THE RETURN FROM CAPTMTY. It is remarkable that the author of the Book of Ezm makes no mention of Daniel In connexion with the decree of Cy111s for the restoration of the Jewish nation and temple; he simply says, II that the word of the Lord by the month of Jeremiah might be fulfilled." The decree states that Goel hatl charged Cyrus to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which implies a knowledge of the prophecy of Isaiah txliv. 2B) ; and no ·one is more likely than Daniel to ha.Ye told Cyrus of the prediction. Moreover, the parenthetical II He is the God " (Ezra i. 3) recalls Dan. vi. 26. It shows how well they had been treated in the l!mel of their exile tlmt only about 50,000 were found willing to avail themseh·es of the offer. The bulk prefe1Ted to remain in their new homes. Of these, some followed later; the rest formed the Iii 1::-STRODUCTlON TO THE HISTORICAL BOOKS:
Bnb~-louinn branch of " the Dispersion," 11, Tery numerous branch, as the Book of Esther shows. Just ns the whole nation had emerged from its first captivity in Ei::n1t laden with the sih-er and gold of their panic-stricken taskmasters, so now this rennrnnt goes forth from their second captivity, strengthened with the gifts not oul~- of their brethren who remained behind, but of the heathen populo.tion also, Perhaps those who declined to leave their comfortable settlements for the cha.nee of returning to the ruined J ernsalem eased their consciences by contributing to help those who were more willing to make sacrifices for Zion and for the glory of Jehovah, Vl"ith what thoughts did Zerubbo,bel and this band of exiles recross the Jordan on the way to regain their desolated homes I We ho.ve no record of the journey; but at this point the imagination would gladly picture something of the scene. The place, the crossing, the name of the high-priest who accompanied them, could scarcely fail to remind them of that first triumphant crossing under Joshua 900 years before. This wreck of the nation was standing just where their ancestors had stoocl before them : but with how different a past, with how different prospects I Then Israel had been triumphantly wrested out of the hands of tyrannical oppres- sors ; had vanquished all who came in contact with them in their long journey from Eg:_,iJt, so that all the surrounding nations trembled at their approach; had before them the Promised Land flowing with milk and.honey. Now the remnant of a few tribes had been condescendingly allowed to depart out of the land of their half-pitying, half-contemptuous masters; had passed unopposed through the inter- vening populations ; and now stood on the threshold of their own home in fear and dread lest any of the surrounding nations should forbid them to enter it. Before long their fears were realised. No sooner had they begun to rebuild the temple than the Samaritans asked to take part in the work. To have allowed this would have been to risk the purity of the religion, for polluting which they had already suffered such punishment; and Zerubbabel and J eshua refused. By machinations at the Persian court the Samaritans succeeded in discrediting the Jews, and the work was stopped by order of "Artaxerxes," who is possibly Gomates, otherwise known as Pseudo-Smerdis in profane history. Once more we see how readily men acquiesce in a bad state of things so long as their own personal comfort is not at stake. We have just seen how the bulk .of the exiles were content to remain with maimed rites and ceremonies, cut off from Mount Zion and the worship of the temple, cut off from the Land of Promise, with all its sacred associations, in a heathen land, where they lived on sufferance at the mercy of an idolatrouR sovereign; and all because they had obtained comfortable settle- ments, which they did not care to sacrifice. Now we find thatthose who rosee.bove that temptation are in danger of falling victims to e. similar anare in the home which they have recovered. The prophet Haggai rebukes them in the sternest language for their readiness to leave God's hou~e desolate if only their own houses were built and properly adorned. " Is it time for you to dwell in your inlaid houses, and this house lie waste? " " Mine house is laid waste, and ye run every man for his own house " (eh. i. 4, 9). Thus, under the constant exhortation of Haggai and Zechariah, the work went on ; and the second temple was finished in the sixth year of Darius, 21 years after its co=encement, and about 70 years after the destruction of its predecessor. At the dedication offerings were made for all twelve triics; those who had returned being considered the representatives of all Israel. Here again we notice a mournful contrast with the glories of the po.st. The new t-emple had less lofty dimensions and wa6 far less magnificently ac"lornccl. It had JOSHUA TO NEHEMIAH. li.n