The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-08-10
A BIBLICAL INVESTIGATION.


In recent years there have been created
commissions galore to investigate questions
concerning the welfare CT the people. 1t is
interesting to note that in the days OF
Ezra the prophet the same thing was done,
and aside from the immediate connection OF
Jehovah with the personal actions and
national policies of the Jews at that time
the Investigations were much like those of
the present time. The same human ele-
ments were concerned and the same desires
on the part of the people dominated the
people that dominates the people Of today
In the instance taken from the prophecy
Of Ezra reform of the alien marriage was
the PUBLIC issue. The men of the tribes OF
Judah and Benjamin had been taking
strange wives, that is they had been marry
ing outside the race Ezra saw in this ten
dency the deterioration of the race and the
fall of the people. He began an agitation
in the nature Of prayer for the deliver
ance of his people from the custom. He was
supported by Sheshanish, the son of Jeheil,
who was a moral champion much like Will
liam J. Bryan. He proposed that the people
should make a covenant with Jehovah to
put away the wives who were of non-He-
brew races and children born of such mar
riages. But he did not want to carry out
his policy in a revolutionary manner. "And
let it be done according to the law" he
urged His policy is worthy of study at
this time
Ezra, through the chief priests and the
Levites. summoned the people of judah
and Jerusalem who had been in captivity
where their fascination for foreign wives
had developed, to meet at Jerusalem to con-
slider the reforms proposed to be made, The
penalties for failure to attend the investl-
cation were heavy. "Whosoever would not
come within three days all his sub
stance should be forfeited and himself sepa-
rated from the congregation of those that
had been carried away"
When the time for the mass conference
arrived the weather conditions were unfav-
orable and the crowds were so large that
the people could not get inside the temple,
and had to sit in the street in front of the
structure. The "great rain" was on, and
the discomfort of the people was increased
from that cause. After Ezra had charged
the people with the violation of the policies
of the nation they replied that the accusa-
tons were true However, they wanted the
facts Investigated and those who had mar
ried strange wives named after hearing all
the evidence. They said:
The people are many and it is time
of much rain, and we are not able to
stand without. Neither is this the
work of one day or two, for we are
many who have transgressed in this
thing. Let now our rulers of all the
congregations stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in the
cities come at appointed times and
with them the elders of every city and
the judges thereof.
Ezra with the assistance of certain chiefs
of the fathers prepared lists Of those accus-
ed. These lists were sent down to the com
mission created to make the investigations
How much like the government of the pres
eft day supplying the investigators. with in
formation! The commission was clothed
with the power to punish as well as the right
Of reouisiton, for after it had completed its
investigation the men found guilty of having
married strange wives gave their hands to
the commission members that they would
put away their wives. "And being guilty,
thew offered ram of the flock for their
The list of those who had tres
passed was appended to the commissions
record.