The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-06-20

Place Babylon, BOW under Cyrus
Rollers lerabbalel. governor Of
the Jews Cyrus, king Of The Persian
empire,
Prophets. During The captivity,
Jeremiah. Ezekiel, Obadiah. aud Daniel
Of whom Daniel was sull living, aud
wrote a part Of his Book after this
time.
INTRODUCTION
The Jews were made captive for
their sins ys. Il-l6), and the duration
Of the captivity was foretold by Jere-
miah (eh XIV IL, l2} The seventy
years were just ending, reckoning from
the fourth year Of Jchoiakim Jer XIV:
Il), when Daniel was carried into cap
tiyity, B c. COG
Cyrus VISA one OF the greatest Of
conquerors. and also one Of the most
liberal.minded and large.hearted states
men found On the pages Of history.
Nebuchadnezzar was but servant Of
the lord Jer XIV ~, unintentionally
and unconseiously executing the d.
vine judgment on the SHINING people )
but Cyrus was a shepherd Of the Lord
,Isa. Xiv; 2S), consciously and inten'
tionally leading Gods flock out Of their
captivity, and was the Lords annoint.
cd for that work-enGowcd and sue
ceedel by him lisa, xiv; l-5). lie
was now sixty or sixty-two years OF
age, aud reigned from b. c. 55s-529.
He died b. c. 500, seven years after
the date Of this decree.
BY Persia is here meant the Persian
empire, the sole sovereignty Of which
fell into the hands Of Cyrus upon the
death of Darius, B. c. $50. lie was
foretold by name for this work Of res
toration two hundred years before this
time { lisa. Xiv: lG 2S), and more than
a century before he was born; and was
also by prophecy the destroyer Of Ba-
bylon as well as the r9storer Of Jerusa-
lem.
During the long captive period the
Jews made their homes in Babylon,
had houses and families there, multi
piled as they ever had in other coun-
tries, and proved in contrast with the
heather population a very active and
prosperous race. They were, then, as
they have been since, and are now,
traders, peddlars, money.changers,
money.lenders, and jewellers ; and
many became so satisfied with their po'
sition, with the measure Of freedom
which they enjoyed, and with tho
places Of power TO which some were
raised, that they were quite disinclined
to accept the tolls and periIs of jour.
ney Of six hundred miles from Babylon
to Jerusalem. 1t is believed that the
richest and noblest part OF the people
took no part in that restoration work
except by their sympathies and contri-
buttons. That large numbers remained
| behind is evident from Esther iii 81,
II, 10; viii; 9-I2; tx: 2 6. The
number that returned was about fifty
thousand Ezra ii Ga, 65). Many,
doubtless, had been broken in spirit by
hard servitude, as other captiyes were;
and we're vigorously employed upon
the great building.works Of King Neb-
uchadnezzar until ambition and zeal
even for their native land and their
religion, were nearly eYtinguished.
Those who did return were such as
God stirred up to make sacrifice for his
glory and for the re.cstabllshment OF
his worship in his dwelling place in
Zion.
The Jewish captives had now hum.
bled themselves greatly before their
covenant God and were repenting Of
and confessing their sins to him, and
seeking HIM with all the heart, That
preparation Of heart was necessary for
any safe aud profitable return, and was
principal condition upon which the
restoration was promised
The king prepared for his work.
1872 The Lord stirred up the split
Of Cyrus /; moved him by various
means, and largely, doubtless through
the influence Of Daniel, who was the
venerable prime minister and favorite
counselor Of King Cyrus 1t is wholly
probable that Daniel showed TO the
king such prophecies as are recorded
in Isaiah xiv 26-2S xiv; 5 Upon
the capture Of Babylyn, Cyrus was
doubtless brought into personal con-
tact and acquaintance with Daniel;
and how natural to suppose the atien-
tion Of the king was drawn by the
prophet 10 such predictions as those
quoted above, aud that he accepted
them as charge from Jehovah TO do
that work FOR him Thus God melted
him to the resolution aud TO the plan
set forth in his decree Compare ]
Chron. 20; Hag i:l4.). Besides.
Cyrus. from his intercourse with Dan
lei, was eyideatly convinced that he
was a prophet, who may have given
A Il III