Lesson 11

Return from Captivity

Old Testament Division--Fifth Period

LEADING EVENTS AND PERSONS

#Return from Captivity.#--After seventy years, Cyrus, king of Persia, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1-11). Altar set up once more (Ezra 3:1-7). The Temple begun (Ezra 3:8, and following pa.s.sages). The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people (see books under their names).

#Sixty years# elapsed of which we know nothing.

#Ezra goes# to Jerusalem to inst.i.tute reforms, such as prohibiting mixed marriages of Jews with other nations (Ezra 7:1 to 9:15). He interpreted the law (Neh. 8:1-18) and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles.

#Nehemiah#, cup-bearer to Artaxerxes, the king. Became solicitous for the city of Jerusalem and its broken walls, prayed for guidance, and was rewarded by the king's a.s.sistance (Neh. 1:1 to 2:8). Opposed by Sanballat (Neh.

2:19, 20; 4:1-8; 6:1-14). A great popular religious festival was held (Neh. 8:1-18). Judah was set apart from strangers (Neh. 9:1-38; 13:1-3). The law of the Sabbath was enforced (Neh. 13:15-22).

#TIME.#--538 B. C. to about 400 B. C.

#PLACES.#--Babylon, Jerusalem.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--The return to Jerusalem and the inst.i.tution of reforms were events of tremendous import to the Jews, and the faithfulness of a few men was given high recognition. The rebuilding of the Temple and reconstruction of the city walls looked forward through four centuries to the fitting setting for the scene of the coming Messiah.

The Captivity and the Return

#95. Condition During Captivity.#--The captivity of Judah lasted seventy years, dating from the first captivity under Jehoiakim, 605 B. C., when among others Daniel was taken captive. The lot of the captives in Babylon was bad enough, but it was not by any means as severe as the bondage in Egypt. Quite a number of the captives, such as Daniel, Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, occupied positions of great trust and emolument. Still, by the rivers of Babylon, Judah did mourn and weep, as her people thought of Jerusalem and its vanished glories.

#96. The Return.#--The seventy years having been completed G.o.d stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, and he issued a decree allowing all Jews who so desired to return to their own land. He also gave them many vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadrezzar had taken from the Temple, that they might use them in the new house of G.o.d which they were to build. Zerubbabel led the caravan from Babylon to Jerusalem. Arrived in Jerusalem, they began their work by erecting the altar first. This was right, as the altar was the foundation of all the temple services. Altars existed long before temples had been built. For a while the building of the temple was interrupted by the foes of Judah, but at last it was completed, the people being encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. So they dedicated the temple with much joy, and restored the sacrifices as Moses, the man of G.o.d, had commanded. For all of this see Ezra 1-6 and the books of Haggai and Zechariah.

#97. Ezra.#--Now comes a period of about 60 years, in which we have no knowledge of the condition of affairs in Jerusalem. At last, however, Ezra, the scribe, goes up to the Holy City, and with him a number of patriotic Jews. The work of Zerubbabel was the rebuilding of the temple. That of Ezra was emphatically the reformation of religion among those who were in Judah and Jerusalem. There was much danger that through intermarriages with the people of the land the Jews would again abandon the religion of their fathers. A large part of Ezra's effort was aimed against this evil. The people declared their willingness to do as Ezra dictated, and so the danger from this direction was for the time being avoided.

#98. Nehemiah.#--Soon after this we come to the story of Nehemiah. He was cupbearer to Artaxerxes, a position of much ease and wealth. But the welfare of Jerusalem lay near his heart, and he made it his business to know how matters were progressing in that city. Certain of his brethren at one time brought him evil tidings from there. In consequence he betook himself to prayer that G.o.d would give him such favor in the eyes of the king that he would allow him to go to Jerusalem and build the walls that had been thrown down. In those days a city without walls was in a pitiful condition, exposed to the a.s.saults of all its foes. For four months Nehemiah prayed without any visible answer. Then it came at last in a moment. One day at the table the king noticed that the face of his cupbearer was sad. "Why is thy countenance sad?" he inquired. Then Nehemiah (after an instant of silent prayer) told the king all that was in his heart. At once the permission was given him for which he had waited and prayed for four months. So off he started as soon as possible.

#99. Nehemiah's Prayer.#--Note just here the nature of Nehemiah's prayer. It was not like so many modern prayers, one for _ease_. No, it was a prayer for opportunity to make _sacrifice_ and bear _heavy burdens_ for the sake of Jerusalem. If all the church were in this day to pray for an opportunity to bear burdens and make sacrifices, what do you think the effect would be on the advance of the kingdom of G.o.d on earth?

No sooner did Nehemiah reach Jerusalem than he inspected the walls to see exactly the condition in which they were. Then he a.s.sembled the rulers and told them of his plans, and heartened them for the work. He divided the work among the families, thus giving each one a specific task, and encouraging the spirit of true rivalry. "To every man his work," seems to have been his excellent motto. So the people got to work with enthusiasm.

#100. Opposition.#--Of course there was no lack of opposition, for all good causes have opponents. But none of these things in any way moved this grand man from his purpose, or abated in any degree his enthusiasm. With sword in one hand and trowel in the other the people pushed the work forward, while over all Nehemiah watched with unceasing care. His vigilance is apparent from the fact that for nearly two months he never put off his clothes. So in fifty-two days the work was completed, and the people's hearts were filled with joy.

Under his rule was gathered what has sometimes been called the first Sunday-school on record (Neh. 8). He knew that it was on account of the ignorance of the people of the Word that they fell so easily into sin. So he gathered them all together, and Ezra read and explained the law of Moses in their hearing. In this connection, too, they celebrated the feast of tabernacles, in commemoration of the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness.

#101.# Ever watchful of the spiritual welfare of his people, Nehemiah inst.i.tuted reforms in the matter of Sabbath-keeping, and of usury, and of idolatrous intermarriages with the people of the land. His labors never ceased, for he seems to have realized that "eternal vigilance"

was the price of true G.o.dliness, in the midst of idolatrous surroundings.

#102. Results of the Captivity.#--In this matter of the captivity, the most important thing for us to bear in mind is that the people were cured by their experience of all forms of idolatry. Up to that time this had been their besetting sin, into which they were ever falling.

From the time of the captivity and return onward to the present day the Jew has been a strict monotheist. Though scattered to the ends of the earth, never again has he fallen into this pit of iniquity and this slough of despond. This is a most remarkable fact.

Test Questions

How long did the captivity of Judah last?

Give the three most prominent names of those who had to do with the return and the subsequent reforms.

Who first led the Jews up out of Babylon?

What was the chief work of Zerubbabel?

How did he begin the building of the temple?

Name the two prophets who encouraged the people in this work

How long a period is there between Zerubbabel and Ezra?

What was Ezra's chief work in Jerusalem?

What was Nehemiah's position at the court of Artaxerxes?

For what in reality was Nehemiah praying?

How long was his prayer unanswered?

How long was Nehemiah in building the walls?

What ill.u.s.tration is given of his fidelity to this work?

What other reforms did Nehemiah strive to inaugurate?

What is the most noticeable thing about the religious life of Judah during and after the captivity?

Text Questions for Review

Lessons 6 to 11

1. In what order were the various parts of the land of Canaan conquered?

2. What was the cause of each period of oppression in the time of the Judges?

3. Who brought relief from the oppression of Midian?

4. What was the political condition of the people in the time of the Judges?

5. What reasons did the Israelites offer for wanting a king?