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to the Almighty, that his government w in its very beginning. He had not reigr months before he was alarmed by the ap: Nebuchadnezzar, who sent him and t court captive to Babylon; stripped the palace, and treasury, the second time Zedekiah upon the throne, after compe to promise a certain tribute, and to tak of fealty.

This new monarch, who was the son and uncle to Jehoiachin, proved as un the recent judgments, and as irreligio of his predecessors. He, however, reta session of his kingdom some years by payment of the stipulated tribute; du. time he received embassies from the Moab, Ammon, Edom, Tyre, and S. he was at length persuaded to shake off lonish yoke, and, by that means, ha total destruction of Jerusalem; as nezzar immediately advanced at the numerous army, wasted the country, the most important fortresses, and laid to the metropolis.

Zedekiah now perceived the fatal co of his rash enterprise, and sent to prophet Jeremiah," whose counsel he ha slighted; but the approach of Pharaoh compelling the invaders to raise the began to suppose the danger was I mistaken opinion, however, was 800 by the return of Nebuchadnezzar, sequent scarcity of provision. D siege, Jeremiah earnestly exhorte the impending ruin by time tead of adopting this ex

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CHAP. II.

THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS, FROM THEIR RE-' TURN FROM THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY, TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY TITUS VESPASIAN.

SECT. I.

From the Return out of Babylon to the Death of Nehemiah.

B.C. THE Jews, having remained seventy 536. years in captivity, according to the

prediction of Jeremiah, were at length permitted, by the decree of Cyrus, to return to their native land, and to rebuild that sacred edifice, which had been ever regarded as the immediate habitation of God, till reiterated crimes provoked his vengeance, and induced him to leave it de fenceless to the enemy.

The king's edict was no sooner made public, than the chiefs of Judah and Benjamin, together with the priests and Levites, assembled, in order to revisit their beloved country. Their example was imitated by all those who had a zeal

*It must be observed, that the men of Israel and Judah were blended together, from this time, under the name of Yews, as many persons of the ten tribes took this oppornity of returning to the land of their forefathers.

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for the God of Israel; and even those who preferred a residence in Babylon to the purposed removal, cheerfully furnished their brethren with such articles as were requisite either for their journey, or for the building of the temple and city.

The number of those who returned, under the conduct of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, amounted to forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, beside their servants of both sexes, who were in all, seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. Mention is also made of two hundred men and women singers, four hundred and thirty-five camels, seven hundred and thirtysix horses, two hundred and forty-five mules, and six thousand seven hundred asses.

By this account the reader may see how small the number was of those who returned, in comparison of those who chose to continue in Babylon. Even of the priests only four classes returned; but these, immediately after their arrival, subdivided themselves in such a manner as to make up the original number of twenty-four. The Levites, singers, and other officers of the temple, took up their abode in or near Jerusalem, that they might wait on the service of their God, by rearing up his altar, and preparing all things against the first solemnity; while the rest of the people were occupied in planning their future habitations, or in searching for such of their brethren as Nebuchadnezzar had left in the cir cumjacent country.

On the first day of the month, Tishri, the new year was proclaimed by the sound of the trumpet; the 10th of the same month was the grand fast of expiation; and the 15th ushered in the f

of tabernacles, which was celebrated with the usual solemnities.

It was now unanimously resolved to commence the important task of rebuilding the temple: a voluntary contribution, therefore, was made by each individual according to his ability; timber was procured, and workmen hired, to execute the design with all possible dispatch.

B. C.

In the second month of the following 534. year, the foundation was laid with great solemnity in the presence of the go vernor, the high priest, and all the congregation while the air resounded with vocal and in strumental music, and the contemplation of God's mercy produced loud and frequent acclamations These expressions of rapturous delight, how ever, were by no means general; as many of the priests and Levites, who had seen the sumptuo temple that was destroyed with their unhappy city, could not forbear uttering the most sorrow ful lamentations, while they considered the ins feriority of the present plan..

The Samaritans, whom Esar-Haddon, king of Assyria, sent from Cuthath to repeople the country from which he had carried the tell tribes of Israel, now tendered their assistance to wards the complétion of the new building. But when the Jews declined their proposal, alleging that it would be a dishonour to their nation, to admit strangers to a participation of their work: these pretended friends were suddenly changed into the most implacable enemies, and eagerly embraced every, opportunity of vilifying and distressing their new neighbours.

In consequence of their malicious suggestions, the Jews were represented to Cyrus as a rebellions

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