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king at Babylon. He was king, twenty
years before this. Of Elam and gradu-
ally extended his empire over the Per-
SLAMS and Medes, Babylonians and
Chaldeans. For two years after the
capture Of Babylon Darius was king
of Babylon under Cyrus. Now Cyrus
reigned at Babylon. Word Of the
Lord" See Jer. 25:12; 29:10. The
promise, was that after seventy years
the Lord would bring His people
again to Palestine. Stirred up-Cy-
rus" There is good reason to accept
the Jewish tradition according to Jo-
sephus, that Daniel, occupying high
position in the court Of Cyrus, brought
to his attention the prophecies OF
+ Isaiah, which name Cyrus as GODS
servant lisa. A :26-2S; 45:1-4), and per-
haps, also, the prophecies Of jeremiah.
showing that God had for this purpose
given Babylon into the hands Of Cyrus.
Made q proclamation" See chapter
6. In writing" To prevent any mis-
take or reversal. ed.
2. God of heaven" Hence the Con-
troller Of all men and affairs. "God of
heaven" seems to have been q usual
title Of the Supreme Beirg among the
Persians. At this time the Medo-Per-
sian empire was very extensive, ex.
tending on the east to the Red Sea. on
the north to the Black Sea, on the west
to the Island of Cyprus and Egypt and
on the south to Ethiopia. Hath
charged me-" etc Cyrus probably ac-
cepted the prophecy Of Isaiah as
charge to build the temple. "The ex-
istence of predictions in which, 200
years before he was born. his victor
ious career and the important services
he should render to the Jews were
foratold. led him to acknowledge that
all his kingdoms were gifts bestowed
on him by the Lord God Of heaven
and prompted him to fulfill the duty
which had been laid upon him long
before his birth. This was the source
and origin of the great favor he
showed to the Jews" 3. WHO is
there among you" The return was to
be volunteer movement. His God
be with him." A pious wish, lnd1cat-
ing the deep religious feeling and good
ness of heart which characterized Cy-
rus alone of Persian monarchs. He
ruled his subjects like. father. NO
nobler character appears in ancient
history. "Let him 60" AS the carry
ing away of the Hebrews had taken
place at intervals of from seventy to
fifty years before. there were but few
of the original exiles remaining, and it
is somewhat remarkable that. so many
of their descendants, nearly $4,000 In
all, should be willing to 60 to coun-
try they had never seen. Build the
house" This was their great errand,
not to build their own houses, but the
house of God. HE is the God" We
can understand this great truth far
more clearly than could Cyrus. Let US
see to it that we live out the knowledge
which we possess.
4. "Whosoever remaineth.' Some
persons of true and eminent piety
so situated that they did not deem 1t
their duty to 60, as Daniel in the court
of Cyrus; others were hindered by old
age. Many more returned than we
read of being carried away captive.
"Let the men-help him" Let the
heather population help him. Free
will Offering" Probably that made by
Cyrus himself.
II. The captives make preparations
for the return Tvs. SID. 8. Chief OF
the fathers" Venerable men, heads Of
families, some Of whom had seen the
first temple. Judah and Benjamin"
These tribes. last eXiled, were the first
to return. But that there were many
from the other tribes also who returned
appears from many other passages. q.
strengthened their hands" Their
neighbors helped them and contrib
uted literally. Z: "Cyrus-brought
FORTH" etc. Eebuchadnezzaf little
thought that he was unconsciously pre-
serving the sacred vessels of Israel in
safe and inviolable stronghold, till
the day when Jehovah would bring
about their restoration to His people.
S. "Sheshbazzar." The Chaldee o.
Persian name Of Zerubbabci, given
him at court as other names were
given to Daniel and his friends. Born
in Babylon and named by his friends
Zerubbabel (exile in Babylon). He
was recognized as hereditary prince Of
Judah; was leader of the first company
Of exiles and director Of the rebuilding
Of the temple.
II. "All the vessels" etc. This num-
Der. 5a00, is more than double the sum
of verses 8 and 10, which was 2499.
1t is probable that only the larger or
more costly vessels were numbered in
detail. and the 5400 includes a great
number of smaller and less costly
ones. So they are reckoned by Jose
,phus. In the history of the restoration
of the Jews to their country. the names
of three Jewish leaders and Of three
Persians are prominent. The first
Jewish leader was Zerubbabel, who
left Babylon under this proclamation
of Cyrus, E. C. $50, seventy years after
the first captivity. After an interval
of about twenty years he was enabled
to complete the rebuilding of the tenn
pie. in the reign Of Darius HystaSpes.
seventy years after the destruction Of
the temple. The second Jewish leader
was Ezra. who went up from Babylon
about eighty years after Zerubbabel.
in the seventh year of ArtaXerXes
LonSimanus. He labored chiefly to
restore the institutions of Moses. The
third Jewish leader was Nehemiah:
who went up from Susa. or Shushan,
in the twentieth year Of the same Ar
taynrxes. He rebuilt the wall and set
I'D the gates Of Jerusalem and pro-
NOTED many reforms
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