2.1. Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away 35 unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel (Here follows a list of names). The whole congregation 40 together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, 45 two hundred forty and five; their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. And some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place they gave after their ability 50 unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

55

3.1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of 60 the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt offerings morning and even- 65 ing. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; and afterward offered the continual burnt offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, 70 and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto Jehovah. From the first day of the seventh month began they

But the foundation of

to offer burnt offerings unto Jehovah. the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid. They gave money also 75 unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

3.8. Now in the second year of their coming unto the house 80 of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set 85 forward the work of the house of Jehovah. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. And when the builders laid the foundation of the 90 temple of Jehovah, the priests stood forth in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for 95 ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the families, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid 100 before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

105

4.1. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto Jehovah the God of Israel; then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto 110 him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing

to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the 115 land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

5.1. Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah 120 the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets 125 of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Then said they unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men 130 that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter should come to Darius: and then answer should be returned by letter concerning this matter.

LESSON XCI

THE ENEMIES OF THE TEMPLE

EZRA 4, 5, 6 (portions)

5.6. The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were beyond the river, sent unto Darius the king they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus ; Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, 5 that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up 10 these walls? We asked their names also, to certify thee, that

we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house 15 that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into 20 Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those 25 did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; and said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. Then came the same 30 Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that 35 a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

1

6.1. Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up 40 in Babylon. And there was found at 1 Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where 45 they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king's house and also let the golden and silver vessels of the 50 house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the 1 i.e. Ecbatana.

temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which 55 are beyond the river, be ye far from thence let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's 60 goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which 65 are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail : that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let 70 him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to transgress and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with 75 speed.

6.13. Then Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of 80 Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the 85 sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, and offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and 90