J\foccab0ci perioJ, when tho temple had been defiled, and Jemsalem was in the bands of the Syrians. Ezra's death and burial at Samarah has nothing about it that is improbable ; but it is curious, that while the tombs of J onab, Ezekiel, and Daniel are still shown in Mesopotamia, that of Ezra bas passed into oblivion. The personal character of Ezra stands out in the narrative, both of " Ezra" and " Nehemiah," as that of a thoroughly earnest, God-fearing, and man-loving man, and is without speck or flaw. Not, of course, that he was really perfect ; but his defects are unnoticed. In his indefatigable activity as a teacher, in his deep sense of dependence upon God, in his combination of horror at sin with pity for the sinner, he reminds us of St. Paul, while in the depth of his self-humili- ation on account of the transgressions of others he recalls the utterances of Daniel. As a servant of the Persian king, he so approves himself to his master as to be singled out for the high trust of an important commission. In executing that commission he exhibits devotion, trust in God, honourable anxiety to discharge his duties with exactitude, and a spirit of prayer and self-mortification that cannot be too highly commended. As supreme governor of Judrea, he is prompt and decided in taking the measw:es necessary to purify the Jewish community, while he abstains from all arbitrary acts, persuades rather than commands, and effects his purpose with the good will and hearty acquiescence of all classes. Placed in a subordinate position under Nehemiah after having held the entire direction of affairs, he shows no jealousy or discontent, but carries out with zeal the designs of his civil superior, is active within his own sphere, and does good service to the nation. Simple, candid, devout, sympathetic, full of energy, unselfish, patriotic, never weary in well doing, he occupied a most important position at a most important time, and was a second founder of the Jewish state. Eminent alike as a civil governor, as an ecclesiastical adminis- trator, and as a historian, he left behind him a reputation among the Jews inferior only to that of Moses ; and the traditions which cluster about his name, even if they had no other value, would at any rate mark the high esteem in which his abilities and character were held by his countrymen.
LITERATURE OF EZRA. Ezra, so far as the present writer is aware, has not been made the subject of any special work. Bertheau has, however, written a comment, which is valuable, on the three Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. General ' Commentaries on the Old Testament,' and 'Introductions to the Old Testament,' have necessarily treated of it. The best of these, so far as Ezra is concerned, are the ' Speaker's Commentary ' and the ' Introductions ' of Hii.vernick and Dr. Davidson. There is an important article on the Book of Ezra in Winer's ' Realworterbuch; ' and others containing much that is interesting will be found in Dr. W. Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible,' and in Kitto's ' Cyclopmdia.' Of the earlier commentators, Patrick may be consulted with most advantage. ARRANGEMENT OF THE BooK IN SECTIONS.
The best arrangement of Ezra seems to be the following :- Part 1. (chs. i.-vi.). First return of the Israelites from caiitivity, under Zerubbabel. yj THE BOOK OF EZRA. [cH. 1, 1-4,
Section l (chs. i., ii.). Decree of Cyrus, and return under Zerubbabel, with the numbers of those who returned, and the names of the chief men. Section 2 (eh. iii. 1-7). Restoration of the altar of burnt sacrifice, and celebra• tion of the Feast of Tabernacles. Section 3 (eh. iii. 8-vi. 15). Rebuilding of the temple, and opposition made to it. Section 4 (eh. vi. 16-22). Dedication of the temple and celebration of the Feast of the Passover. Part II. (chs. vii.-x.). Second return of the Israelites from captivity, under Ezra. Section l (chs. vii., viii.). Decree of Artaxerxes, and return under Ezra, wi'.:h the numbers of those who returned, and the names of the chief men. Section 2 (chs. ix., x.). Reformation of religion accomplished by Ezra. THE BOOK OF EZRA.
PART I.
1. THE FIRST RETURN FROM THE CAPTIVITY.
EXPOSITION. THE DECREE OF CYRUS (eh. i 1-4). were not universally without some knowledge The origiD. of the return is found in an ex- of the true God ; and especially we perceive ertion of Divine influence on the mind of a that in Persia at this date (B. c. 538) there heathen king, who was moved thereby to was a distinct recognition of a single supreme put forth a proclamation or decree, addressed Deity, and an identification of this Deity to all the people of the Lord God of Israel with Jehovah, the God of the Jews. This dwelling in any part of his dominions, grant- fact throws light on the whole history of the ing them free permission to return to their Jews under the Persians-on the friendly own land, and at the same time recommend- tone of the decrees of Darius (eh. vi 6-12) ing his other subjects to expedite their and Arta.xerxes (eh. vii 12-26), on the departure by giving them out of their abund- amicable relations between the latter king ance gold, silver, goods, and cattle, so that and Nehemiah (Neh. ii. 2-8), on the posi- none should be hindered by poverty from tion occupied by Mordecai under Ahasuerus taking advantage of the king's kindness. (Esther x. 2, 3), on the quiet submission of Many things are remarkable in this decree :- the entire people to the Persian yoke for 1. Its promulgation by a heathen king, above two centuries, and on their faithful spontaneously as it would seem ; 2. Its adherence to the cause of the last Persian recognition of a single supreme God, " the king when he was attacked by Alexander Lord God of heaven ; " 3. Its declaration (Joseph. 'Ant. Jud.,' xi. 8, § 3). A religious that the supreme God hn.d "charged" the sympathy, it is clear, united the two nations. king to rebuild the temple at J erusnlem ; We must not, however, carry this notion too and 4. Its actual origiD.ation in a "stir" of far, or regard the Persian religion with too the king's spirit by God himself. The secret favourable an eye. The native literature government of the world by Jehovah is, in ehows that the Persians worshipped more po.rt, opened to us, and we see how great gods than one, although one was supreme, political events, anteriorly improbable, are and that their religion was moreover dualistic, brought about by his action on men's hee.rts ; involving a belief in a principle of evil, co- we see that he does not leave, has never left, eternal and almost co-equal with the prin- the heathen wholly to themselves, but con- ciple of good. descends to put thoughts into their minds, Ver. 1.-In the first year of Cyrus. The and bend their wills, e.nd so bring about his context shows the.t it is the first year ol purposes. We see, moreover, that the h~then C-Jl'llS at Bab?.Jlon which is intended. Cyrus EZRA, D 2 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [en, 1. 1-4,