The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-10-18
EZRA GOES TO JERUSALEM.
International sunday school Lesson
for October ~, is0D-Tcxt, Esra
Si2t-a2-Ne Nerses, 2t-.I

later. IN July. u was n years after The
hrat caravan 81 return. under ZcrubbabcI,
and 70 years after the deliverance through
Esther
PLACE-Babylonia and Jerusalem.
RULERS. ArtaNcrNcs J.. called I.ongi-
manus. the Longhanded. King OF Persian
empire son, ~ NcrNcs Ezra, the scribe.
EXPLANATORY
]. The General Condition Of the Jews
az Jerusalem when Ezra left Babylon
on his mission. seventy eightycars had
passed since the first caravan Of the cx-
lies had returned 90 the home land. 30.
600 strong. The temple had been built,
but the opposition had been 80 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. LaNity, ignorance and indifrer-
cncc followed. The spiritual life de-
clncd, the ideals faded, the Sabbath
was dcsccrated. Ezra needed three
things -"meu, money and authority"
The king gave the latter two, and per.
mitted the men 10 volunteer. His de-
cree is given In Ezra 7:il-26.
. H. The Journey to Jerusalem. VS..
2i-72. The starting point was ". 81
at the river Ahaya." The place is I'M
known, but 1t was probably one of the
canals near Babylon, flowing into the
Euphratcs. The assembly consisted Of
about loo persons, including heads Of
families and their rctainers Ezra s;l-
~, priests, Leyitcs, and 220 Nethcnim.
or the servants who assisted IN the
work about the temple, so that the Lee
Vitcs could assume the higher position
as religious instructors Of the people
The Fast.-"ThCn proclaimed
fast" Fasting. as religious act, would
seem 70 have its basis in Ol grief over
sin 80 deep and intense that all desire
for food Is taken away. GU In the aid
to devotion furnished los a body uubur-
dcned with food 80 as TO leave the mind
and heart Ia their most active and free
condition. 60 Its the natural expires
zion Of deep sorrow FOR sin. 1t is
not enough for the heart 20 feel deeply:
II needs 10 express It's feelings, though
the proof that the fasting is sincere lies
In forsakiug the sin repcntcd OF and
doing dcods Of Righteousness.
The object was CD that We nigh;
anlict ourselves before our God" IA
was an expression Of repentance for
sin. Of casting out all obstacles from
wrong motives or disDbcdicnt hearts
which would render IL impossible for
God TO give them success IN their Jour
ncy. II meant submission, cousccra-
ton and repentance. ca ITO seek OF
Him right way" The fasting was ac-
by prayer o. 23D and was
used las the means Of iutensifying rcli-
gious fer,or in prayer through the re-
siraint laid upon physical Appetite
Prof. Davidson. II was also the nat
Ural means Of clarifying their own
minds 50 that they could receive and
recognize the wisdom God would be-
atow upon them.
'. %. For ] was ashamed TO re-
quire Of the king" etc. There were
more dangers on that four months
journey, particularly from "the rob
bers and Bedouins Of the desert, who |
inhict damage upon large !
caravan hy robbing stragglers aud har-
RAISING the line Of march. Davidson. !
For they had a large amount Of treasure
with them. Ezra had told the king that !
God was with his people, and against |
their enemies; and, therefore, 10 ask |
! guard Of soldiers might seem 10 the |
King 20 contradict his assertions, and |
bring disgrace on Gods cause.
80 L
Ezra had the assurance that bis prayer
had been heard.
The Treasury "a. 81 separated \
I2," etc. lie committed the treasure
nto the hands OF % persons, ~ chief
priests and ten Levites. OF whom the
irst two are named. These men would
axe special charge and be responsible
'or the safekeeping Of the treasure.
Besides, il would relieve Ezra Of all pos
,ible scandal in regard to il.
Y. 25. And weighed unto them the
liver" etc. We may gather from this
hat the silver aud gold were in bars
n ingots, and not in coined money.
'he pcrsiaus had coined money az this
line, but the treasury kept the bulk Of
Is stores in bars (llcrod., H., 96.-Pul-
'it Com. The weighing implied accu-
ate accounting. such a. always should
'e secured for public money.
V. %. "SiN hundred and fifty talents
4 silver" \ talent Of silver was about
4 600. "Of gold hundred talcnts:"
iold is usually worth about 10 times as
much as silver. The whole treasure was
worth 100000 or 100000.
N27. "Drams;" Darics, worth about
n English sovereign, or five dollars.
v. 2s. ~ frccwill Offering unto the
ord Gods" The money was for re-
gious purposes, aud would be a great
clp to the people at Jerusalem as well
5 smooth the way Of Ezra to the need
q reforms.
The Journey ~. 81. departed.
n the twelfth day of the first month";"
.isan, about the time Of the Passover,
r our Easter in March or April, The
and Of our Gods" His power; Ills
are.
V. %. "And we came TO JerusaleiL;"
IN the first day Of the fifth month e:
In July.
PRACTICAL
The world progresses In morals aud
eligion through hard work, persistent
Durage, untiring zeal, complete consc-