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people; and thus was the Jewish monarchy subverted, after it had stood three hundred and eighty-eight years from the accession of Rehoboam, and one hundred and thirty four years from the destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians.

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205

CHAP. IX.

From the return of the Jews out of Babylon, to the death of Nehemiah.

BC. AFTER the Jews had bewailed their transgressions, in a captivity of seventy years duration, as had been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah, Cyrus the Great issued out a decree by which they were permitted to return to their own country; and to rebuild the edifice which God had vouchsafed to honour with his immediate presence, till reiterated defections had called down his vengeance upon the ungrateful sons of Abraham. The sacred utensils, which had been taken away by Nebuchadnezzar, were also delivered to one of the Hebrew chiefs, and those Jews who wished to remain in their new habitations, were permitted to contribute, as liberally as they pleased, to the necessities of their brethren, and the restoration of their ancient worship.

. Upon the promulgation of this edict, the chiefs of Judah and Benjamin assembled together with the Levites, priests, and all who retained a zeal for the God of their progenitors, and made preparations for their journey; while the rest of their brethren declined the expedition, and contented themselves with making contributions of gold, silver, and other materials, for the erection or embellishment of the city and temple..

The number of those who returned to Judea, under

the conduct of Zerubbabel, a prince of the royal blood, and Jeshua the high-priest, amounted to forty-nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven individuals, including seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven servants of both sexes, and two hundred male and female singers. This, however, was but a small proportion of the Jewish captives, and the love of their country was so far forgotten by the majority, that only four of the sacerdotal classes consented to quit the dominions of their oppressors.

On their arrival at the ruined city of David, the priests subdivided themselves in such a manner as to make up their original number of classes; the Levites, and other officers of the temple, took up their abode either in or near Jerusalem, that they might be at hand to assist in the arrangement or restoration of holy things; and the rest of the people employed themselves in searching for their brethren, whom the Babylonian conquerors had left to cultivate the adjacent country.

On the first day of the month Tishri, the new year was solemnly proclaimed by sound of trumpet, and was followed by two other great solemnities, namely, the grand fast of expiation, which was to be observed on the tenth, and the feast of tabernacles which began on thé fifteenth, and continued till the twenty-second of the same month.

At the last of these solemnities it was unanimously resolved to begin the important task of rebuilding the temple; and a contribution was immediately made, which amounted to seventy-five thousand five hundred pounds, besides a hundred costly vestments for the use of the priests. Cedar and other timber were also procured from Libanus and Tyre, and workmen were hired

from various parts to prepare the materials for the

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B. C. 534.

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In the second month of the ensuing year, the foundation of the temple was laid in the presence of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the whole congregation. This ceremony was accompanied with vocal and instrumental music, and the air resounded with triumphant acclamations: but whilst the younger part of the assembly uttered these expressions of rapturous delight, many of the senior priests and Levites who had seen the sumptuous edifice that was destroyed by the Chaldeans, could not forbear uttering many bitter lamentations when they considered the inferiority of the present design; so that the groans of one party and the acclamations of the other could not easily be distinguished.

Whilst this great work was carrying on, the Samaritans, who had been sent from Cuthath to re-people their native land, expressed an earnest desire to assist in completing the building; but, the Jews having declined this proposal, they laid aside the mask of friendship and sought, upon every occasion, to distress and vilify their new neighbours. In consequence of their malicious suggestions, Cyrus began to look upon the Jews with an eye of jealousy, and the decree which had been issued out in their favor was suspended, during the residue of his reign and that of his successor. At the decease of Cambyses, fresh complaints were carried to the court of Persia; and the building of the temple which hád been hitherto carried on amidst numerous insults and obstructions, was totally stopped. However on the death of the usurper, the people were inspired with fresh ardor by the prophet Haggai, and the sacred structure began to rise apace in spite of every opposition,

The Samaritans, exasperated at this circumstance, applied to Tatnai, governor of Syria and Palestine, warning him of the danger that might result from the restoration of a city which had frequently given just cause of alarm to the surrounding nations. Hereupon Tatnai repaired to Jerusalem, and demanded by what authority the work was carried on; but the answers which he received, effectually calmed his apprehensions; and a new decree was, soon afterward, promulgated by Darius, which not only ratified the grants that had been made by Cyrus, but also threatened all persons who should presume to obstruct it, with the heaviest pains and penalties.

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The Jews, being now delivered from their enemies, and receiving a considerable bounty from the royal treasury, laboured with such alacrity and expedition, that their temple was finished in the sixth year of Darius; and the dedication was performed, in the month Adar, with all imaginable splendor and solemnity.

The Samaritans were so highly exasperated at the edict which enjoined them to pay a certain quota toward the rebuilding of the temple, and the diurnal sacrifices that were to be offered for the prosperity of the king and his dominions, that they took an early opportunity of withholding their tribute, on pretence that it was to cease as soon as the sacred edifice was finished. But Darius, having received a deputation from Jerusalem, issued out a fresh decree which confounded the malice of the Samaritans, and incapacitated them from giving further disturbance to the objects of Divine favor.

From this time the Jews enjoyed a profound peace under their royal patron, and under the reign of his successor: being governed by their own high-priests

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