And Darius, the king died, and Cyrus reigned in his stead. And the Lord put into the heart of Cyrus, whom he had called in time past for that purpose, to make a decree, permitting those of the children of Israel, who so willed, to return to the land of their fathers: to rebuild Jerusalem, and the temple. Then the patriarchal chiefs of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, and all those whom God influenced to go, put themselves in readiness to journey towards Jerusalem, to raise from their ruins the sacred city, and the temple of the Lord of hosts. And Cyrus, the king, commanded his treasurer to bring forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, and to give them up unto Shasbazzar, or Zerubbabel, who was by him appointed to conduct the business. And fifty thousand, principally of the kingdom of Judah, joined themselves unto Zerubbabel, Joshua, and Nehemiah; so that henceforwards the children of Israel were generally called Jews, that is, Judahites. And they restored the altar for burnt offerings, and they began to re-build the temple of their God. And while the foundations were laying, the priests arrayed in their sacred vestments, and the Levites with their instruments of music, praised Jehovah, and sang alternately, that the Lord is good, and that his mercy endureth for ever. But many of the elderly priests and Levites, who had seen the glory of the former house, which Solomon, the king, had builded, wept aloud; yet the people, at large, shouted with the voice of joy and thanksgiving. But the people of the neighbouring land, whose fore

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fathers had been brought thither by Salmanesar, king of Assyria, interrupted the labour of the Judahites, and the work ceased until the second year of Darius, king of Persia. Then the prophet Haggai, and Zechariah, the prophet, in the name of the God of Israel, stirred up the people to begin again the work of building the house of the Lord their God. And they finished the work, according to the will of God, and according to the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia; for Artaxerxes, who also was called Ahasuerus, having taken to wife Esther, a maiden of the children of Israel, and having advanced unto honour, Mordecai, her kinsman, encouraged the remnant of the children of Israel, who remained at Babylon, to journey to Jerusalem, and unite themselves unto their brethren. And with great joy and rejoicing they dedicated the temple which they had rebuilt. Moreover, Ezra, a descendant from Aaron, the high priest of Jehovah, an expert scribe, and well instructed in the law of the Lord, came to the holy city, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, the king, and taught the people the statutes of their God. Then the people of Samaria again troubled the Jews, and hindered the completion of their work.

But Nehemiah, who was cup-bearer unto Artaxerxes, the king, obtained from him letters, permitting the children of Judah to defend themselves, and commanding the governors of the land to assist them in raising the walls of their city. And Ezra, the scribe, brought forth the book of the law, before the assembly of the people. And when he opened it, all the people

stood up; and Ezra praised Jehovah the mighty God; and all the people said, amen, and prostrated themselves before the Lord, with their faces unto the ground. The Levites also read in the book of the law of God, distinctly, and interpreted the sense thereof. And all the people entered into a covenant to observe all the commandments of Jehovah, his judgments, and his statutes. So did they finish the work of restoring the house of God, and the law, and the services; and of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Thus the children of Judah returned from captivity; yet they had, hereafter, no king of their own nation to rule over them, but were governed by high priests, under the Persian dominion, as long as that empire endured. They did not again forsake the worship of the Lord their God, to go after idols; yet they committed many and great transgressions, for which they were severely reproved by the prophets of Jehovah. Synagogues, or places of assembly for worship, were builded in all the villages and towns in which was read the law of the Lord.

But the Samaritans built a temple on Mount Gerizim, in which the law of Moses was read, and its ceremonies were observed. For this cause, therefore, enmity arose between the Jews and the Samaritans, which continued until the final subversion of the Mosaic polity. Under the Persian authority, the children of Judah were treated with kindness; and Alexander, the Macedonian, who overthrew the Persian empire, favoured them, likewise; but under those of his

successors, who ruled over Syria, and the neighbouring regions, and especially under Antiochus Epiphanes, their country was laid waste, and they were dreadfully oppressed. He plundered the holy temple, and erecting therein the statue of Jupiter, the heathen god, he caused to be cruelly tortured and put to death all who refused to bow down before the idol. But God raised up Mattathias, a priest and faithful servant of the Most High; who opposed idolatry, and with his five sons, called the Maccabees, delivered his country from the Syrian yoke. Judas Maccabeus succeeded his father, defeated the Syrians in five great battles, drove them out of the land of Judea, purified the temple, and restored the worship of the only true God. His brethren, Jonathan and Simon, successively exercised the supreme authority, and defended their people. To Simon succeeded his son, John Hyrcanus; and Aristobulus the first of the family who had the title of king; Alexander Janneus; and Hyrcanus the second, who was deposed by his brother, Aristobulus, the second; and re-established by Pompey, the illustrious Roman commander, who took Jerusalem, but did not injure the city or the temple. The whole country of Judea now became subject to the Roman power. At this time Antipater, the Idumean, established himself at Jerusalem, and acquired so great influence that he left his son, Herod, sufficiently powerful to obtain the title of king from the Roman Senate, and by that means was the crown transferred from the Asmonean family, who had held it 126 years. He

rod was a cruel, capricious tyrant. In his reign was born the Saviour of the world, Jesus, the Christ, the long-expected Messiah. Thus terminates the ninth epocha of sacred history.

QUESTIONS.

What Persian monarchs gave the children of Israel permission to return to Judea, and rebuild their temple and city? Who were the chief leaders of the return of the children of Israel to Judea? Did all the Israelites return to Judea? What enemies opposed the work of restoring the city? Did the children of Judah succeed in their enterprize? What name was given to them after their return from Babylon? Did the Jews fall again into idolatry? How were the Jews treated by the Persian monarchs; by Alexander the Great; and by his successors? What noble patriot resisted Antiochus Epiphanes? Who were the Maccabees? What were the actions of Judas Maccabeus? What Roman general took Jerusalem, without injuring the city or temple? Who obtained the title of king of Judea from the Roman Senate? What was the character of Herod? What most illustrious, most important character was born in the reign of Herod? In what epocha of sacred history did the preceding events happen?

CHAP. XVII.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

It is most probable that the book of Job was written in the time of the ancient Patriarchs, before the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt. Some have imagined that its author