Let their Samaritan neighbours at once understand that so their minds were made up. " We ourselves together" will be responsible for this task. 3. A spirit of discretion. God gave them this in conclusion, so that they put the matter, in concluding, on a very wise ground. The decision arrived at might not be pleasing to the Samaritans ; but at e.ny rate it ought not to be regarded by them as an injury or a grievance; for it we.a only in strict accordance with the will of one whom they were all bound to obey. "King Cyrus, the king of Persia "-King Cyrus, our common ruler-has given express commands on this point, as you know. He has commanded us to erect this building. He has commanded us alone to do so (see eh. i. beginning of ver. 3). That being so, let us all obey him; some by labouring, some by absta:r.ing. Possibly, also, this further thought can be traced in their words:-" If Cyrus himself as a Gentile did not engage personally in this work, but only commissioned us Israelite,; to perform it, why should any others who are not Israelites put their hands to the task ? " At any rate the reply answered the immediate purpose in hand. It delivered the Jews completely from that great danger to which they were at that moment exposed. The Samaritans were compelled thereby to retire, and, like anothl'r adversary in another case on a subsequent occasion, to leave them alone "for a season" (Luke iv. 13). Amongst other general lessons the following may be noted :-1. The need of pat-ience in (Jod's work. True progress, from its very nature, creates resist- ance ana opposition. This applies to our work for others (1 Cor. xvi. 9). Also to much of the scepticism of the day. That scepticism is not a wholly desperate sign (see Rev. xii. 12). Also to our own spiritual progress (Luke ix. 42; Acts xiii. 7, 8). Per aspera ad ardua tendo is a very wide rule. 2. The need of firmness in God's work. True toleration will not go out of its way to interfere with othars ; but it will not allow others to interfere with it. Neither will it prevent us from telling others the truth. Compare, in connection with certain later Samaritans, "They went to another village" (Luke ix. 56), and, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John iv. 22). 3. The neecl of scrutiny in God's work. Scrutiny, first, as to faith. There are some errors of doctrine which affect the root of the tree. There are some which only tend to binder its full development and fruitfulness. These must be dealt with in different ways. Scrutiny, next, as to persons. Those who are altogether "without" we leave in God's hands, Not so those who, though really aliens, claim to be considered us brethren (comp. 1 Cor. v. 9-13). None are so truly the enemieR of the Church as those" who call themselves Jews but are not" (see Rev. iii. 9).
Vera. 4, 5.-The work checked. The incidents related in the previous verses would happen some time after the second month of the second year of King Cyrus, that being about the date of laying the foundation-stone of the restored temple (see eh. iii. 8, 10). Tidings of these incidents, and of the discouragement and in- trigues which they led to, as described in the present passage, would probably reacl, the Persian court towards the end of that year. In the beginning of the next year-- so we find from Dan. x. 1, &c.-the aged prophet Daniel was still alive, but in " state of much sorrow and perplexity, near the river Hiddekel or Tigris. Also we rind that his last recorded vision was given to him at that time. The two passages, therefore, seem sufficiently contemporaneous in character to be considered together 1 and may serve to give us thus a more complete conception of what was then coming to pass. We will first consider the human view, and then the superhuman view, of the scene. I. The HUMAN VIEW of the story. What was being done, 1. In the province. \Vhat were men doing now at JeruBalem, or, on that side the Euphrates, in con- ~ection with it? Were the Samaritans quiet after their recent rebuff? Were they likely to be, if like other men? The Jews did right, and did wisely, us we have ieen, in rejecting their help ; but who could expect things to end in that manner? Such ~ repulse, however justifiable, would be felt as an insult, a moral soulfiet. The more ~ustified, in fact, by the circumstances, the more galling it would seem, and the more Insulting. The greater the truth, in this sense, the greater the libel (comp. Gen. xix. :l). We cannot wonder, therefore, that Samaritan feeling now took a different turn. If they cannot help on the terms they had offered,-the Yirtually destrnctive terms ~ey had offered,-they will do the next best (in t.heir view)-they will thwart. 'fhA 48 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [cu. 1v. 1-6,