. Four courses he assigned to the line of Eleazar, and four he assigned to the line of Ithamar. Samuel is said to have added eight courses more, and the remaining eight were added by David. The Scriptures, however, assert that David arranged the whole twenty-four courses. This arrangement continued till the captivity. After the captivity only four courses returned—namely Jedaiah, Harim, Pashur, and Immer. The Babylon Talmud mentions Jojarib instead of Harim. To restore again the number of courses, twenty-four lots were cast into a box, and each head of the four courses, which returned, drew six lots—one for himself, and five for the courses which they wished to revive. The restored order of courses continued as of old, except in the case of Jojarib, who yielded the first rank to Jedaiah, as Jedaiah was of the family of the High-priest Joshua, the son of Jozedek. They soon increased in numbers, and we read that each course kept a station of 2,400 priests at Jerusalem, and half a station at Jericho. The lesser number was stationed at Jericho to give honor to Jerusalem. 279 Nisan answered to part of March and April. The reign of kings was counted from this month, so that if a king began to reign in Adar (February and March), in the following Nisan he would be reckoned to have reigned two years. 280 The passover was the first of the three feasts, beyond which one could not neglect a vow. 281 Part of August and September. 282 Part of September and October. 283 Lev. xix. 23-25. 284 Ps. xxxiii. 15. 285 Part of July and August. 286 Part of November and December. 287 Part of February and March. 288 Part of April and May. 289 That is, for the new moon observances.