Evening star., 1922-07-29


selected to be the conqueror of Babylon
and liberator Of the chosen people The
Book of Ezra opens with an account
OF that momentous event, which dem
onstrated beyond question the literal
fulfllment of prophecy.
In previous studies we have seen the
captivity beginning with the subjuga-
t1on of Jehoiakim, which took place in
3. Z. o06, and being completed with the
destruction of Jerusalem in b. C. 5S6
Our lesson points out how through the
proclamation Of Cyrus the return from
exile began in B. c. 536. which was
exactly seventy years after the first
deportation OF captives to Babylon, and
the rebuilding of the temple, which
we Will consider next week. was fin
isheo in 3. c. SIG. which was exactly
seventy years after its destruction It
was two years after Darius had won
the mastery of Babylon for Cyrus, the
MOST remarkable and undoubtedly
greatest hero of the East, that the king
issued his proclamation permitting the
return OF the Jewish exiles to their ma
tive land. 1t would appear that Cyrus,
almost Immediately upon his complete
mastery Of the world empire, granted
the Jews privileges which he was ac-
Gustomed to grant to all nationalities
he tells US this upon a cylinder. which
His own words are: 1.-The gods / re-
stored to their seats and made for them
dwelling place forever All of their
people ! gathered and restored to their
homes. This clay cylinder. which re-
veals the kings craftsmanship, can be
seen today in the British Museum.
Ezra points out that il was Jehovah
who stirred up the spirit of Cyrus"
to issue the famous proclamation that
gave PERMISSION to the exiles to re-
turn to Palestine. Josephus claims
that ne was influenced by the prophe-
&C nf l.
may have been called to his attention
by Daniel. All history reveals the fact
that In every emergency God has the
man of the hour prepared to meet
the issues of the moment The ro-
mantle career of Cyrus may have
been His method of stirring up the
spirit OF the night conqueror to issue
the permission which would permit
the Jews to return to the Holy Land
This made him the first one of the
gentle kings to befriend the exiied
Jews.
Perhaps no conqueror has left be-
hind him SO fair fame as that of
ments have been borne down to
us on the voice of the nations
which he elevated; his evil deeds (if
any) have had no historian to record
them" This chosen servant of
Jehovah was. "the son of Cambyses,
prince of Persia. He was doomed to
death by his reputed grandfather
(then king of Media). but escaped
and afterward appeared among the
soldiery of Persia and rapidly rose
by his genius and prowess to the
command of the army of that de-
pendency; after a while he assumed
entire military control and carried on
Independently his military schemes
until he had overthrown the grand
father who had at first doomed him
TO death. and finally founded the vast
empire of Persia over which he ruled
with signal power and justice" He
had led his armies for twenty years
without a defeat before Babylon was
finally brought under his rule.
His royal decree, which is recorded
in another version in Ezra 6:3-5 from
what is reproduced in our lesson
the exiles which was a complete re-
versal Of the policy of Assyria. His
attitude toward conquered people re-
veals real craftsmanship. His cylin-
der would imply that he treated all
nations like he did the Jewish exiles
The restoration Of them to their
native lands and the re-establishing
of their national worship would serve
to secure him a contented and happy
people. It would remove the spirit
of discomfort that is the germ of re-
volt and revolution. There was
strategic wisdom, in permitting the
Jews 10 return to the Holy Land
Their occuption Of Palestine would
, create a buffer state which would
protect the Persian frontier agains,
the Egyptians.
Cyrus did not try to force the Jews tt
| return any more than Zionists today
would require all Hebrews to return
| to Palestine and assist in building VI
the Jewish state that under Eng.
lands mandatory power is being bull
up in their ancient homeland. He
| left it with each individual to settle
| for himself. but the king offered tc
all the privilege of not only return.
! ing in the desolate and ruined land tc
prompt any one to return except the
| spiritual privilege of restoring the
| temple and the worship of Jehovah
| in accordance with the we'll known
prophetic predictions. They were in.
patriotic motives to return.
The thoughtful and generous ruler
had provided for the supplying of the
| exiles with plenty of money, goods
! and cattle by requesting that their fel
low citizens contribute-g generously Il
I their assistance. All who returned
! and contributed toward their return.
ing did it voluntarily. 1t was band
of spiritual colonists who started
| back toward Palestine to erect q
| Persian colony in the land of theil
fathers. Their hearts were full OF
| gratitude. God had stirred up the
chiefs of the tribes. families and
| with the great spiritual aspirations te
restore the worship Of Jehovah. Some
| OF the older ones were thinking o.
their early childhood home wher
they resolved to return to Palestine
| They followed the leadership of thu
n la
the multitude returning to the Hol!
| Land
! Cyrus recognized that the dominan
motive for the return of the Jews t
their home land was religious. H
tried to promote and develop thi!
spiritual and patriotic enthusiasm b!
ordering that the, sacred vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar had brough
to Babylon as spoils of war from tn,
| temple should be given to the re
turning Jews for use In the restored
! temple OF Jehovah at Jerusalem. H,
! commanded his treasurer. Mithredath
! whose name indicates that he wa,
dedicated to Mithra. the sun god, t.
turn them over to Zerubbabel. whom
| the Babylonians called Sheshbazzar
the fire worshiper. This prince o
| Judah" was a grandson of Jehoiakin
and a descendant OF David, who wa
\ appointed by Cyrus to be the politica
governor Of the movement. Ezra wa
! appointed by the king to be the prizes
and scribe. Into the hands of com
mander of the returning caravan
after being invoiced and receipte,
there was given this valuable coilec
tion of temple vessels. which prove,
the kings sincerity.
| Israels work for the world calle,
| then as 1t calls today In the though
OF many Jewish leaders and not few
| gentle students of prophecy for thei
| return to Palestine to aid In the res
| toration of the temple at Jerusalem
| while all the exiled Jews did no
return, there must have been $1,000
4 who took that homeward pilgrimage