I. TH[!: COMPARATIVE FEWNESS AND 0ENERAL POVERTY OF THE RETURNING PEOPLP:. The mnjority of their brethren preferred their position among the heathen to the honour and peril of aiding to re-establish their nation in their own land. The temptation to this course was greatest in the case of men of substance, and most of them appear to have yielded to it. We are reminded that of professing Christians a large number, perhaps the majority, do not really accept the invitation pressed continually 11pon them to undertake the journey to heaven, and that still the rich find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven. II. Although few and poor, THE RETURNING PEOPLE INCLUDED ALL THE ELEMENTS NEEDFUL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGULARLY ORGANISED JEWISH STATE. They were not a mere rabble. There was the civil governor, Zerubbabel; the high priest, Jeshua; a considerable number of ordinary priests; there were Levites and other temple servants, even singers ; besides the body of the people. Ill. THEIR FAITH, ZEAL, AND COURAGE ARE TO BE NOTED AND ADMIRED. All left some sort of settled home to which they were accustomed; some, businesses more or less lucrative ; a few, the positions which wealth or talent affords. They encountered certain, though untried, privations, struggles, and dangers, the end of which to each one was very uncertain. But they were men "whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra i. 5). They believed the prophets, and anticipated a glorious future for their nation. They loved their God, their nation, and their country, though to the last most of them were strangers. The priests particularly distinguished themselves, as is shown by the number of them who returned, as compared with that of the people. They surpassed the Levites, who, both under Zerubbabel and Ezra, showed backwardness. Yet this class had formerly been more zealous than the priests (2 Chron. x.xix. 34). The leaders are especially worthy of commendation. Their sacrifice must have been greater, and the cares and responsibilities they undertook were much heavier. Numbers followed at subsequent periods, after the first difficulties had been over- come and a settlement effected ; but they could not attain to the honour of those who led the way. IV. The failure of some who accompanied the expedition to prove themselves by genealogy Israelites, of others to prove themselves priests, suggests THAT Goo's 'l'RUE ISRAEL AND PRIESTHOOD REQUIRE NO GENEALOGY. They belong to a higher order of things, not regulated "after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Heb. vii. 16 ). God's spiritual Israel become such by faith; each one belonging to it is "born not of blood, but of God" (John i. 13). And while it is a blessed thing to have a pious ancestry, those who have it not are admitted as freely and fully into all the privileges of citizenship, on their acceptance of Christ, as those who have it. One of these privileges is that of being " priests unto God." Nor is special ministry in the Church inherited; it is the privilege of those who are fitted for it, and called to it by the Holy Ghost, who distributes his gifts "to every man severally as he will" (1 Cor. xii. 11). V. THE LACK IN THE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY OF SOME PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY THEIR FOREFATHERS is seen in the absence of "a priest with Urim and Thumrnim." The time was eagerly expected when this and other like advantages would be restored, but in vain. For a while the gift of prophecy lingered, and then passed away. The losses were deplored, but proved to be gains. The guidance withdrawn belonged to the period of childhood. God's people were more and more to be prepared for the time of moral manhood, when they would realise the guidance and help of God in the exercise of their own spirits in connection with the written word remaining as a permanent legacy from the past. One more outburst of the miracul- ous, the grandest and most fruitful of all, and then the Spirit of God would abide with the Church as never before, its permanent Teacher and Guide through the at length completed word ; but the miraculous would cease. We long at times for the return of" signs from heaven," but" it is expedient" for us that we should be with- out them. VI. The variations in the seveml copies of this document suggest that happily 'l'HERE ARE, AND CAN BE, NO MISTAKES IN Goo's REOISTER OF HIS SPIRITUAL ISRAEL. Finnlly, the perusal of this and, similar lists may well lead us to exclaim with good 78 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [err. vu. 6-78,
l\~attl_1cw Henry, "Blessed be God that our faith and hope are not built upon the n1cet1es of names and numbers, genealogy and chronology, but on the great thing■ of the law and gospel."