who did service in the house of God, from every kind of tax or tribute. Ezra, on receiving the decree of Artaxerxes, expressed his pious joy by blessing the Lord God of Israel, who had put such a thing in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord at Jerusalem.. When he had assembled the people who wished to accompany him, he remained with them in tents three days, during which he reviewed them, and settled the order of their journey. Finding that there were no Levites among them, he sent a deputation to Iddo, at: Casiphia, to require ministers for the house of God. These were called upon to accompany the travellers, and officiate for them in holy things by the way, as well as to be the bearers of the holy vessels, the freewill offerings of the people, and the offerings made by the king and his counsellors. As soon as these minisə ters arrived, Ezra proclaimed a solemn fast, and humbly: supplicated the guidance and protection of Almighty | God, for himself and all that were with him. How beautifully does this holy man explain the cause of his not requiring a convoy to guard his pious company, and their devoted treasures! "I was ashamed," says he, "to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way pr because we had spoken unto the king, saying, Thei hand of our God is upon all them for good, that seeke him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him."* Ezra experienced the blessing of him whose hope the Lord is,"+ and arrived safely at Jerusalem, four months after his first setting out. Hav ing rested three days, he began his public ministry by delivering up the vessels of silver and gold, by number Jeremiah xvii. 7.0 sat

** Ezra viii. 22.

and weight, to such of the priests and Levites as kept the treasures of the temple. At this time, also, those who had come with him offered burnt-offerings to the Lord, according to the original number of the tribes of Israel, as on a former occasion. Ezra's next care was to deliver the king's orders to the governors of the several provinces, who, complying with all that was required of them, gave assistance to the Jews, for the embellishment of the temple, and for the offerings to be made there. Thus far all was prosperous and pleasant; but the faithful minister had soon a very painful duty to perform; for some of the princes came to inform him that the people had made affinity with the idolatrous inhabitants of the land, and were thus seduced to follow their evil customs. Nor was this fatal transgression confined to the poorer sort of people only, for many of the princes and rulers had been conspicuously forward in it. The grief and dismay of Ezra at this intelligence deprived him of the power of utterance. Though he had not shared in the guilt of the people, he felt the deepest humility on account of it; and this was the prevailing sentiment of all who regarded the honour and authority of God, or considered the inevitable ruind to which a departure from him would expose them. Ezra knew that the sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart; therefore, at the time of the evening sacrifice, he made a public confession and supplication in the name of all the people; recounting God's mercies towards them, and expatiating on the sin and danger of rejecting his laws, as their forefathers had done. The devout sorrow of this excellent man had the desiredu effect, and his prayer received a merciful answer; for the Lord touched the hearts of the people with compunction, so that they shed tears of penitence; and

tion, affords a proof of the lively gratitude with which they acknowledged it.

The Jews still commemorate this deliverance annually during three days in the month Adar. The 13th they observe as a fast; because that day was fixed on for their destruction: the 14th and 15th they celebrate as a festival; being the days on which they triumphed over their enemies. The fast they call the fast of Esther; the festival is named the feast of Purim. On this occasion the Book of Esther is solemnly read in all their synagogues; and wherever the name of Haman occurs, they express their detestation of his character, by clapping with their hands, stamping with their feet, and exclaiming, "Let his memory perish."

LETTER XIX.

ཀྭ

IN reviewing the Book of Esther, I have deviated from the regular order of time, that I might not interrupt the course of that wonderful narrative. The plot of Haman was defeated in the twelfth year of Artaxerxes; but there are many important events recorded of the Jews at Jerusalem, which took place at an earlier period of his reign. For information respecting these, we must tuṛn to the seventh chapter of the Book of Ezra. How this excellent man obtained from the king all that he requested, or by what means he was introduced to his notice, we are not positively told. He very properly ascribes all to the Great First Cause, the hand of the Lord his God upon him; but commentators have inferred that Esther was in some way instrumental to the

favour shown him by Artaxerxes; and there is no reason for rejecting the inference, as she was at that time received into the king's house, and greatly beloved, by him, though not yet raised to the dignity of queen. Ezra had prepared his heart, not only to seek the law of his God, and to do it, but also to teach it in Israel; and the Lord graciously answered the desires of his heart, and disposed the king to empower him fully to proceed in the work he was about to undertake. By the decree of Artaxerxes, Ezra was appointed governor of Judah and: Jerusalem; with authority to establish every thing according to the laws of God; and with the power of life and death, to see that those laws were taught and enforced. To all who were willing to embrace this opportunity of returning to the land of Judah, the king gave permission to accompany Ezra; and fourteen hundred and forty-six persons, with their families, took advantage of this permission. The king and his counsellors sent offerings of great value for the service of the God of Israel; and empowered Ezra not only to raise a contribution among the Jews in Babylonia, but to apply to the king's treasurers in Syria and Palestine, for whatever more was needful for the house of God. Artaxerxes seems to have been acquainted with the decrees of Cyrus and Darius; for there is a remarkable similarity to them in that which he enacted. In the latter part of it, he enjoins that whatever was ordered by the God of heaven, should be done diligently; lest there should be wrath against the king and his sons, which plainly indicates that he was not ignorant of the judgments God had inflicted on the princes of other nations. As a farther testimony of his veneration, the king exempted the priests, Levites, and all others

many of the rulers came to Ezra, and offered to enter. into a covenant, that all the strange wives, with the children they had borne, should be put away. "Arise," said they, "for this matter belongeth unto thee; we also will be with thee; be of good courage and do it.” Thus encouraged, Ezra immediately arose and exacted from the priests, the Levites, and the people, an oath that they would do according to this proposal of the princes. When he had thus brought them into a solemn covenant, he consented to remain in one of the priest's chambers; though he still observed a rigid fast on account of the transgression of the people. A proclamation was next issued, requiring all the people to assemble at Jerusalem within three days, under the penalty of being severed from the congregation, and of forfeiting their possessions. This assembly took place in the ninth month, in a season of much rain; there fore when Ezra called upon the people to acknowledge and forsake their transgression, they consented with one voice to do so; but begged him to send them back to their several cities, and cite them from thence, suce. cessively, till all should have complied with his requisi-: tions; and the wrath of God should be, turned from them. Ezra yielded to their desire, and with the assistance of some of the princes, examined and decided all the causes that were brought before them during three months, till they had made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives; among whom were ↑ many of the priests, Levites, and nobles of Israel. Alba who were convicted, agreeing to do according to the law of God, and to abide by the oath they had made, presented a ram of the flock for their trespass.* This transaction closes the Book of Ezra; but we shall noti: * Leviticus vi. 6.