out of respect for the memory of Cyrus; instead of proceeding of his own authority to put a stop to their labours, thought it best to write an account of the whole affair to Darius, his sovereign." Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands; and then relating the inquiries he had made, and their answers, he adds; Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus, the king, to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."*

Darius having received this letter, ordered a search to be made for the decree of Cyrus among the records at Babylon; but not being, as is supposed, found in that city, he directed the search to be pursued at Achmetha,† or Ecbatana, the capital of Media, where it was found, and where Cyrus, therefore, probably was when he pronounced the decree.§

Upon this discovery, Darius immediately directed an edict to Tatnai, Shethar-boznai, and his companions, the Apharsachites, to let the work of this house of God alone; "Let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in his place. Moreover, I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil,

Wells, i. 101. Prid. i. 50. 61. 218. 231. "A summer palace of the kings of Persia, in India." A. CLARKE.

§ Scott in loco. Prid. i. 231.

See post in the reign of Hoshea.

according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Also, I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God, which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree; let it be done with speed.”*

Tatnai, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, immediately made the Jews acquainted with this command; and the Jews proceeded rapidly with the building of the temple, so that it was completed in three years.†

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, and offered at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and, for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem as it is written in the book of Moses.+

Then too did the redeemed of Jehovah sing, Praise ye Jehovah. Praise Jehovah, O my soul. While I live will I

* Ezra, vi. 6-12.

+ Ezra, vi. 13-15. "The publishing of this decree at Jerusalem may be reckoned the thorough restoration of the Jewish state; and from the thorough destruction of it, in the burning of the city and temple of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, to this time is just seventy years." Prid. i. 232.

Ezra, vi. 16-18. Numb. iii. 6. viii. 9.

praise Jehovah. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah, his God: who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for the oppressed: who giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners: Jehovah openeth the eyes of the blind: Jehovah raiseth them that are bowed down: Jehovah loveth the righteous: Jehovah preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. Jehovah shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye Jehovah.

Praise ye Jehovah: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is Jehovah, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Jehovah lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp, unto our God who covereth the heaven with clouds; who prepareth rain for the earth; who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the

wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, his
word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he
scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice
like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out
his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow,
and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob; his
statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so
with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not
known them. Praise ye Jehovah.
Praise ye Jehovah.
praise him in the heights.
praise ye him, all his hosts.
praise him, all ye stars of light.
heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them
praise the name of Jehovah: for he commanded, and they
were created. He hath also established them for ever and
ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise
Jehovah from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire, and
hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars :
beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
kings of the earth, and all people: princes, and all judges
of the earth: both young men, and maidens; old men, and
children: let them praise the name of Jehovah: for his name
alone is excellent: his glory is above the earth and heaven.
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his
saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.
Praise ye Jehovah.*

Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens:
Praise ye him, all his angels:
Praise ye him, sun and moon:
Praise him, ye heavens of

The temple being thus rebuilt, and the Jewish polity in a measure restored, the captives who remained in Babylon

*Ps. cxlvi. cxlvii. cxlviii. "In the Septuagint version these psalms are styled the Psalms of Haggai and Zechariah, as if they had been composed by them for this occasion; and this no doubt was from some ancient tradition." Prid. i. 239.

doubted the propriety of continuing the observance of those fasts, which they had strictly kept during the last seventy years; and, therefore, sent Sherezer and Regemmelech, to pray before Jehovah, and consult the priests and prophets, whether they should weep in the fifth month, and separate themselves as they had done so many years.*

To this inquiry, God saw fit by the prophet Zechariah, to vouchsafe the following answer; Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying; When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Should ye not hear the words which Jehovah hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?

Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of Hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets; therefore, came a great wrath from Jehovah of Hosts. Therefore, it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear; saith Jehovah of Hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

Zech. vii. 1-3.