The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-10-19
EZRA GOES TO JERUSALEM.
International Sunday school Lesson
for October 22, 1s90-Text, Ezra
s.21-:i2-Memory Verses, 21-.,}.


Especially Arranged from Peloubet's s Not-sl
GOLDEN TEXT.-The hand of our God
is upon all them for good that seek Him.
Ezra s: %.
READ Chapters and 8: 1886
TIME.-Ezra left Babylon in March, B.
c. ass. and reached Jerusalem four months
later. in july 1t was rs years after the
first caravan of return, under Zerubbabel,
and 10 years after the deliverance through
Esther.
PLACE.-Babylonia and Jerusalem.
ULERS.--Artaxerxes l., called Longi-
manus. the Longharded. king Of Persian
empire. son OF Xerxes. Ezra, the scribe,
sO'e'D'' u EXPLANATORY. iaSf1.
l. The General Condition of the Jews
at Jerusalem when Ezra left Babylon
on his mission.--Seventy-e years had
passed since the first caravan of the ex-
lies had returned to the home land, 50,-
600 strong. The temple had been built,
but the opposition had been so great
that the walls had not been restored
and the rubbish still arose in long
stretching mounds. The vision of sud-
den glory and greatness had faded
| away. Laxity, ignorance and indiffer-
clined, the ideals faded, the Sabbath
was desecrated. Ezra needed three
| things-"men, money and authority"
The king gave the latter two, and per-
| mitted the men to volunteer. His de-
cree is given in Ezra 7:1126.
Ii. The Journey to Jerusalem.-Vs.
21-32. The starting point was ". 21)
''at the river Ahava." The place is un-
known, but it was probably one of the
canals near Babylon, flowing into the
Euphrates. The assembly consisted of
about 1,7O0 persons, including heads of
! families and their retainers EZRA S:1-
| 14), priests, Levites, and 220 Nethenim,
or the servants who assisted in the
work about the temple, SO that the Le-
vites could assume the higher position
as religious instructors of the people.
The Fast.-"Then l proclaimed
fast" Fasting, as religious act, would
seem to have its basis in C) a grief over
sin so deep and intense that all desire
for food is taken away. (2) In the aid
to devotion furnished by body unbur-
dened with food, so as to leave the mind
and heart in their most active and free
condition. (3) 1t is the natural express
sion of deep sorrow for sin. 1t is
not enough for the heart to feel deeply;
it needs to express it's feelings, though
the proof that the fasting is sincere lies
in forsaking the sin repented of and
doing deeds of righteousness.
The object was Q) that we might
afflict ourselves before our God" 1t
was an expression of repentance for
sin, of casting out all obstacles from
wrong motives or disobedient hearts
which would render it impossible for
God to give them success in their jour
ney. 1t meant submission, consecra-
ton and repentance. (2) ITO seek of
Him right way" The fasting was ac-
companied by prayer ". 23) and was
used "as the means of intensifying reli-
gious fervor in prayer through the re-
straint laid upon physical appetite"
Prof. Davidson. 1t was also the nat
ural means of clarifying their own
minds so that they could receive and
recognize the wisdom God would be.
stow upon them.
V. %. For l was ashamed to re-
, quire of the king" etc. There were
more dangers on that four months
journey, particularly from 1.-The rob-
bers and Bedouins of the desert, who
mghteasily infict damage upon large
caravan by robbing stragglers and har-
RAISING the line of march.
For they had large amount of treasure
with them. Ezra had told the king that
God was with his people, and against
= their enemies; and, therefore, to ask
a guard of soldiers might seem to the
| l.. &c
: bring disgrace on Gods cause.
: V. 23. "And He was entreated of us:
, Ezra had the assurance that his prayer
y had been heard.
The Treasure.-N. "a. II separated
49," etc. He committed the treasure
into the hands of 22 persons, IL chic.
priests and ten Levites, of whom tht
first two are named. These men would
I take special charge and be responsible
for the safekeeping of the treasure
4 Besides, it would relieve Ezra of all pos
g sible scandal in regard toit.
4 V. 25. "And weighed unto them thu
, silver" etc. We may gather from thi:
. that the silver and gold were in bars
or ingots, and not in coined money
The Persians had coined money at thi
time, but the treasury kept the bulk o
: it's stores in bars QIerod., Ill, 96.-Pul
pit Com. The weighing implied accu
: rate accounting, such as always should
e be secured for public money.
K V. &c. 'SiX hundred and fifty talent
of silver" A talent of silver was abou
$4,000. "Of gold hundred talents:
Gold is usually worth about 16 times a
| IL
S worth S4,OOo,OOO or $5,OOO,OoO.
t V. 81. "Drams:" Darics, worth abou
d an English sovereign, or five dollars.
S V. 2S. "A freewill offering unto tn
q Lord God:" The money was for re
4 ligious purposes, and would be grea
help to the people at Jerusalem as wei
as smooth the way of Ezra to the need
ed reforms
# The Journey.-V. 81. Departed.
e on the twelfth day of the first month: