right in referring the last words of ver. 6 to the grant made by Cyrus himself, as afterwards defined in eh. vi. 3, 4, we see that they had, further, at their disposal the requisite materials for building. This point will perhaps appear more plainly if we compare the last-quoted passage with what is said in 1 Kings vi. 36. Not only, i.e., were the necessary materials for building the temple granted, but they were granted, it would appear, of the precise shape and size required for erecting one most import- ant part of the new temple, viz., its inner court. Further yet, another most important point, we find that the requisite temple vessels were supplied in this case (vers. 7- 10). God's providence had so ordered it that a sufficient number of these-sufficient, at any rate, to make a beginning; sufficient also, it may be, to serve as a pattern for others (a point of great importance according to Exod. xxv. 9, 40; 1 Chron. xxviii. 11) • and sufficient, in this way, to keep up the identity of the old worship and the neV:, and make it a true restoration-were placed at their service. This is a point to be marked. Taken away by Nebuchadnezzar principally at his first capture of Jerusalem (2 Chron. xxxvi. 7, as contrasted with 2 Kings xxiv. 13; 2 G'hron. xxxvi. 19) placed by him in the house of his "god" (Dan. i. 2), brought out thence at the gre~t feast of Belshazzar on the same night that Babylon was captured (Dan. v. 3, 23 30), they were preserved by God through all these vicissitudes as something de;tined for further use. Exactly corresponding with this is the careful way in which we find them handled by the Persian treasurer Mithredath, taking them in his "hand," according to Lange, so as to inspect e.nd recognize them as Jerusalem temple vessels ; and afterwards " numbered " or catalogued by him in the way that follows (vers. 9, 10) before giving them to Zerubbabel. What these vessels exactly were it is impossible for us now to make out; but it is evident that they were considered most important by all concerned at the time, and also evident that they leave little else in the way of" requisites" to be named. We may, perhaps, conjecture, however, that under the " precious things" of ver. 6 may be included those priestly "garments" of which we read in eh. ii. 69, e.nd those musical instruments, no longer now to be hung on the willows, of which Josephus informs us. Also (one other point yet), that other vessels besides these preserved ones were now offered for temple use, in such num- bers e.s almost to double the whole number at the disposal of the priests (comp. the total of the numbers in vers. 9 and 10 with the total given in ver. 11 ). In fact, certain other "vessels of silver," for which no other use is specified, are mentioned by name in ver. 6. But, whether with or without these conjectures, we have much here to admire. (1) How willing are God's people in the day of his power I When he has special work to be performed in his Church, how easily, how surely he provides the right men. (2) How carefully, also, and how completely he enables them for their work, either by providing them with fresh instruments, or by using those which they have. Compare Ehud's "left hand," David's "sling," the "eloquence" of Apolios, &c. If called, therefore, to any work (and we are all called to the great work of glorifying Christ and fighting sin), in that call itself is our strength. "Go in this thy might" (Judges vi. 14; see also Josh. i. 9; Judges iv. 6). (3) At the same time, we must not mistake. Preparation is not accomplishment (1 Kings xx. 11). Collecting soldiers is one thing; arming and supplying them another ; actual campaigning another yet. "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." "Go in this thy might." The first word in that sentence as important as the last.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 5, 6.-Gorfs action on the minds of his people. When Cyrus, moved of Clod, proclaimed liberty to the captives in Persia and invited the children of Israel to return to their own land, there was a very large proportion that preferred to stay, some from excusable and others from insufficient motives, but a large company of the people of God made an immediate and honourable response. These, to the number of 42,000 persons, forthwith made ready to leave their adopted country and to go up to Jerusalem, to build again the house of the Lord, rebuilding, at the same time, the shattered fortunes of the land of their fathers. The response to the king's overture illustrates God's action on the minds of his own people. We hava- 12 TIIE BOOK OF EZRA. [en. r. 5-11