The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-02-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for February 10,
1s93-Kebuildipg the wall-Neh. 4:9-


GOLDEN TExT.-we made our prayer unto
God, and set q watch against thcm.-Neh. 40.
I1ME.-The summer and carly autumn Of Il.
G. IA Nehemiah left Susa about the first OF
April, and 1t would require three or four
months to make the Journey. Ezra was four
months going from Babylon (Ezra 100 He
must have reached Jerusalem by the last of
July, two months before the 25th Of Elul
(AuRustSeptember) (6l5). 1t took about two
months TO build the wall, or till the last Of
September.
PLACE-Susa, and Jerusalem and vicinity
LESSON NOTES.
The Way Nchemiah's Prayer Was An-
sacered Nehemiah had learned of the
great troubles in Jerusalem in the
autumn of Ii. G. AS in the ninth month,
Chisleu November Deccmber) u:1),
and it was four months till Nissan, the
first month-March-A -ApriD before there
came any sign of an answer. Perhaps
his soul was being wrought into the
right frame of willingness to go There
were several cupbearers, and during
this time Nehemiah was not on duty
The position of cupbearer was one
of great personal influence and danger
The kings of Persia were compelled to
live chiefly in great isolation.
The special duty of the cupbearers
was to fill the royal wine-cup from the
vase or flagon, which stood on or near
the royal board, and to hand it daintily
and gracefully to their august master
(Xen. Cyrop. 1:3, 3 81 Before filling the
cup they carefully washed it out, and
before offering it to their master they
ladled out a small quantity with their
left hand and swallowed it, to show
that, so FER as their knowledge went,
it was not poisoned When not engaged
in this, their main duty, they guarded
the entrance to the royal apartment,
and allowed persons to enter, or for
bade them, at their discretion. Even
princes of the blood royal had to sub
nit; and the power, thus practically ex-
ercised, of allowing or preventing audi
ences, made the Office one of high ac-
If he were so inclined, to greatly en-
rich himself.
The constant access to the monarch,
and the close relations thereby estab-
lished, naturally led to mutual con-
| fidence, and engendered friendly or
even affectionate feeling between the
| two parties. In the isolation whereto
| court etiquette condemns an oriental
sovereign, the royal heart is apt to go
out to anyone brought within the rigid
circle, and made by force of circum-
stances companion.
The four mont his of fasting and prayer
and anxiety had left their ma rlS upon
the fair countena nee of Nehemiah when
in April he again took up his duties as
cupbearer. The king noticed it. why
| is your countenance sad?" No reply.
| "You are not sick?" Still no reply.
| This is sorrow and nothing else" Then
| Nehemiah was sore afraid, nd | will
tell you why His life was in danger.
| Even modern autocrat like Louis
| XIV. expected everybody's face to shine
if he did but appear, and how much
more an Artaxerxes. If he had ordered
this melancholy visage away to prison
or death it would have been justified by
precedent.
But ''out of this nettle danger he
plucked the flower" success He opened
his heart to the king, and asked to be
sent to Jerusalem as go vernon with full
powers. Says Rawlinson: 'It is not
often that appointments are made to
posts of such high responsibility from
the class to which Nehemiah belonged
the rank and file of the palace officials
and it was certainly bold act on his
part to propose himself for the Office.
But he undoubtedly possessed large
amount of self-esteem, and he had prob
ably great reliance on the kings at
tachment and affection towards him.
Further, he would have confidence in
the rectitude of his motives," and in
Gods answer to his prayer. Perhaps
there was not SO much "self-esteem" as
what a certain bishop called conscious
ness of power" and faith in God, and
in his destiny.
The king ga We him leave of absence,
appointment as governor, with letters
commanding the other governors in the
neighborhood of Jerusal EN- to give him
all needful aid, together with mill
tary escort. 1t is probable that Arta-
xerxes gave the desired permission be-
cause of his liking for Nehemiah, and
for the same reasons that led him to
grant permission to Ezra, in our last
lesson.
Investigating the Situation. Nehemiah
probably reached Jerusalem after a
three or four months journey, the last
of July. Three days after his arrival
he went out alone in the night to inves
tigate the truth of the reports that had
reached him. He had not told any
one of his purp ose in coming to Jerusa'
lem. When he had ridden around the
city, and taken in the situation, he
summoned the leaders of the Jews, told
them his plans, and they all agreed
heartily to enter upon the work.
The Pan Of Work. The wall was par
celed out among forty-four working
parties, some of whom were women, the
daughters of the ruler of the half part
of Jerusalem (ver. icy, some mobiles,
others priests, Levites, merchants, the
son of "a goldsmith, and of aperfumer. 1t
| was like the rebuilding of the wall OF