the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. 31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the 32 covenant which are written in this book. And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did 33 according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that per- & tained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. (Jer. 3 10 Ex. 12 6; Exra 613 Feb. 2 18; Fara 6.18 ch. 5, IL el 30 24; Den 31 10; Ma. 27. beech. IL ch. 3. 7. Num. & 15; 1 Chr. 23. 25 Josiah keeps a great passover; opposes the king of Egypt, and is slain in battle. 35 MOREOVER "Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and theyi. 21 21–22 2 killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the 3 LORD, and said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD,Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve 4 now the LORD your God, and his people Israel, and prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of Ďavid 5 king of Israel, and according to the & writing of Solomon his son. And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your 6 brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 7 e i And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, 8 and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance. And 'his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three 9 hundred oxen. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. 10 So the service was prepared, and the priests" stood in their place, and the 11 Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment. And they killed the passover, and the priests "sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the 12 Levites flayed them. And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen. 13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings 'sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14 1 Chr. 9. 10. 1 Chr. ch. 23: 2: 25:36 4 ch. 8 14 A Pa. 134. L í ch. 29, 5, 15: 33 15; Ezra & 21. * eh. 30. 24; 1 EL & 63 /eb. 29. 31-2 Ezra 6 13. "ch. 29. 22: Le 1.5.6 * see eh. 99.34. P Le. 33 Ex. 12. 8, 9; Den 16 7. Le. 6. 28; 1 Sam. 1. 13-15 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests 15 the sons of Aaron. And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the 'commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun1 Chr. 5 1, ese. the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart 16 from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment 17 of king Josiah. And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of "unleavened bread seven days. 18 1 Chr. 9. 17, 18; % 14, etc. "ch. N: Ex 12 15-90: 13 6 And there was no passovers like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel Kaza the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, 19 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept. 20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt parallel, 2 XL St came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out 1 It is conjectured that the ark had been removed by Amon to make room for idols; or by Hilkiah, while the temple was undergoing repairs. 2 Or rather, 'seers;' for Asaph and Heman are so de signated at ch. xxix. 30; 1 Chron. xxv. 1, 5. 3 See note on 2 Kings xxiii. 22. 4 A large city on the western bank of the Euphrates, called by the Greeks Kirkesion. 2 BO 1 Ki. 22. 30. 21 against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which 27 was written in the law of the LORD, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; destruction of the temple and 36 THEN the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him 8 "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and 9 P Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight 10 of the LORD. And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother 'king over Judah and Jerusalem. 11 T a 1 Ki. 22. 31. b2 Ki. 23. 30. Zec. 12. 11. d Lam. 4. 20. see Mr. 9. 23. or, Jeconiah, 1 Chr. 3. 16; or, Coniah, Jer. 22. 24. P see parallel, 2 Ki. 24. 8,9. see parallel, 2 Ki. 24. 10-17. Dan. I. 1, 2; 5 2 or, Mattaniah, his t Jer. 37. 1. Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned 12 eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking 13 from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and Ki. 17. 14. hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. 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 15 which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.6 And the LORD God of their fathers Jer. 52. 3; Eze. 17. 15. 18. ch, 24. 19; Jer. 25. 3, 4; 35. 15, 44. 4. of his ultimate purposes of mercy towards his people. See Ezekiel, ch. viii., x., xi. At the same time, the prophet Jeremiah, living in the midst of his people, warned them against vainly hoping (as the false prophets encouraged them to do) for the preservation of Jerusalem; assured them that the king and his court, the city and its wicked inhabitants, were doomed to total ruin, and that the living germ of Hebrew nationality was with the captives in Babylon; cautioned them against indulging the hope of a speedy restoration, by telling them that the captivity should last for seventy years (Jeremiah, ch. xix., xxiv., xxv., xxvii., xxix.); predicted their certain restoration at the appointed time and the great blessings which God had in reserve for them hereafter (ch. XXX.-xxxiii.); and, further, denounced the utter overthrow of Babylon, at that time in the plenitude of her power (ch. 1., li.) sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had 16 compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. с A 2 Ki. 2. 13, etc. 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their, young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion; F2, 1 upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all 18 into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his 19 princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with 20 fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him 21 and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of " Jeremiah, until the land " had enjoyed her sabbaths :2 for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 Proclamation of Cyrus giving permission to the Jews to return to their own land. "Jer. 25 9–12; % 6, 7:29.0 # 21 34, 35, : Dan. 9. 2 • Le. 25 4-6 ? Jer. 25. 12-14; 3 P NOW in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD Era 1–3 spoken by the mouth of 9 Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all 23 his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. 1 There is reason to believe that, during these national judgments, the most religious part of the Hebrews were preserved and carried into exile; while the idolatrous and profane were for the most part destroyed. See Ezek. ix. 2-6; xiv. 13-21. 2 Those arrears of rest which had been accumulating by the neglect of the sabbatic year-an institution which served, perhaps beyond any other, to test the faith and obedience of the people; but which they, in their impiety and covetousness, had neglected. The land of Judah was not colonized, as that of Samaria had been, by foreigners; but only the poor of the land were left in it." s The Book of The Chronicles closes with the preceding verse; and the two following, which record transactions many years afterwards, seem to have been copied from Ezra (í. 1, 2, etc). NOTE ON THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE CAPTIVITY. THE captivity in Babylon was a very remarkable dispensation of Providence. The people of Israel, in the times of the Judges, had often been subjugated by their enemies; and the ark, the symbol of God's presence, had once been carried away for a short time into the land of the Philistines. But the captivity was attended with much heavier calamities: the whole land was now desolated by war; the ark destroyed; the temple burned to the ground; and Jerusalem laid in ruins; while the people were delivered into the hands of barbarous enemies, and large numbers of them were taken into a distant and heathen country. It is not easy to conceive what must have been the feelings of distress and amazement of the faithful servants of God whose lot was cast in these dark and calamitous times. But in the 'Lamentations' of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived and acted in the midst of these scenes, there is a faithful and heart-touching delineation of this visitation and of its results. Yet, painful as these events were, they were wonderfully overruled for the further development of the purposes of God, and the advancement of true religion. The captivity of the Jews in Babylon seems to have cured them of the sin of idolatry, to which they had been for ages so much addicted; a result which all previous warnings, corrections, and judgments had failed to produce. It also tended greatly to prepare the way for the coming of Christ, and the dispensation of the gospel, by causing the dispersion of the Jews throughout a great part of the known world; for the dispersed Jews, carrying with them the Holy Scriptures which contained the prophecies of the Messiah, became the means of diffusing some knowledge of the true religion, and of raising a general expectation of the coming of the Saviour. These events further conduced to this end by diminishing the glory and showing the imperfect nature of the Jewish dispensation: for, through the destruction of the temple, and the removal of the Jews from their own land, it became impracticable to them to observe the laws respecting the offering of sacrifices, and other Divine institutions; and this pointed out the necessity of introducing ¦ a new dispensation, which should be adapted not to one particular land, but to the whole world. These occurrences were also of great importance as presenting a striking fulfilment of prophecy. Long before the overthrow of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, their relative destinies had been foretold. At the time of their separation, no human calculation could have determined which of the two would be the more stable or prosperous. That of Israel seemed rather to have the advantage, considering her greater extent and population. But the voice of prophecy soon decided the question. Is the days of Jeroboam, Ahijah declared that God would 'root up Israel,' and 'scatter them beyond the river' (1 Kings xiv. 15). Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah, all announce the earlier downfall and the utter desolation of Israel. Israel was to be broken within threescore and five years,' and to cease from being a people' (Isa. vii. 6 -8); and the Assyrian power was foreshown to be the instrument of the Divine judgment (Hos. xi. 5, etc.) The captivity of Judah was first expressly foretold in the reign of Hezekiah, after his ostentatious display of his wealth and magnificence to the Babylonian ambassadors (2 Kings xx. 17, 18; 2 Chron. xxxii. 27). And the ful- Į ness of the predictions on this subject is very remarkable. They not only describe the calamity which was about to overwhelm the Jewish people, but they disclose the reasons and purposes of God's providence in bringing it to pass. They represent it as a judicial visitation for an amount of sin and corruption not otherwise to be purged away; and as mercifully designed, not for destruction, but for discipline and reformation. They foretell, also, its duration, which they limit to seventy years; its issue; and the course of events by which it would be terminated. The restoration of Judah-an event so little to be expected in the ordinary course of things-was foretold as plainly as the exile. See Isa. xiv. 3; xliv. 26-28; xlv. 1-4, 13; Jer. xxv. 9-13; xxix. 10–14; 1. 4, 5; li.; Ezek. xi. 16, 17; xii. 15; xx. 34, etc. It is further worthy of notice, how greatly the light of Divine revelation was augmented at this period. While the people of God were sinking into the greatest depression, the disclosures of prophecy respecting all the great subjects which it embraced were becoming clearer and fuller. At the very time when heathen nations seemed to triumph the most in trampling upon the chosen people, the voice of prophecy was making its most copious and explicit announcements concerning those very kingdoms: showing God's overruling power over them; proving them to be the instruments of his providence, and marking the appointed periods of the rise and fall of many among them. By these means, under the perplexing circumstances of heathen triumph, when the sufferings and fears of God's people were at their greatest height, their minds were. dírected and comforted. See Isa. xiii. -xxi., xxiii.; xlvi., xlvii.; Jer. xli-li.; Ezek. xxv.— xxxii.; Dan. iv., vii.—xii., etc. But, above all, greatly enlarged revelations were made, at this period, concerning the new dispensation, the spiritual kingdom of God, which was to be founded by the Messiah. The fullest and most expressive announcements of gospel blessings were made just when the earthly kingdom was approaching its downfall. Thus, when the first and temporary dispensation began to be shaken, the objects and promises of the second and permanent one began to be substituted in its place; the new kingdom and new covenant were set forth to view, and the glorious benefits to be bestowed upon men, through the redemption of Christ, were set in a clearer light than ever before. See especially Isa. lii.—lv. During the same period, also, it will be seen that the prophets bring the idea of religion nearer to the gospel standard, by explaining the inferior value of the ceremonial law, and giving notice of its future abrogation (Mic. vi. 6, 8; Hos. vi. 6): thus preparing the way for the introduction of the more spiritual economy, which sets the ritual law wholly aside, and establishes the moral law in its fullest extent. This exposition of the principle of religion by the prophets was also a most seasonable instruction at this particular time, when the observance of the ritual was rendered difficult or impracticable. When their heathen enemies were about to spoil their land, when access to the temple would be denied them, and the temple itself destroyed, the servants of God were taught that the personal religion which was still left to them was that which He most esteemed, and had always preferred (Isa. lxvi. 1, 2; Jer. vii. 22, 23); they were trained to maintain the knowledge and service of God, without the aid of their political constitution and ceremonial worship; and they were encouraged by the promise that, in their exiled and scattered state, God himself would be their sanctuary (Ezek. xi. 16). Thus, amidst the judgments of the land, when all was confusion and anarchy, and the public ordinances of religion were impeded, or wholly taken away, its essential principles were more completely developed." EZRA was one of the Jewish exiles at Babylon, where he was probably born. He was of the race of Aaron, and descended from the high priest who was slain at the capture of Jerusalem (2 Kings xxv. 18-21). His eminent learning and piety, and his consequent high consideration among his countrymen, peculiarly fitted him for the important duties which he was called upon to discharge. This book is not a regular and continuous history, but consists of two entirely distinct portions, separated from each other by a considerable interval of time. The former (ch. i.-vi.) contains an account of the first return of the Jewish exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel, and of the rebuilding of the temple. This work, which was begun under the authority of a decree of Cyrus in the year 536 B. C., was afterwards suspended for a long period, owing to the powerful opposition of the Samaritans and the indifference of the Jews, and was not completed till twenty years after its commencement, in the sixth year of Darius Hystaspis, which was the seventieth year after its destruction by the Chaldeans. Of the transactions of the succeeding sixty years we have here no record; but the second portion of this book (ch. vi.-x.) is a personal narrative, containing the history of Ezra's journey to Jerusalem, accompanied by a large body of his countrymen, and invested with an ample commission from the king of Persia to restore the worship of God, and to settle the government of the people according to their own laws. This is followed by an account of his zealous and successful exertions for their reformation. The deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, and their return to the land of promise, which, though full of joy, was attended with considerable difficulty and danger, is spoken of by the prophets as a wonderful interposition of Divine providence, in some respects similar to their previous deliverance from Egypt. And it is an event of permanent and universal interest, showing that though God's church be cast down, it is not cast off; though his people be corrected, they are not abandoned; though thrown into the furnace that the dross may be separated, they are not lost there. Although, in the remainder of the Old Testament annals, the chosen people appear no more as an independent nation, but as a comparatively feeble remnant, living under the control and protection of a foreign power; yet their history is still seen to be indissolubly connected with all the merciful purposes of God towards the human race (see the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah); and the restoration of their institutions, temple, and worship was evidently an event of the highest importance, as tending to keep alive the expectation of those great realities of which these were the types, and to prepare the way for the further manifestation of God's grace in the person and work of Christ. Some portions of this book (chiefly documentary) are in the Chaldee dialect. The contents of this book are as follows: I. THE RETURN OF THE FIRST COMPANY OF JEWS FROM BABYLON, AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE: comprising the proclamation of Cyrus permitting the return of Jews, and the rebuilding of the temple (ch. i.) A list of those who returned with Zerubbabel; with their offerings to the temple (ii.) The altar set up, and the temple commenced (iii.) Opposition of the Samaritans, and suspension of the building (iv.) The prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah; recommencement of the building; visit of the governors, and their letter to the Persian court; decree of Darius; completion and dedication of the temple (v., vi.) II. EZRA'S JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM WITH A LARGE COMPANY, AND THE REFORMATIONS WHICH HE EFFECTED: including Ezra's commission from Artaxerxes, and his journey to Jerusalem with his companions (vii., viii.) Intermarriages of the Jews with their heathen neighbours; Ezra's distress, and prayer; the repentance and reformation of the people (ix., x.) 1 2 The proclamation of Cyrus authorizing the return of the Jews, and the rebuilding of NOW in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD a 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, с Jer. 27. 6, 7; Dan. 2. 37.38 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 atÎà 44 28; 43, 1, 13 3 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 Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 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, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. 5 7 7 Dan. 2 47; 625 Sch. 208-0 ch.514; 65 36. 7. 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 Phil. 2 13 6 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 beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD,8 which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them 8 in the house of his gods; even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the 9 prince of Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a 10 thousand 'chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty basins of gold, silver 11 basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred.10 All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. 2 A list of the first company of Jews who returned with Zerubbabel. NOW these are the children 11 of the province 12 that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and 2 Judah, every one unto his city; which came with P Zerubbabel:13 Jeshua, Nehemiah, 1 Cyrus had been mentioned by name above 170 years before, as the deliverer of Israel. See Isa. xliv. 28; xlv. 1. He had led the united army of Persia and Media against Babylon; and, on the capture of the city, he is said to have given to Cyaxares, who is called in Scripture 'Darius the Mede,' and is supposed to have been his uncle, the administration of the newly acquired empire. After the short reign of Darius, Cyrus came to Babylon, and in the first year of his reign over the wide dominions of the East issued this edict. 2 The empire of Cyrus was of vast extent; reaching on the east to the Indus, on the north to the Euxine Sea, on the west to Egypt and the island of Cyprus, and on the south to the Persian Gulf and to Ethiopia. 3 This referred probably to the prophecy of Isaiah (ch. xliv. 26-28; xlv. 1, 12, 13), which had been delivered about 120 years before the destruction of the temple. It is supposed that these and other predictions were brought to the knowledge of Cyrus by Daniel, whose venerable age and high reputation, as well as his eminent station, would tend to procure a favourable reception for his communication. 4 This was to be their chief object in returning to the land of their fathers (see the prophecies of Haggai); and, as it was prosecuted or neglected, their prosperity flowed or ebbed. 5 Many of the Jews had obtained in Chaldea comfortable and advantageous settlements, which led them to prefer remaining there. Josephus says that the edict of Cyrus was sent to the descendants of the ten tribes living in Media under his dominion; and as it comprehended the whole nation, it is probable that the first caravan which went to Jerusalem comprised persons from all the tribes (see 1 Chron. ix. 3). Others, also, it is likely, hearing of the safety and prosperity of their brethren in Judea, followed their example, and took up their abode in their respective tribes. For, notwithstanding the pre see ch 5. 16 Num. 7. 13 eb. 22, Zerubbabel Ne. 7. 6, eta. 2K 24 14–16: 5 11; 2 Chr. 26. 29. Feb. 1. 8, Shezibazzar. occupation of Samaria by foreign colonists, it is certain ! that many belonging to the kingdom of Israel returned and settled in Galilee, and other northern districts of Palestine. See ch. ii. 70; vi. 17. 6 The language implies that He who 'stirred up the spirit of Cyrus' to give them permission (ver. 1), also stirred up the spirit of the people;' for the Hebrew word is the same in both cases. 7 This seems to be explained by the last clause of ver. 4. A liberal contribution was made for the use of the travellers, over and above the free-will offerings for the temple. It is evident that many of the people who returned to their own land were poor, and needed the help of their brethren who remained behind. 8 Some of the vessels of the temple had been cut in pieces by the Chaldeans (2 Kings xxiv. 13); but many had been preserved through all the succeeding revolutions, and were now restored. 9 Sheshbazzar is probably the Chaldean name of Zerubbabel. See ch. ií. 2; v. 14-16; Zech. iv. 9, 10. 10 After specifying the most important articles, the total number is here given, without all the details. 11 The genealogies, after the captivity, had both a ciril and a religious importance; as proving the rights of the different families to their respective inheritances; and as furnishing the evidence that the Messiah was descended from David and from Judah. In ch. vii. of the book of Nehemiah, we have another copy of this register. The sum total is the same in both; but the particulars of the two differ, and each falls far short of the whole amount. 12 Judea had become one of the provinces of the empire. See ch. v. 8; Neh. i. 3. 13 These were the chiefs who were to conduct the people. Zerubbabel, who was the son of Shealtiel and grandson of Jehoiachin, was the prince; and Jeshua, the grandson of Seraiah, who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar, was the high priest. |