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Perhaps the Elephantine Jews didn't know about the rule, or perhaps distance from Jerusalem made them indifferent to it,
也许是笨拙的犹太人压根就不晓得规矩,抑或是离耶路撒冷的遥远使他们变得漠不关心,
because they built their own temple, here in the heart of this alien land.
因为他们在这陌生的土地上建立自己的神庙。
They boasted about its antiquity, how it was older than the rebuilt Jerusalem temple,
他们吹嘘子自己的古代辉煌,如何比耶路撒冷重建圣殿年代更为久远,
with five monumental gateways, a holy of holies inside, with bronze hinges to the doors, a cedar roof, and gold and silver vessels.
有五个宏伟的石门,最里则是最神圣的场所,有着铜铰链门,雪松的屋顶,金银的器皿。
More outrageously, animals were, indeed, sacrificed to Elephantine along with offerings of grain and fruit.
更肆无忌惮是, 事实上是用于祭祀的牲畜们，还有谷物和水果。
There was much curling of smoke and sprinkling of blood.
这里曾经烟雾缭绕并且鲜血撒满地。
But circumstances were about to deal the proud Elephantine Jews a cruel blow.
但现实环境是与这种骄傲粗笨的犹太人打交道通常对人是残酷的打击。
Their temple stood right next to the Egyptian temple of Khnum, the ram's-headed god who presided over the annual life-giving flood of the Nile.
他们的寺庙位于埃及Khnum寺庙旁边,这里的公羊神明掌管尼罗河一年一度的洪水。
The Egyptians held rams sacred, but the Jews sacrificed them to a God they proclaimed as the one and only.
埃及人认为公羊是神圣的动物,但犹太人则用它们祭祀自己宣称是唯一的神明。
Not tactful.
这种做法一点也不明智。
The priests of Khnum bribed the commander of the local Persian garrison to attack and destroy the Jewish temple.
Khnum的祭司贿赂当地波斯驻军的指挥官发动袭击并摧毁了犹太圣殿。
