defolate seventy Years, according to the Prophecy of Jeremiah. See 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21. Jer. xxv. II

12.

Here let it be observed, that as there were several Seafons, and under different Kings, when Part of the Children of Ifrael and Judah were carried into Captivity, and feveral Periods whence their Defolations may commence; fo there were feveral Seasons alfo of their Return and Reftoration: But the chief Duration of their Captivity and defolate Circumftances was seventy Years. See 2 Kings xxiv. 1, 2, 10-14. and xxv. 11, compared with Ezra i. 1, 2. and vi, 1—12. and vii. 7. and Nehem. ii. 1, &c.

2 Q. Who gave them a Releafe from their Captivity in Babylon? A. When Babylon was taken by Cyrus, the General of the Army under Darius the King of the Medes, the Affyrian or Babylonifh Empire was finished. After Darius's Death, Cy rus himself became King of Perfia, and he not only gave the People of the Jews a Release, but gave them alfo a Commiffion to rebuild the Temple, and restored to them the Veffels of Gold and Silver; and this he did by the Hand of Shefbazzar, a Prince of Judah, Ezra i.

Note, Now was that Prophecy fulfilled which Isaiah pronounced above a hundred Years before, Ifa. xliv. 28. that it was Cyrus who should say to Jerufalem, Be thou built, and to the Temple, Be thy Foundation laid; and chap. xlv. 13. who fhould build the City of God, and release his Captives.

3Q. Which of the Tribes did accept of this Com miffion, and return to their own Land? A. There were many Perfons and Families of feveral Tribes of Ifrael, who took this Opportunity of returning; yet it was chiefly thofe of Judah and Benjamin,

G5

with

with the Priest, and several of the Levites, who returned, and were now all united under the Name of Jews. Ezra i. 5. and iv. 12.

4 Q. Who were their firft Leaders and Directors? A. Zerubbabel, a Prince of Judah, of the Seed-Royal, whofe Chaldaick or Babylonish Name was Shefbazzar; he was their Prince or Captain, and Fefbua or Fofbua was their High-Priest. Exra i. 11. and ii. 2. and iii. 8. compared with v. 14, 16. and Zech. iii. and iv.

Note, This Shefbazzar or Zerubbabel was the Son of Salathiel, the Son of Jehoiachin, or Jechoniah, King of Judab: He was made Governor of the Land, under the Title of Tirfhatha, by a Commiffion from Cyrus. Jeshua was the Son of Jozadack, or Jofedech, the Son of Seraiah, who was High-Prieft when Jerufalem was deftroyed, and who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar.

5 Q. What was the first thing they did after their Return? A. They made a large Contribution towards the Rebuilding of the Temple, they gathered themselves together to Jerufalem, they fet up the Altar of the God of Ifrael, and offered Sacrifices upon it. Ezra ii. 68. and iii. 1-6.

6Q In what manner did they lay the Foundation of the Temple ? A. While the Builders laid. the Foundation, the Priefts and the Levites fung and praised the Lord with Trumpets, and other Inftruments, after the Ordinance of David. Exra iii. 10, II.

7 Q. What remarkable Occurrences attended the laying of the Foundation of the Temple? A. While the younger part of the People fhouted for Joy many of the ancient Fathers wept with a loud Voice, when they remembered how much more glorious the firft Temple was than the second was like to be. ver. 12, 13. and Hag. ii. 3.

Here

Here it may be obferved, that though the Foundation of the fecond Temple ftood on the fame Compass of Ground as the firft, yet a Company of poor Exiles returning from a long Captivity, could not promife or hope for fo glorious a Building as the Temple of Solomon, neither in the Richness of the Materials, nor in the Magnificence and Curiofity of the Workmanfhip. See Prideaux's Connections, VOL. I. p. 143.

The Jews alfo generally fuppofe five Things to be wanting in the fecond Temple, after it was finifhed, which did belong to the first; viz. (1.) The Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy-feat which was upon it, with the Cherubs of Gold, together with the Tables of Stone in which the Law was written, which were in the Ark when it was brought into Solomon's Temple. 1 Kings viii. 9. 2 Chron. v. 10. though one would think they should have made an Ark and a Mercy-feat, before which the High Priest should officiate once a Year. Some learned Men suppose there was fuch an Ark made, and that Ezra's correct Copy of the Bible was laid up in it: And that it is in imitation of this that the prefent Jews in all their Synagogues have fuch an Ark or Coffer wherein they keep the Law. (2.) The Shechinah, or divine Prefence in a Cloud of Glory on the Mercy-Seat. (3.) The Urim and Thummim, whence: the Cracle came, or divine Answers to their Enquiries. (4.) The Holy Fire upon the Altar, which came from Heaven. (5.) The Spirit of Prophecy for though Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi lived while the fecond Temple was building, and prophefied after it was built, yet on their Death the Prophetick Spirit ceased from among them.

8 Q. What was the first Hindrance they found in the Building of the Temple? A. The Samaritans defired to join with them in their Building, and because the Jews forbid them, they gave them continual Trouble in the Days of Cyrus. Ezra iv. 1-5.

9 Q

9 Q. What was the fecond Hindrance they met with? A. When Artaxerxes the first came to the Throne of Perfia, thefe People wrote an Accufation against the Jews, that the City of Jerufalem had been rebellious in former Times; where upon Artaxerxes caufed the Work to cease till the fecond Year of Darius. ver. 7-24.

Note, This was not Darius the firft King, and he who took Babylon, and released Daniel from the Lion's Den; but another, who reigned several Years after him, and was called Darius Hyftafpes, as the beft Authors affert: And this alfo was long before that Darius whom Alexander fubdued, and put an End to the Pers fian Kingdom.

Here let it be observed in general, that it is not a very easy Matter for learned Men to agree exactly in adjufting the Time of all thefe Events, and the particular Accomplishment of every Prophecy, becaufe there were feveral Kings of the fame Name, (viz.) three or four Artaxerxes's, and three or more Darius's, &c. And there were four Decrees from the Kings of Perfia in favour of the Jews: The firft from Cyrus to Zerubbabel, or Shefbazzar, a Prince of Judah. Ezra i. 18.. The fecond, from Darius the fecond, to the Enemies of the Jews, to forbid their Hindrance of the Work. Ezra. vi. 1-7. The third, from Artaxerxes the fecond to Ezra, recorded in Ezra vii. 11. The fourth from the fame Artaxerxes to Nehemiah, written in Nehem. ii. 1-9.

10 Q. Who perfuaded the Jews to go on with their Work under the Reign of this Darius? A. The Prophets of God which were with them, encouraged and required them in the Name of the Lord, to go on with the Work of the Temple; for feveral of them were too negligent, and God pu

nished them for it with Scarcity of Corn and Wine. Ezra v. 1, 2. Hag. i. 2, 4, 11. Zech. i. 7, &c. and chap. iii. and iv.

IIQ. What Encouragement did they meet with from the Perfian Court? A. The Governors of the Provinces at this Time feeing them renew their Building, fent to enquire, concerning the Order which Cyrus gave for it; and Dàrius hav-. ing found this Order among the Records of Babylon gave a fresh Command for the Rebuilding of the Houfe of God, Ezra v. 3-17. and vi.. 114.

12Q. When was the Temple finished? A. Through many Delays, arifing partly from the Negligence of the Jews, partly from the Oppofition of their Enemies, it was twenty Years in building: Nor was it finished till the fixth Year of the Reign of Darius, at which Time they dedicated it with. many Sacrifices, and kept the Passover with Joy. Ezra vi. 15-22.

Here it may be worthy of our Observation, that : the threatned Destruction of Babylon kept pace with the promised Restoration and Joy of the Jews. It was Cyrus, who as General of the Army of Darius the firft took Babylon by Siege with Blood, and Slaughter, who alfo releafed the captive Jews when he came to be King of Perfia. Then the River was turned in upon the Country round it, which Isaiah foretold, chap. xiv. 23. And it became a Poffeffion for Bitterns, and Pools of Water, and the Sea covered it. Yet Babylon was not then destroyed: But when the Babylonians revolted in the fifth Year of Darius Heftafpes, and he befieged them with a vaft Army, their Defolation was very great: They themselves flew almost all their Women and young Children, to make their Provisions hold

out