s were just being brought in on
the shoulders of as many men. As the animals were pushed into the pen
the thongs that bound their legs were cast aside. Selecting a handful
of these Jesus pressed on. When he reached the table of Zador Ben
Amon, this mighty Sadducee was not in sight. But business was going on
and, quite near at hand, the Galilean watched the money-changing while
his quick fingers plaited a scourge, and the muscles of his arm called
him to action. He spoke no word and no man noticed the flush on his
face nor the fire in his eye until the hiss of the thong sang over the
heads of those about the table of Ben Amon and its stinging force fell
across those who bent over the money bags. There was a yell, and
another hissing of the thongs. Then the words rang out in a shout of
mighty condemnation, "Ye have made my Father's house _a den of
thieves_!" And the thong writhed and hissed and struck and stung and
the coin-laden tables were overturned with the ease and fury of an
enraged man brushing straw aside. Seeing the uproar about his table,
Zador Ben Amon pushed his way through the confusion just in time to see
two well filled money bags kicked open by a fellow money-changer trying
to escape the scourge. With a shout and a curse he sprang forward. As
he did so the hiss of the burning thongs sounded in his ears and the
next instant he was blinded by the stinging pain of the scourge as
blood ran across his cheeks and into his well oiled beard.

With incredible swiftness the money-changers had been driven out and
the cleanser of the Temple had mounted the steps of the Beautiful Gate,
and thong in hand was looking out on a scene unparalleled. Servants of
money-changers were creeping about the floor; thieves were quickly at
work stealing from those who had stolen, and the money-changers
themselves, Zador Ben Amon with bloody face among them, were struggling
desperately to get possession of their bags before their contents
should be wholly appropriated by itching fingers. Running in and out
among the affrighted people were animals yet more affrighted whose
bleating and bellowing mingled with the outcries of men, while over the
heads of them all flocks of frightened doves with swift wing sought
escape to the open.

There was a call for guards, but the man pausing on the steps for a
passing moment only smiled as he saw them search for one who so boldly
stood before them. But if the guards knew not where to