The National tribune., 1893-02-23
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for March
5, 1898.

y, 1919.
Subject: Nebemiah's Reforms at His Second
Going to Jerusalem. Neh., IS: 15-22.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures rs
Indicated aboye.l
INTRODUCTION.
| Nehemiah was an important officer Of the
court of Artaxerxes In the twentieth year OF
the reign OF Artaxerxes that is to saw in the
| year 446 B. C., Nehemiah heard unfavorable
news from his people, the Jews. who were in
| Judea. q: 1; 2:l) He learned in particular
that Jerusalem was defcnseless, because tho
walls. cast down by Nebnchadnezzar had never
been rebuilt. The people thus unprotected
suffered much abuse, insult, and injury from
enemies. Nehemiah was at Shushan the Per-
sian Capital. He secured permit from Artax-
erxes to go to Jerusalem for the purpose OF re-
building the WALL. Al once he set out. In B.
{. 445 he is the ground He takes three
days to make personal survey of the exact
condition of things. He sets the work in opera
ton at once. Though there was much out
side and even some inside opposition so wise
Nehemiah and dilgent his work men
| that the walls were ready for dedication at tho
end Of SO days Our last lesson gave account Of
a service preliminary to dedication. to wit
the reading and Interpretation by Ezra of the
Pentatcuch in vast assemblage from n pulpit
erected out of doors, in a broad. open, court
like space. We remember Nehemiah went to
Jerusalem in the Goth year of Artaxerxes. In
the 32d he returned to Shushan. (13: 81 So
it is plain he remained I2 years at Jerusalem
from 446 b. G. to 434. after certain days I"
1875 is an expression giving no definite
duration. DR.. kendrick says "a considerable
period" DIR. A. Clarke makes the interval one
year. 1t may cover years" says Rev. J. Z.
Miller, in Presbyterian. This lesson is gener-
ally put b. C. 425. If this be correct Nehemiah
remained nine or 10 years at Shushan. From
the serious state of things at jerusalem one
would suppose Nehemiah must have been
absent for quite long timc 1t is thought he
remained in Jerusalem at his second visit i've
years.
We remember that when Nehemiah first
went to Jerusalem he found things in bad
plight. Affairs seemed to go on successfully
during the IL years he remained. AS soon as
he left they soon got awry again. On his CON-
ing second time it took him only little
while to put things at rights We see what in
1uence just the right kind of man can have in
emergent times. Such character is worthy
great study, and it is well, indeed, to give few
weeks to a historic research into the secrets of
his success.
During the IL years he was Governor, it is
not unlikely Nehemiah made few brief trips
back and forth to Shuslan
When Nehemiah first went to Jerusalem it
was because news reached him, through his
brother and others. that the Jews there were in
great affection and reproach. and without any
walls Of defense. Il: 2, 81 When he went the
second time it was because he had heard that
his people at Jerusalem were negIecting religi-
Gus services, profaniDg the Temple, violating
the Sabbath, intermarrying with the heather.
Stirred up by such evil news he sought per-
mission of Artaxerxes to return and look into
the condition OF things. (13: 81
One Of the worst features of the status of
things at Jerusalem was the shameful compro-
missing OF the High Priest Eliashib with the
wicked and enemous Tobiah. After Nehemiah
left, Eliashb tolerated the presence in Jerusa-
lem of Tobiah; even furnished him an apart
ment in the Temple; and. more yet, even per-
mitted his grandson to marry the daughter of
Sanhallat. {l3: 49,
A fact which made things even worse was
that, before Nehemiah left the people had en-
tered into solemn covenant covering the fol-
lowing items:
1. To walk in Gods law. 80
2. TO oppose all intemarriages with the
heather. 80.
3. Not to buy nor sell ON Sabbath days 81
q. To contribute toward the expenses and
services of the Temple. 80.
). To keep the Sabbatic year, letting the
land rest that year from cultivation. (Ex, %:
10, H.
g. To pay tithes of grain and offerings for
the first born.
In the very face of this solemn compact, we
find the people guilty of sins of omission and
commission As to all the above mentioned items.
We now outline the sins Of the people and
show i'm what condition Nehemiah found things
on his return.
/. The High Priest Eliashib had given quar-
tiers to Tobiah in the very Temple. 3:4-9)
Tobiah was Moabite and joint-ruler with San
ballat of the Sameritans Nehemiah had re-
sisted all efforts of his to join with the Jews.
Nehemiah was indignant when he found him
occupying Temple apartments and pitched him
and all his effects out at once from the Temple
and the city.
2. The people had become utterly negligent
of the Temple service and support. No tithe5
were paid, aud offerings ceased. Priests we
without income from the legitimate sources
and were obliged to seek civil or secular SER
vice. (Vs. 10-14.)
3. Sabbath laws were violated. (Ex., 20: 10.
CT. Jer., II: 2l27.) Notice items:
q. Wine presses were tread. Is.
b. Harvest products were gathered. lex,
81: 21.)
c. Beasts of burden were laden. (Deu., 5 IA
d. Victuals were Sold
4. Foreigners were permitted to carry on
dealings with Jews within the Capital (16
CT. Err, 3 ~ 1T was a new fact and one
pregnant with evil consequences, that the Ty-
rians should have established permanent COL
ony at Jerusalem, which diceH there, and by
its influence on the other inhabitants weakened
the hold of the law upon mems consciences,
and caused it to be transgressed continually |
more and more openly"
s. Mixed marriages were tolerated. 1898. |
6. The priesthood was brought into disre-
pute. 1881. Specially was it shame that |
the grandson of Eliashib married the daughter
of Sanballat Compare V. %.
NEHEMIAH AT JERUSALEM SECOND TIME.
l. Data.
We study in special Neh., 13: 1922 One
should read critically all the chapters.
2. Time and Place.
We date B. c.. 425, and estimate Nehemiah |
the second time for about five years. |
The lesson is located in and about Jerusalem.
3. Explanations
/. Wine presses. Is. They were composed |
each of two troughs, one above the other, |
like boxes one OH other Between were inter-
stices Grapes were placed in the upper one.
Then men tread on them letting juice trickle
into the lower one. 1t was hard labor and out
rageous employment for q Sabbath.
9. Bringing in sheaves. ". 49, 1t is likely
they collected these on the Sabbath. Then, it
is plain the gates of the city were open. The
Sabbath took on the form of sort of fair.
3. Lading asses ". 49, We have a scene
off in the country not far from Jerusalem
where on the Sabbath asses were loaded and
then driven into Jerusalem.
.czs 81