I.III.2. Noldeke's view untenable CHAPTER II. SACRIFICE-- II.I.1. The ritual is according to RQ the main subject of the Mosaic legislation, according to JE it is pre-Mosaic usage; in RQ the point is How, according to JE and D To Whom, it is offered II.I.2. The historical books agree with JE; the prophets down to Ezekiel contradict RQ II.II.1. Material innovations in RQ. Preliminary remarks on the notion, contents, mode of offering, and propitiatory effects of sacrifice. II.II.2. Material and ideal refinement of the offerings in RQ II.II.3. The sacrificial meal gives way to holocausts II.II.4. Development of the trespass-offering. II.III.1. The centralisation of worship at Jerusalem destroyed the connection of sacrifice with the natural occasions of life, so that it lost its original character CHAPTER III. THE SACRED FEASTS-- III.I.1. In JE and D there is a rotation of three festivals. Easter and Pentecost mark the beginning and the end of the corn-harvest, and the autumn feast the vintage and the bringing home the corn from the threshing-floor. With the feast of unleavened bread (Massoth) is conjoined, especially in D, the feast of the sacrifice of the male firstborn of cattle (Pesah). III.I.2. The feasts based on the offering of firstlings of the field and of the herd. Significance of the land and of agriculture for religion III.II.1. In the historical and prophetical books, the autumn feast only is distinctly attested, and it is the most important in JE and D also: of the others there are only faint traces . III.II.2. But the nature of the festivals is the same as in JE and D III.III.1. In RQ the feasts have lost their reference to harvest and the first fruits; and this essentially changes their nature III.III.2. The metamorphosis was due to the centralisation of worship, and may he traced down through Deuteronomy and Ezekiel to RQ, III.III.3. To the three festivals RQ adds the great day of atonement, which arose out of the fast-days of the exile III.IV.1. The Sabbath, which is connected with the new moon, was originally a lunar festival Exaggeration of the Sabbath rest in the Priestly Code III.IV.2. Sabbatical year, and year of Jubilee CHAP. IV. THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES-- IV.I.1. According to Ezek. xliv., only the Levites of Jerusalem, the sons of Zadok, are to continue priests in the new Jerusalem; the other Levites are to be degraded to their servants and denuded of their priestly rights. According to RQ the Levites never possessed the priestly right, but only the sons of Aaron IV.I.2. These answer to the sons of Zadok IV.II.1. In the earliest period of the history of Israel there is no distinction between clergy and laity. Every one may slaughter and sacrifice; there are professional priests only at the great sanctuaries. Priestly families at Sihiloh and Dan. No setting apart of what is holy IV.II.2. Royal temples of the kings; priests at them as royal officials