prophets and kings-第95节

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bed　and　distributed。　The　pure　word；　thus　multiplied　and　placed　in　the　hands　of　many　people；　gave　knowledge　that　was　of　inestimable　value。

Ezra's　faith　that　God　would　do　a　mighty　work　for　His　people；　led　him　to　tell　Artaxerxes　of　his　desire　to　return　to　Jerusalem　to　revive　an　interest　in　the　study　of　God's

610

word　and　to　assist　his　brethren　in　restoring　the　Holy　City。　As　Ezra　declared　his　perfect　trust　in　the　God　of　Israel　as　one　abundantly　able　to　protect　and　care　for　His　people；　the　king　was　deeply　impressed。　He　well　understood　that　the　Israelites　were　returning　to　Jerusalem　that　they　might　serve　Jehovah；　yet　so　great　was　the　king's　confidence　in　the　integrity　of　Ezra　that　he　showed　him　marked　favor；　granting　his　request　and　bestowing　on　him　rich　gifts　for　the　temple　service。　He　made　him　a　special　representative　of　the　Medo…Persian　kingdom　and　conferred　on　him　extensive　powers　for　the　carrying　out　of　the　purposes　that　were　in　his　heart。

The　decree　of　Artaxerxes　Longimanus　for　the　restoring　and　building　of　Jerusalem；　the　third　issued　since　the　close　of　the　seventy　years'　captivity；　is　remarkable　for　its　expressions　regarding　the　God　of　heaven；　for　its　recognition　of　the　attainments　of　Ezra；　and　for　the　liberality　of　the　grants　made　to　the　remnant　people　of　God。　Artaxerxes　refers　to　Ezra　as　〃the　priest；　the　scribe；　even　a　scribe　of　the　words　of　the　commandments　of　the　Lord；　and　of　His　statutes　to　Israel；〃　〃a　scribe　of　the　law　of　the　God　of　heaven。〃　The　king　united　with　his　counselors　in　offering　freely　〃unto　the　God　of　Israel；　whose　habitation　is　in　Jerusalem；〃　and　in　addition　he　made　provision　for　meeting　many　heavy　expenses　by　ordering　that　they　be　paid　〃out　of　the　king's　treasure　house。〃　Verses　11；　12；　15；　20。

〃Thou　art　sent　of　the　king；　and　of　his　seven　counselors；〃　Artaxerxes　declared　to　Ezra；　〃to　inquire　concerning　Judah　and　Jerusalem；　according　to　the　law　of　thy　God　which　is　in　thine　hand。〃　And　he　further　decreed：　〃Whatsoever　is

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commanded　by　the　God　of　heaven；　let　it　be　diligently　done　for　the　house　of　the　God　of　heaven：　for　why　should　there　be　wrath　against　the　realm　of　the　king　and　his　sons？〃　Verses　14；　23。

In　giving　permission　to　the　Israelites　to　return；　Artaxerxes　arranged　for　the　restoration　of　the　members　of　the　priesthood　to　their　ancient　rites　and　privileges。　〃We　certify　you；〃　he　declared；　〃that　touching　any　of　the　priests　and　Levites；　singers；　porters；　Nethinims；　or　ministers　of　this　house　of　God；　it　shall　not　be　lawful　to　impose　toll；　tribute；　or　custom；　upon　them。〃　He　also　arranged　for　the　appointment　of　civil　officers　to　govern　the　people　justly　in　accordance　with　the　Jewish　code　of　laws。　〃Thou；　Ezra；　after　the　wisdom　of　thy　God；　that　is　in　thine　hand；〃　he　directed；　〃set　magistrates　and　judges；　which　may　judge　all　the　people　that　are　beyond　the　river；　all　such　as　know　the　laws　of　thy　God；　and　teach　ye　them　that　know　them　not。　And　whosoever　will　not　do　the　law　of　thy　God；　and　the　law　of　the　king；　let　judgment　be　executed　speedily　upon　him；　whether　it　be　unto　death；　or　to　banishment；　or　to　confiscation　of　goods；　or　to　imprisonment。〃　Verses　24…26。

Thus；　〃according　to　the　good　hand　of　his　God　upon　him；〃　Ezra　had　persuaded　the　king　to　make　abundant　provision　for　the　return　of　all　the　people　of　Israel　and　of　the　priests　and　Levites　in　the　Medo…Persian　realm；　who　were　minded　〃of　their　own　free　will　to　go　up　to　Jerusalem。〃　Verses　9；　13。　Thus　again　the　children　of　the　dispersion　were　given　opportunity　to　return　to　the　land　with　the　possession　of　which　were　linked　the　promises　to　the　house　of　Israel。

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This　decree　brought　great　rejoicing　to　those　who　had　been　uniting　with　Ezra　in　a　study　of　God's　purposes　concerning　His　people。　〃Blessed　be　the　Lord　God　of　our　fathers；〃　Ezra　exclaimed；　〃which　hath　put　such　a　thing　as　this　in　the　king's　heart；　to　beautify　the　house　of　the　Lord　which　is　in　Jerusalem：　and　hath　extended　mercy　unto　me　before　the　king；　and　his　counselors；　and　before　all　the　king's　mighty　princes。〃　Verses　27；　28。

In　the　issuing　of　this　decree　by　Artaxerxes；　God's　providence　was　manifest。　Some　discerned　this　and　gladly　took　advantage　of　the　privilege　of　returning　under　circumstances　so　favorable。　A　general　place　of　meeting　was　named；　and　at　the　appointed　time　those　who　were　desirous　of　going　to　Jerusalem　assembled　for　the　long　journey。　〃I　gathered　them　together　to　the　river　that　runneth　to　Ahava；〃　Ezra　says；　〃and　there　abode　we　in　tents　three　days。〃　Ezra　8：15。

Ezra　had　expected　that　a　large　number　would　return　to　Jerusalem；　but　the　number　who　responded　to　the　call　was　disappointingly　small。　Many　who　had　acquired　houses　and　lands　had　no　desire　to　sacrifice　these　possessions。　They　loved　ease　and　comfort　and　were　well　satisfied　to　remain。　Their　example　proved　a　hindrance　to　others　who　otherwise　might　have　chosen　to　cast　in　their　lot　with　those　who　were　advancing　by　faith。

As　Ezra　looked　over　the　company　assembled；　he　was　surprised　to　find　none　of　the　sons　of　Levi。　Where　were　the　members　of　the　tribe　that　had　been　set　apart　for　the　sacred　service　of　the　temple？　To　the　call；　Who　is　on　the　Lord's　side？　the　Levites　should　have　been　the　first　to　respond。

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During　the　captivity；　and　afterward；　they　had　been　granted　many　privileges。　They　had　enjoyed　the　fullest　liberty　to　minister　to　the　spiritual　needs　of　their　brethren　in　exile。　Synagogues　had　been　built；　in　which　the　priests　conducted　the　worship　of　God　and　instructed　the　people。　The　observance　of　the　Sabbath；　and　the　performance　of　the　sacred　rites　peculiar　to　the　Jewish　faith；　had　been　freely　allowed。

But　with　the　passing　of　the　years　after　the　close　of　the　captivity；　conditions　changed；　and　many　new　responsibilities

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rested　upon　the　leaders　in　Israel。　The　temple　at　Jerusalem　had　been　rebuilt　and　dedicated；　and　more　priests　were　needed　to　carry　on　its　services。　There　was　pressing　need　of　men　of　God　to　act　as　teachers　of　the　people。　And　besides；　the　Jews　remaining　in　Babylon　were　in　danger　of　having　their　religious　liberty　restricted。　Through　the　prophet　Zechariah；　as　well　as　by　their　recent　experience　during　the　troublous　times　of　Esther　and　Mordecai；　the　Jews　in　Medo…Persia　had　been　plainly　warned　to　return　to　their　own　land。　The　time　had　come　when　it　was　perilous　for　them　to　dwell　longer　in　the　midst　of　heathen　influences。　In　view　of　these　changed　conditions；　the　priests　in　Babylon　should　have　been　quick　to　discern　in　the　issuance　of　the　decree　a　special　call　to　them　to　return　to　Jerusalem。

The　king　and　his　princes　had　done　more　than　their　part　in　opening　the　way　for　the　return。　They　had　provided　abundant　means；　but　where　were　the　men？　The　sons　of　Levi　failed　at　a　time　when　the　influence　of　a　decision　to　accompany　their　brethren　would　have　led　others　to　follow　their　example。　Their　strange　indifference　is　a　sad　revelation　of　the　attitude　of　the　Israelites　in　Babylon　toward　God's　purpose　for　His　people。

Once　more　Ezra　appealed　to　the　Levites；　sending　them　an　urgent　invitation　to　unite　with　his　company。　To　emphasize　the　importance　of　quick　action；　he　sent　with　his　written　plea　several　of　his　〃chief　men〃　and　〃men　of　understanding。〃　Ezra　7：28；8：16。

While　the　travelers　tarried　with　Ezra；　these　trusted　messengers　hastened　back　with　the　plea；　〃Bring　unto　us　ministers

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for　the　house　of　our　God。〃　Ezra　8：17。　The　appeal　was　heeded；　some　who　had　been　halting；　made　final　decision　to　return。　In　all；　about　forty　priests　and　two　hundred　and　twenty　Nethinimmen　upon　whom　Ezra　could　rely　as　wise　ministers　and　good　teachers　and　helperswere　brought　to　the　camp。

All　were　now　ready　to　set　forth。　Before　them　was　a　journey　that　would　occupy　several　months。　The　men　were　taking　with　them　their　wives　and　children；　and　their　substance；　besides　large　treasure　for　the　temple　and　its　service。　Ezra　was　aware　that　enemies　lay　in　wait　by　the　way；　ready　to　plunder　and　destroy　him　and　his　company；　yet　he　had　asked　from　the　king　no　armed　force　for　protection。　〃I　was　ashamed；〃　he　has　explained；　〃to　require　of　the　king　a　band　of　soldiers　and　horsemen　to　help　us　against　the　enemy　in　the　way：　because　we　had　spoken　unto　the　king；　saying；　The　hand　of　our　God　is　upon　all　them　for　good　that　seek　Him；　but　His　power　and　His　wrath　is　against　all　them　that　forsake　Him。〃　Verse　22。

In　this　matter；　Ezra　and　his　companions　saw　an　opportunity　to　magnify　the　name　of　God　before　the　heathen。　Faith　in　the　power　of　the　living　God　would　be　strengthened　if　the　Israelites　themselves　should　now　reveal　implicit　faith　in　their　divine　Leader。　They　therefore　determined　to　put　their　trust　wholly　in　Him。　They　would　ask　for　no　guard　of　soldiers。　They　would　give　the　heathen　no　occasion　to　ascribe　to　the　strength　of　man　the　glory　that　belongs　to　God　alone。　They　could　not　afford　to　arouse　in　the　minds　of　their　heathen　friends　one　doubt　as　to　the　sincerity　of　their　dependence　on

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God　as　His　people。　Strength　would　be　gained；　not　through　wealth；　not　through　the　power　and　influence　of　idolatrous　men；　but　through　the　favor　of　God。　Only　by　keeping