since the first fruits and the second tithe of agricultural produce from the land of Israel, or their monetary equivalent, were required to be consumed within the walls of Jerusalem. It is not surprising that the economy of Jerusalem was thus geared to exploitation of mass religious tourism, with numerous animals and birds on sale for private offering in the precincts surrounding the Temple site, alongside facilities for changing money into Tyrian shekels, the currency accepted by the Temple authority for donations. Nor should it surprise that those who provided such necessary services for a
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