The Jamesburg record., 1899-10-21
EZRA GOES TO JERUSALEM.
International Sunday School Lesson
for October 22, 1SO9-Text, Ezra
St21-32-MemOry Verses, 2I-28.

READ Chapters and g.: 1886
TIME.-Ezrs left Babylon in March. 3.
c. 45S. and reached Jerusalem four months
later, In July. 1t was Is years after the
first caravan of return, under Zerubbabel,
and Is years after the denverance through
Esther
PLACE.-Babylonia and Jerusalem.
RULERs.-Artaxerxes l., called Longi-
manus, the Longhanded king Of Persian
empire, son OF Aerxes. Ezra, the scribe,
governor Of Judea.
EXPLANATORY
l. The General Condition of the Jews
at Jerusalem when Ezra left Babylon
on his mission.-Seventy-eightyear years had
passed since the first caravan of the ex-
lies had returned to the home land, 50,-
900 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-
ence followed. The spiritual life de-
clined, the ideals faded, the Sabbath
was desecratedI Ezra needed three
thiDgs-"men, money and authority"
The king gave the latter two, and per-
mitted the men to volunteer. His de-
cree is given in Ezra 7:11-26.
ii. The Journey to Jerusalem.-Ys.
21-32. The starting point was ". 21)
lat 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 1,700 persons, including heads of
families and their retainers Ezra ST.
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 1 proclaimed a
fast" Fasting, as religious act, would
seem to have its basis in (D 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. 90 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 its feelings, though
the proof that the fasting is sincere lies
in forsaking the sin repented of and
doing deeds of righteousness.
The object was "a that we might
aflict ourselves before our God" It
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-
~
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. II 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 ''the rob
bers and Bedouins of the desert, who
mighteasily infict damage upon large
caravan by robbing stragglers and har-
RAISING the line of march. Davidson
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
king to contradict his assertions, and
bring disgrace on Gods cause
V. %. And He was entreated of U.S."
Ezra had the assurance that his prayer
had been heard.
The Treasure.-V. "a. 81 separated
12," ETC. He committed the treasure
into the hands of % persons, 12 chief
priests and ten Levites, of whom the
first two are named. These men would
take special charge and be responsible
for the safekeeping of the treasure.
Besides, it would relieve Ezra of all pos
sible scandal in regard to it.
V. 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 at this
time, but the treasury kept the bulk OF
its stores in bars (Herod., Ill, 96.-Pul-
pit Com The weighing implied accu-
rate accounting, such as always should
be secured for public money.
V. 26. "Six hundred and fifty talents
of silver" A talent of silver was about
$1,000. "Of gold hundred talents"
Gold is usually worth about 16 times as
much as silver. The whole treasure was
worth $4,00O,OOo or $5,O00,000.
V. 81 "Drams:" Darics, worth about
an English sovereign, or five dollars.
V. 2S. "a freewill offering unto the
Lord God:" The money was for re-
ligious purposes, and would be a great
help to the people at Jerusalem as well
as smooth the way of Ezra to the need
ed reforms.
The Journey.-N. 81. departed.