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Gubject: Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem:
Ezra WILL, 21-32-Golden Text: Ezru
Will, 22-Comrnentary on the Days
! Lesson.
81. 81 proclaimed fast there" Ezra
| entered upon his work with fasting AMI
prayer. The journey was dangerous one,
especially with all tho treasure he carried.
Ezra realized the danger, but he went for.
ward In faith. The chief reform OF Ezra
was the abolishment OF mixed marriages
| with the surrounding heather. The course
| OF the Israelltes was running and degrnd-
| ing the nation. Neurly their whole history
| previous to the exile showed how they
| yielded to the surrounding idontry, be.
| cause they refused to drive out the idol
aters in Joshau's time-a history ending in
exile on that account, and the history OF
| over seventy years since the return was q
commentary on the practice which Ezra
rebuked. The mixed race OF Jews and
5amaritans, with their half-heathenish Gus
toms, was living warning OF the results
Of their course. Ezra's work occupied but
| eight months, though 1t Is probable he
spent most OF the remainder OF his life at
| Jerusalem. Thirteen years Of silence in.
:ervene and then Nehemiah came up to
| Jerusalem. ''Tc seek OF Him right way
TOR u.s." That is, to commit themselves 10
The guidance and protection OF divine Prov
| dence and implore Him to give them @
prosperous journey. Their journey lay
chiefly through the desert, and tho Arab-
Ians and Samaritans were likely to attack
them.
otsoldiers." Ezra had preached trust In
God before the heather rulers and he
would not dshonor God by asking the
usual military escort. He had represented
aod, the object OF his worship, as supreme.
ly powerful, and as having the strongest
Affection for His true followers. Thus We
,ee that this good man had moro anxiety
Tor the glory OF God than for his own por.
,onal safety. Their faith WAS rewarded by
:he enjoyment OF ofperfect safety during the
whole way.
%. "And Hc was entreated OF u.s." Ezra
mad the assurance that his prayer had been
beard.
"a. "I separated twelve" Appointed to
the special duty OF being custodlans OF the
sacred vessels. We have here the particular
care Ezra took OF the treasure OF Gods
sanctuary. Having committed the keep
ing of 1t to God, he committed the care of
1t to proper men, though without God they
would have watched In vain. Our prayers
should always be seconded with our "a
deuvors. Do we expect God should by
His providence keep that which belongs to
US! Then ought we by His grace to care
for that which belongs to Him; let Gods
honor and interest be our care. Tue
prophet In foretelllng the return OF Gods
people and ministers out OF Babylon gave
the solemn charge Elsa. SILLY. "Bs ye clean
that bear the vessels OF the Lord" In Zer-
ubbabel's time the vessels were delivered
by number; here, by weight, that 1t might
sasily appear II any were missing. This
intimates that such as are intrusted with
holy things are concerned to romemb Der,
both In receiving their trust and In dis.
charging 1t, that they must shortly give
very particular account OF 1t, that they
may be faithful to itJand so give up their
account with Joy. The silver and gold
were u present to the house OF God that
tho king and his counselors had set apart.
This Gift amounted to about 80 575, 900.
IS. And weighed unto them the silver"
etc. We may gather from this that the
silver and gold were In bars or ingots, and
not In coined money. The Persians had
coined money Mt this time, but the treas
ury kept the bulk OF Its stores In bars
(Herod., I'LL, 96).
26. "Si6 hundred and fifty talents OF 81.
yer." A talent of silver was about $1,000.
or gold hundred talents. Gold is usually
worth about sixteen times as much as sill.
YER. The whole treasure was worth 49,.
QUO 900 or s5, 900, 900.
27. "Vessels OF fine copper" Probably
some Fictitious metal made there that
took the polish and assumed the bright.
ness OF gold, and because OF its hardness
was more durable. There Is still facti.
tious metal OF this kind made among the
Asiatics. It requires much art in making,
but the constituent materials are OF small
value. Vessels of this metal, because OF
81, al leo ro md dp IN hIlitu for nrpQmaDtal
and domestic uses, are In many respects
more valuable than gold itself. Drams.
Darics, worth about an English sovereign.
2s. IA freewill offering unto the Lord
God" The money was ior religious pur-
poses, and would be great help to the
people at Jerusalem as we'll as smooth the
way OF Ezra to the needed reforms.
29. 1.-The chambers OF the house OF the
Lord" are the rooms placed on either side
of the main building (see I Kings 6:5),
partly as chambers for the priests, partly
as storerooms (see Neh. 1850.
81. "We departed on the twelfth day"
The company began to form and arrange
for the Journey upon the first day OF the
month. Upon review OF. his company
Ezra observed the lacl; OF Levites, and the
time used In securing their union With the
returning exiles, and In Weighing the
treasures, etc., took up the time until tue
twelfth day. Ahava Is the name both OF
town and small stream, not fur from the
river Euphrates. This would be natural
course to pursue from Shushan. This ac-
count OF Ezra's preparation and journey
is q beautiful example OF method and thor
oughness which Is Of great value In the
work of God. Ezra sought first the
prosperity OF Gods cause, but he did not
count 1t lost time to spond twelve days 10
preparation for the journey. Time used
for prayer Is never lost time. Time coz
sumed in pertecting plans for Gods work
Is not mlsspent time. Always take time TO
do thing right. Things done by half are
never done we'll. The prayerful minister
Is the careful minister. SO important was
the mission which called Ezra 20 Jerusalem
that he could not afford to 60 without hrst
making his company complete and arrnng-
ing for the safe-keeplng OF the treasures
for the house OF the Lord. When he had
done all bis part he could confidently be-
seech God to give them safe Journey,
32 ave came to Jerusalom." The dam
gerous Journey was completed with safety
at the end OF four months. Abode three
days." That is, they rested that long. On
the fourth day the treasures we're weighed
and handed over to the custody OF the
officiating priests of the temple. The re.
turned exiles offered burnt-offerlngs. and
Ezra delivered the royal commission to the
magistrates, whilo the Levitlcal portion oil
the company assisted In performing the
additional work which the arrival OF so
many new worshiperS accustomed.