How many animals were sacrificed each year at the time of Christ according to Josephus?
Josephus claimed that at the time of Christ, one million animals were sacrificed every year. That figure, as cited in the teaching, indicates an immense number of sacrifices occurring daily throughout the year. The speaker finds this number hard to believe, yet reports it as Josephus's historical claim.
Les explains that Josephus claimed one million animals were sacrificed annually at the time of Christ. Les says he has a hard time believing that figure, noting that by his mathematics it would amount to a huge number of animals sacrificed every day of the year. This is set against the backdrop of first-century Judaism, which had degenerated into a religion of 613 rules and regulations, though it still kept feast days and practiced sacrifice. Les notes there were only a few true believers when Christ came to Israel.