How many animals were sacrificed every year at the time of Christ according to Josephus?
According to Josephus, one million animals were sacrificed every year at the time of Christ. This annual figure indicates a vast number of animals were offered daily throughout the year. It reflects the religious practice of Judaism in Christ's day, which kept feast days and practiced sacrifice.
Les explains that Josephus claimed that at the time of Christ, one million animals were sacrificed every year. Les admits he has a hard time believing this, but observes that by his mathematics it amounts to a bunch of animals every day of the year. This fits the context of Judaism in Christ's day, which Les describes as having degenerated over 1500 years from the pure Law given at Sinai and the priesthood and sacrificial worship of Israel. By then it had become a religion of 613 rules and regulations, with no saving power. Though only a few were true believers—such as Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary—the people were very religious, kept the feast days, and practiced the sacrifice.