The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-11-18

tAin AAAAAR olbAiilOo NOAiDannAOu VI It7
hovah. He was the son Of Hachaliah,
and it Is implied in the narrative (Neh.
10; 2.3) that he belonged to the tribe
Of Judah. Tradition declares him to
have been Of the royal house of David.
He had a brother named Hanani, who
had been to Jerusalem. The birth
place of Nehemiah probably, and the
scene of his early life, almost certain
", was Susa (Shushan), eighty miles
east Of the Tigris, one Of the Persian
capitals and a large city as we learn
from the extent Of its ruins, where
was large Jewish community.
His ONCE at the Court.--When we
first learn Of him he was cupbearer to
King Artaxerxes at the capital The
title "cupbearer" is misleading to us.
II really implied that Nehemiah was a
councillor, statesman, courtier and
favorite. 1t was not a political office,
but one of great power and influence.
His Character. Nehemiah Is a con
spicuous instance Of the right man in
the right place. He was patriotic,
courageous, God-fearing He knew
how TO exercise the infieMbie will of
an autocrat. as well as to be persua-
sive when that would best accomplish
the good end he had in view He was
magnanimous in his generosity to-
wards his subjects Josephus says OF
him, He was man Of good and right
eous character, and very ambitious to
make his own nation happy Prof
L. W. Batten in Hastings Bib. Die.
Goodness Under Difficulties. "A
heather court, with all it's debauch-
cries and temptations, all its Injuries,
and opportunities for injustice and OPP
preston, with its intensely worldly att
mosphere, would seem hard place in
which to rear the heavenly virtues.
And yet if the man there is a victor,
he grows strong by his conflict. Dr.
Geo A. Gordon in his magnificent Adj
dress, says: Job could not arrive at
his best without the tormenting Sa-
TAN, and Jesus reached the full matur-
ity q his Messianic consciousness
through his victorious battle against
the Adversary"
Compare the saints in Caesars
household" Let no boy excuse him
self from living a Christian life on
account Of temptations from unfayor-
able influences.
II. The Report from Judea.-Vs. 1:3.
81 "The words of Nehemiah His
record, or narrative. In the month
ChisieuH The ninth mcnth--our No
yenherDecember In the twentieth
yeAv" b. c. ASA. The twentieth
year Of Artaxerxes reign included
parts Of two years. Compare Neh. 2:1
O. THAT Hanani. one Of my breth
rem" "Hanani seems 10 have been an
actual brother of Nehemiah. Cook
Came from Jerusalem 10 Susa- And
asked them concerning the Jaws =
"Josephus tells US can't 11:6) that as
Nehemiah was walking one day out
side the walls Of Susa. some strangers
making for the city. travel-worn as If
by long journey. We're overheard by
his discoursing IN his own language
the Hebrew Nothing touches the
heart In strange land more than
ones mother tongue He went 70 to
them, therefore, and. introducing him
self, found they were FROM Judah. and
one was his own brother To inquire
respecting Jerusalem and its people
naturally followed '--Geisie Which
were left Of The captivity" The Jews
In the land Of Judea, as distinguished
from those IN Babylon and dispersed
in other countries Cambridge Bible
Those who had escaped" from being
taken captive, and who had escaped
by returning from captivity.
81 I'm the province" of Judea Are
IN great afHiction and reproach." We
learn from Nehemiah that the new
community had made some progress,
Houses, better and worse, We're
raised; the high priest lived in man
sion suitable to his dignity. within the
temple precincts: trade increased: a
larger population circulated through
the half-restored streets. The coun-
try around. moreover. was we'll culti-
waited, and supplied the market with
Ao0-A1Hno VI NAANt hA sAhNos H~9t ~ Aih
and other growth of the field or gar
den (Neh 1870
On the other hand there were many
trials and burdens. They were a small
and poor nation. mere remnant Of
former times. Their subsection to
Persia forced itself on the citizens at
every turn. The tribute imposed on
them was a heavy burden to a poor
community. Snbordinates and their
servants lorded it over the people at
large. Jewish recruits had doubtless
been forced into the Persian armies
The country was pillaged in open day
and many Jews carried of into sSv-
cry by nightly surprise, while the
corpses OF murdered men were often
found on the road "-Geihe. But by
new and recent attack throwing the
community into vehement conster
nation "the wall Of Jerusalem
Is broken down. and the gates thereof
are burned with fire.
II was not merely a few people ana
the city that were in danger, but the
kingdom Of God on earth. The condi-