Synopsis of Jewish History

e Jews in the days

osts of honor, who distinguished themselves in the discharge of those duties imposed on them in their several appointments. Of the great number of the people who had been carried into captivity, scarcely more than fifty thousand returned to Jerusalem, and those were principally of the poorer classe

the edict, the Chief of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Babylon, with the Priests and Levites; and as many who retained a love for their country and a zeal for the honor of their God, were disposed to return to that once happy land, and now came and signified their intention of returning. The w

observe it, as it was practised in the palmy days of their Fathers; and Nehemiah, who built the walls of the City, and ably assisted Ezra in his good work in introducing and ultimately effecting a great and solid improvement among the people. This book embraces a period of about one hundred and forty-six years, and the acts thereof were accomplished during the reigns of six successive Persian Monarchs, viz: Cyrus, Darius,

t desirous to go up to Jerusalem were permitted to do so freely and safely; and furthermore, that they should take with them presents direct from the King himself, as a proof of his sanction and approbation. In the middle of March, about the year

hanksgiving, to implore the blessing and protection of God. He then proceeded on his journey, and arrived safely with all

ad it publicly read to all the people. He then delivered up to the Treasury and the Priests, all the presents which ha

of them their Commission, empowering them to enforce the L

lf with the faithful discharge of every part of his sacred duty, with unfeigned and pious zeal and assiduity. And still i

ing Chapter, succeeded Ezra as Governor or Viceroy, and he brought with hi

ll the sacred Books, revised and corrected them. He then divided and fixed the number of Books to twenty-four, such as are now in use among the Hebrew Nation, called the Old Testament. Ezra was learned and well versed in them all; his high station and authority enabled him to collect the best copies from which to take the standard. In addition to all this, Ezra b

aw as read in the Jewish Church; besides, if we take into our consideration that Moses either wrote himself, or had written, thirteen copies of the Pentateuch, one of which he gave to each of the twelve Tribes, and the other he dep

ty. Ezra, himself, was raised upon the middle of the platform, and on each side of him stood the Priests, who were assistants and interpreters; and as Ezra read the Law in the Hebrew, the Priests explained it to the people in the Chaldee language, which had become familiar to them in consequence of their long sojourn in

them in the Greek language, after that the Bible had been translated into that language. From this circumstance it arose that those of the people

orms of Thanksgiving composed since the return from Babylon, on the blessings of Liberty and freedom from bondage. This pious and truly religious man composed also the service used at the dedication of the new Temple; and he carefully arr

rrect editions of the Holy Scripture-as during the captivity at Babylon, many copies had been lost, and many of them had been destroyed by the enemy-those which remained were chiefly in the ha

made up into a roll according to the ancient manner, and in the same form as used now among the Israelites of the present day. This very eminent, pious and good man, may truly be said

roduced at the Court of Persia; and to whom he had rendered every assistance in his power to enable him t

me suppose that he died and was buried in Jerusalem-others again assert that in his old age Ezra returned to the Court of Persia, and died there at the adv