Various Corbans. The treasury, Mark 12:41.

That which the Talmudists say of some other things, that "they were two, which at last became four," may have place as to the Corbans, or holy treasuries. They were two, as to their end; but four, as to the despatch of them to that end.

There was a Corban for the repair of the building of the Temple; and there was a Corban for the preparing such things as were necessary for the divine service in the Temple. And both were two. The duplicity of the former you have in this tradition:

"There were two chambers in the Temple. The chamber of the silent [or of the private]; where pious men offered privately; whence the children of pious parents were nourished also privately"; that is, they did their charity secretly for this pious use, that it might not be known who did it. There are some who think these silent ones, were the same with the Essenes; of which we will not dispute: nor do we number this charitable treasury among the Corbans, concerning which we are now treating; because it conferred nothing to the business of the Temple. But the tradition goes forward;

"And there was the chamber of the vessels, where whosoever offered any vessel laid it. And after thirty days the treasurers opened the chambers; and whatsoever vessel was found in it, which was useful to the repairing of the building, was laid up for that use. And whatsoever was not useful was sold; and the price of it went to the chamber for the repairing of the house."

You observe, how there was a 'Corban of vessels,' or instruments of iron, brass, silver, &c.; and a 'Corban of money'; both for the same end, that is, for the repair of the building and structure of the Temple and courts, if by some means or other they might fall down, or might receive damage by the injury of time, of tempests, or rains.

Maimonides adds, The veils of the Temple also come out of the chamber for the repair of the building; but the veils of the doors out of the Corban chamber: of which afterward.