HOMILETICS. Vera. 8-13.-The first stone. We now come in this story to a very critical time. The great work of the restoration of the house, for the sake of which the partial restoration of lerael to Canaan had been brought about and was to continue (see again eh. i. 2, 3, 4, 5; also vi. 3, noting further how, in fact, all recorded in Ezra, and even in Nehemiah, may be regarded ae introductory, subsidiary, or supplementary to this point), at last is before ue. We read, on the one hand, of the very last step in the way of prelude and preparation. We read, on the other, of the very first step in the way of actual construction. In both we shall find how much importance is attached to the juncture. I. THE LAST PRELIMINARY. The site being fixed, the workmen engaged, as also, we may suppose (the "second month of the second year II having arrived), the proper materials being now on the spot, it only remains to arrange, before finally starting, for proper superintendence. Who so likely for this as those who had a kind of family fitness or hereditary call to that work, viz., the Levites of sufficient age? And what so proper an age (i. e. if second thoughts are best) ae the age fixed by the "last words of David 11 (1 Chron. x:xiii. 27, compared with vers. 3, 24-26; and see 2 Chron. x:xix. 25 as further evidence of the authority attaching to all David's arrangements concerning the house)? Such, accordingly, was the precedent followed by all concerned in this case. All who helped to make up the whole "remnant 11 that had returned to Jerusalem (including by name both leaders, and by express mention the, priests and Levites, and by imp_lication. all other Israeli.tee) appro'!ed of this plan. And all thus called and "appomted," i. e. all those Levites belongmg to those families which had that hereditary acquaintance before referred to, equally approved of it too. Two families of such have been already mentioned among those that came up ( eh. ii. 40). We find mention now for the first time, though not for the only time (Neh. iii. 18. 24; x. 9), of a third, viz., the family ot an. m. 8-13.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 39
"sons of Heno.do.d." Possibly these mo.y have come up at some subsequent date, or it mo.y be that they only form some minor division, which, as being specially qualified for the work now to be entered on, come specially now to the front. Ir, nny case it is o. significant indication of the universal readiness on the part of all qualified Levites "to set forward the work." Indeed, in this " last preliminary" this seems the principal feature presented to us, this marked unanimity of will and judgment. As they appear to have travelled from Babylon, as they had har- moniously arranged in distributing the people (ii. 70), as they had all agreed about erecting the altar (iii. 2), so are they all of one mind also in this finishing touch. We may well believe that it was one secret of their happy progreEs so far. There i~ nothing so fatal as the absence of unanimity in building a house (Gen. xi. 6-B). Nothing so effectual as its presence, especially where God's house is concerned (sec Zeph. iii. 9, 10; John xiii. 34, 35; xvii. 20, 21; also Acts iv. 32, 33; Ephes. ii. 19-21 ; 1 Pet. ii. 5). II. THE FIRST MOVE. This was the action, of course, of placing the first stone. (Contrast, as a description of utter destruction, Matt. xx:iv. 2.) How important a step this was considered may be seen by noting the formalities observed on the occasion, being almost identical with those observed at that more than royal progress described in 2 Chron. v. 4-14 (comp. also 1 Chron. xv. 27, 28). How significant too these formalities were in themselves. "Trumpets" are used commonly on occasions of state, to notify the approach of the sovereign, to draw attention to proclamations made in hie name. In the Old Testament we find them employed to "sound an alarm," or assemble the people, or proclaim the Jubilee year (Lev. xxv. 8-10; Num. x:. 9, 10; Joel ii. 1, 15; Amos iii. 6) ; and that generally, though not always, in the bands of the priests (Josh. vi. 6, 8, 13; Judges vii. ; 1 Chron. xv. 24; xvi. 4-6; 2 Chron. v. 12). The priests, therefore, as here, sounding these, and clad in official garments, made the occasion one of state in God's name, as though himself present and speaking peace. On the other hand, the cymbals and songs of the Levites, praising God again in the ancient, national, and highly-esteemed manner (1 Chron. xvi. 41; Pe. cmvi.; and the prophecy of Jer. xxxiii. 10, 11), was a kind of response to that voice. One is almost reminded of the "goodwill towards man" and "glory to God in the highest," when the foundation-stone of redemption was laid in Christ's birth (Luke ii. 14). How important also the occasion was found to be in practice. "Well begun is half done." A foundation-atone is both II proof and a promise-a proof of much, a promise of more. How much had now been accomplished I How great a step at last taken I How much more might be hoped I When the heart is full of such feelings, what can it do but shout out (see Zeph. iii. 14; Zech. ix. 9). Compare also the shout of Xenophon'e returning ten thousand when they found out how far they had travelled towards the goal they desired on first catching sight of the sea. Just so the men here. "The foundation is laid. We shnll soon hnve the house. Praise God." So they felt, so they shouted in the exuberance of their joy. So may a Christian also, when laying, na it were, by simple faith in Christ, the "foundation-atone" of hie hope. \Vith these "plensures of hope," however, there were also sorrows of memory. Some fifty years or thereabouts before then there had been another house on that spot. There were " ancient men " present there who had seen it in all its glory. They could see it still in their minds. To them, therefore, this present "foundation-stone" recalled years of shame, and terror, and agony. Oh, that such o. thing as this should ever have been required I That there should ever have been this pitiable necessity for thus beginning again I That there should be such a scene around them as they saw at that time (see, even long afterwards, Neh. vii. 4; also Haggai ii. 3; Zech. iv. 10) I Bursting into uncon- !rollable tears at these thoughts. they filled the o.ir with their cries. It w11s impossible mdeed for any to distinguish which kind of cry prevailed moat, the cries of sorrow or those of joy. No wonder the story adds that" the noise was heard afar off." Regarded, indeed, from a typical and prophetical point of view, has it censed echoing yet (see, inter al,ia, PH. cxviii. 22-24; lea. xxviii. 16; 1 Pet ii, 4-8)? 40 TRE BOOK OF EZRA. [err. m. 8-1/1,