Introduction to the Book of Ezra

The Book of Ezra is a natural continuation of those of Chronicles, and has apparently been put together by the same compiler. Hebrew tradition ascribes its authorship to Ezra himself, "a ready scribe." While this can not be correct as applied to the entire book, yet in some passages Ezra's words are given in the first person, as though spoken directly. Evidently, the editor or chronicler has incorporated the personal memoirs of Ezra, which constitute a source of first-class historical information. This is especially important, since the chronicler himself lived at a later time. In addition to these memoirs he used a series of documents containing the correspondence of the Persian Kings, which were written in Aramaic, which was the diplomatic language of the Persian court for its official business in Syria, Palestine and Egypt.

The book is divided into two parts. The six opening chapters tell of the first return of some portion of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity. This migration occurred in 537-6 B.C. under the direction of Sheshbazzar. Whether he was the same as Zerubbabel, who is afterward mentioned as the active leader, or whether Zurubbabel was his nephew, at any rate he was a descendant of the former kings of Judah. Cyrus had made him Persian governor of the province Judea. The return of these exiles seems to have been actuated largely by religious motives; and the chief effort of the colonists was devoted at first to the rebuilding of the Temple. But untoward circumstances and the opposition of hostile neighbors delayed this work for many years. Under the influence of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah it was taken up again, and the temple was completed

in 516 B.C.

After this there is in the book an unnoted gap of time during which sixty years elapse; and chapter seven begins the personal experiences of Ezra. Eighty years after the first migration Ezra led a second host of the Jews back to their native land. Under his guidance a vigorous religious reformation was inaugurated.

820

Zimri's Fate

BY A. D. RAHN, A CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ARTIST.

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"And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died."I. Kings, 16, 18.

Ο

NLY one sin is recorded against the good king

Asa. When his savage enemies of the kingdom of Israel threatened him, he hired the Syrians from the north to attack them; and when a prophet reproved him for not trusting instead to God and to his own strength, Asa, grown irritable with age, cast the prophet into prison. Therefore God afflicted the king with disease, until he died.

Meanwhile the tumults of Israel presented a sad contrast to Judah's peace. Jeroboam died; his son was slain by treacherous plotters, and his entire family wiped out. The murderer usurped the throne. Against him the Syrians warred, urged on by King Asa; and thus Israel was laid desolate. The son of this usurper was also slain by conspirators, murdered during a drunken revel. His family and all his friends were exterminated; and various savage chieftains fought among themselves for sovereignty over their bleeding and despairing country.

During one week Zimri, the late king's actual murderer, held the royal palace against all comers. Then it was stormed by a rival general, Omri. Zimri, in fury and despair, himself set fire to the palace, and perished, fighting amid the flames.