wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. THE SAMARITANS. 2 Kings xvii, 24, 33, 34 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment, which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. Luke ix, 52, 53. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was though he would go to Jerusalem. as Luke xvii, 15-18. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. John iv, 9, 20-22,27...For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Wom...n, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? VI.-WICKEDNESS OF THE JEWS, AND ITS PUNISHMENT. Deut. ix, 6. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou the work of their hands, saith the art a stifl-necked people. LORD. 2 Kings xvii, 13, 14, 19, 21. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. 2 Kings xxiii, 26. Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 14. Moreover, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much, after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. heard this, he was wroth, and Ps. lxxviii, 59, 60. When God greatly abhorred Israel: So that he forsook the tabernacle Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men. of Isa. iii, 8. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. Jer. ii, 7. And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof, and the goodness thereof, but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Jer. v, 11. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD. Jer. xxxii, 23, 30. And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law: they have done nothing of all that thon commandedst them to do; therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them. For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with Ezek. v, 6-8. And she bath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her; for they have refused my Judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD, Behold, I, even 1, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. Ezek. xi, 12. And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you. them among the heathen, and Ezek. xxxvi, 19. And I scattered they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way, and according to their doings, I judged them. Amos ii, 4. Thus saith the LORD, and for four, I will not turn away For three transgressions of Judah, the punishment thereof; because LORD, and have not kept his comthey have despised the law of the mandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked. Micah i, 5, 6. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? fore I will make Samaria as an are they not Jerusalem? Thereheap of the field, and as plantings down the stones thereof into the of a vineyard; and I will pour valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. Judges ill, 12-14. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gath ered unto him the children of and smote Israel, and possesssed Ammon and Amalek, and went the city of palm-trees. children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. So the Judges vi, 1. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. Judges x, 8. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan, in the land of the Amorites which is in Gilead. Judges xiii, 1. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delived them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 1 Sam. xii, 9. And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. 2 Kings x, 32. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel. 2 Kings xv, 37. (In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.) 2 Kings xvii. 20. And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand or spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. Ps. cvl, 40-42. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Isa. xlii, 22, 23. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them shared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken, and hear for the time to come. Jer. ii, 14-16. Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born slave? why is he spoiled? The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burnt without inhabitant. Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. Jer. xix, 7. And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. Amos vi, 14. But, behold, I will THE CAPTIVITY. 2 Kings xx, 17. Behold, the days Samaria, and the plummet of the down. 2 Kings xxiv, 1. In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years; then he turned and rebelled against him. Isa. xxxix, 6. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever. Jer. xxiv, 8-10. And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, SO will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt; And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. Therefore Jer. xxv, 8, 9, 11. thus saith the LORD of hosts, Because ye have not heard my words, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my them servant, and will bring against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof,and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishserve the king of Babylon seventy ment; and these nations shall years. Jer. xiii, 19. The cities of the Jer. xxix, 10, 11. For thus saith south shall be shut up, and none the LORD, that after seventy years shall open them; Judah shall be be accomplished at Babylon I will carried away captive all of it, it visit you, and perform my good shall be wholly carried away cap-word toward you, in causing you tive. Jer. xv, 2, 4, 5, 14. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD, Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doe-t? And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you. Jer. xvi, 4. And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee: and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have 823 to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer. xxxii, 4. And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes. Jer. xxxiv, 1-3. The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, (when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and ing, Thus saith the LORD, the against all the cities thereof,) sayGod of Israel, Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. And thou shalt not escape out of his hand,but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. Jer. xxxviii, 1-3. Then Shephatlah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it. Jer. xliv, 27. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Ezek. v, 14. Moreover, I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by. Ezek. vi, 7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezek. xii, 15. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the na tions, and disperse them in the countries. Ezek. xxii, 15, 16. And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee. And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Hosea v, 9. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. VII. (that is the ninth year of Hoshea CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH. 2 Kings xxiv, 14-16. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorer sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land; those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craitsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 2 Kings xxv, 6, 7, 11, 19-21. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude,did Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carry away. And out of the city he took an officer, that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men ISRAEL IN CAPTIVITY. of the people of the land that were FATE OF THE TEN TRIBES. found in the city: And Nebuzar2 Kings xvii, 5. Then the kingadan, captain of the guard, took of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 2 Kings xviii, 8-12. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, these, and brought them to the Jer. xxix, 2, 3. (After that Je- ilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying. Jer. xxxix, 9. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. Jer. lii, 15, 24, 25, 28-30. Then Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door. He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war, and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the carried CONDITION DURING THE Lev. xxvi, 38. And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. Esther ii, 5, 6. Now, in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from the captivity Jerusalem with which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. Ps. lxxviii, 61, 62. And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. He gave his people over also un'y the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. Ps. cxxxvii, 1-4. By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon | the willow in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? Isa. Ixiii, 18. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a sword. According to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions, have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. Hosea viil, 8. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Zech. vii, 14. But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all shall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer-fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. Likewise, when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the Babylon had left a remnant of the son of Shaphan; Even all the Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, Jews returned out of all places came to the land of Judah, to whither they were driven, and Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer-fruits very much. little while: our adversaries have the nations whom they knew not: Countries, heard that the king of trodden down thy sanctuary. a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Isa. Ixiv, 10. Thy holy cities are Jerusalem a desolation. Lam. i, 1, 3-5. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude; she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper, for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. Lam. ii, 1. How hath the LORD covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! Lam. iv, 12. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. Ezek. xi, 15, 16. Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they anto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD; unto us is this land given in possession. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD, Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Ezek. xxxix, 23, 24. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies; so fell they all by the thus the land was desolate after THE PRESERVED REMNANT. Ezra ix. 8. And now, for a little space, grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave, us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that cur God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Isa. xxxvii, 31, 32. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. Jer. iv, 27. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. Jer. v, 18. Nevertheless, in thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: captains of the forces which were Jer. xliv, 28. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah; and all the remuant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. Jer. xlvi, 28. Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD; for I am with thee: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished. Ezek. vi, 8. Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. Ezek. xii, 16. But I will leav a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezek. xiv, 22, 23. Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant sons and daughters; behold, they that shall be brought forth, both shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted brought upon concerning the evil that I have Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD. Amos ix, 8, 9. Behold, the eyes of the Lord GoD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. For, lo, I will com mand, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Zech. xiii, 8, 9. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The LORD is my God. VIII. RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY. PREDICTED. Isa. xiv, 2. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. Isa. xliv, 26, 27. That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built; and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, Be dry; and I will dry up thy rivers. Jer. xii, 14, 15. Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out, I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. Jer. xvi, 14 15. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Jer. xxiv, 5. Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. Jer. xxix, 14. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD; and I will turn away your captivity, | and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. Jer. xxx, 3, 10. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. Jer. xxxii,36,37. And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon. Behold, I will gather them out of all countries. Jer. xxxiii, 7. And I will cause the captivity of Judah, and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. Jer. xlvi, 27. But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: tor, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, none shall make him afraid. and Jer. 33,34.Thus saith the LORD of hosts, The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD of hosts is his name. Ezek. xx. 38. .. .. I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall kuow that I am the LORD. Zeph. iii, 19. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. ACCOMPLISHED UNDER CYRUS. Ezra i, 1-6. Now, in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, (that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled,) the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah: Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusa lem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (he is the God) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the free-will-offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with besides all that was willingly ofbeasts, and with precious things, fered. Ezra il, 70. So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. Ezra iii, 1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Ezra vii, 6. 7, 13. This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own free-will to go up to Jerusa lem, go with thee. Ezra ix, 9. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give ns a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. REBUILDING OF See under CANAAN. |