Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-10-11
Returning from
Captivity
Sunday School Lesson for Oct. IS. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Ezra I'LL. Memory
Verses 8. G.
GOLDEN TExT.--"The Lord hath done
great things for US, whereof We are glad
Psalm 1858.
Understanding 10 Prof Beecher 1t
was In Il. e. 53s. soon after the conquest of
Babylon by Cyrus. Compare Daniel 9:1
with lO1. IL was 20 years after the first
| deportation OF exiles by Nebuchadnezzar.
PLACE.-Capital OF the Persian King
dom-eithcr Babylon or Ecbatana. and also
Jerusalem. to which the exiles returned.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Is
| chaps. 4O-66: Ezekiel and jeremiah chaps.
a. %. 1888. 80 tell Of the return from captiv-
lily. The return as recorded in Ezra and Ne
hemiah.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
INTRODUCTORY. = Even before
the beginning OF the exile, when it
was only threatened, there was Joined
with the warning promise of restora
ton. See lisa. 10 and IL. Assyria the
oppressor should be destroyed like a
cedar, though it lowered like the huge
cedars of Lebanon Elsa. 1O:12-19, "a,
33. "a; comp. Eek 1911. Isaiah
again and again prophesies the Return
Chapters 4O-66) and even names
Cyrus as the one through whom it
should come. Through Ezekiel come
promises OF the new heart which
would render the return morally pos
sible Geek. IL and 36). He pictures
the valley OF dry bones, symbolizing
the condition of Israel in captivity,
again coming to life in the return
Geek. 3D. See Eek. 90 33, "a. The
whole of Ezekiel, as OF Isaiah, is an
effort, through threats and denuncia-
lions of sin, through appeals to do bet
ter. through promises and visions of
hope. to make the people return spir-
itually to God, that they might return
in visible reality. And he foretelis
how the nations were so controlled
that restoration of the Jews would
be possible. Jeremiah. making the
same appeals, goes farther and points
| out the time when the return can be
made. 70 years after the captivity Ger
25:12; 29:1O).
v. 1. I'm the first year of Cyrus
! king OF Persia" Not his first year
as king of Persia (B. G. 546), but
either as conqueror of Babylon (53S)
or the first year OF his personal rule
| at Babylon after his other conquests
$3.50. THE word of the Lord by
&: :. jeremiah (25:12: 29:1O)
promising that he would bring about
return from captivity after 20 years
''The Lord (Jehovah) stirred up the
spirit of Cyrus" 1t is quite posi-
BILE, it is even implied in the narrative
here, that Daniel, or some prominent
Jew, called the attention of Cyrus to
the prophecy in jeremiah. and espe-
cially the remarkable prophecy in Isa
A: 26-2S: 45:1
V. 2. Thus saith Cyrus" 1t is
probable that the author here gives
the substance of the proclamation, and
not the full official document. He
hath charged me-" He accepted the
prophecies as a charge from the God
of the Jews
| V. 8. "Who is there among you"
The return was to be volunteer
movement which in all respects was
the best both for the purpose of Cyrus
and for the new Jewish settlement.
The God of Israel which is
in Jerusalem" AS the chief seat of
his worship.
V. 4. "And whosoever remaineth." n.
W. lis left" of the captives. survives.
Connect in any place where he So
journeth, without comma, with let
the men of his place, his heather
neighbors, help him with silver, etc.
| give him funds for his journey and
the freewill offering in aid of the tenn
pie.
". 5. Then rose up the chief of
the fathers" The Return described
-, o.
babel prince of the royal line OF
David. called the Tirshatha, or Pasha
| ezra 2:63). and under Joshua. the
hereditary high priest ezra 3:s).
| These were among the chief Of the
fathers and the priests"
". 6. "And all they that were about
them" Their heather neighbors and
friends. as in Egypt at the time Of the
| exodus.
V. Z. Cyrus the king brought forth
the vessels of the house of the Lord s"
'Eebuchadnezzar little thought that
he was unconsciously preserving the
4 sacred vessels OF Israel in a safe and
inviolable stronghold. till the day
when Jehovah would bring about their
restoration TO His people"
V. 8. by the hand of Mithredath"
(given by. or dedicated to Mithra. the
sun-god), He had these treasures in
his charge. "Sheshbazzar" (flre.
worshiper) The Persian name Of
Zerubbabel (born in Babylon.
II. "All the vessels were
FIVE thousand and four hundred: 8"
This IS more than double the sum of
the preceding numbers-2.499. IL is
probable that only the larger or more
| costly vessels were numbered In de.
tail. and the $500 includes a great
number Of smaller and less Costly