The Widow of Zarephath BY ABRAHAM BLOEMAERT, THE DUTCH MASTER, DIED 1658. "And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks.”—I. Kings, 17, 10. T HE drought which Elijah had foretold was of long duration, and terrible consequence to Israel. The streams dried up, the harvests failed, the cattle died. Ahab and Jezebel sent through all the land searching minutely for Elijah, whom they looked upon as the author of all this misery. They meant to slay him; but he was not found. Then, at length, even his blessed brook of Cherith dried up; and God's word came to him that he should leave the wilderness and go to the land of Zidon or Sidon, the very centre of Baal worship, and should dwell there in the city of Zarephath, at the house of a widow. Nowise doubting the divine command, nowise fearing at thus entering the stronghold of his enemies, Elijah obeyed. To reach Sidon he must have crossed all the breadth of Israel, but he was not molested. At length weary and travel-stained, he reached the gate of Zarephath and there beheld, as he had expected, a widow woman. Poverty-stricken and feeble, she was picking up outside the gate a few mites of fire-wood. With her probably was her one little son, whom tradition declares to have afterward become the prophet Jonah. Elijah asked the woman for a drink of water. EZRA VI-DARIUS RENEWS THE DECREE 829 unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. 17 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. Chapter 6 1 Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, maketh a new decree for the advancement of the building. 13 By the help of the enemies, and the directions of the prophets, the temple is finished. 16 The feast of the dedication is kept, 19 and the passover. HEN Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar |