45E1 A SHORT VIEW OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. CHAP XHI. -Of the Return of the .Tewws from Captivity in Babylon, and the Rebuilding the City of Jerusalem, and the Temple. I. QUESTION. HOW long did the 'nationsof the Jews continue in their captivity, and their land lie desolate? A. Though their land lay not utterly desolate till the final destruction of Jerusalem, in tire days of Zedekiah, which was between fifty and sixty years before their first release ; yet, from their first captivity by Ne- buchadnezzar in former reigns, their land was in some measure desolate seventy years, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah ; See 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21. Jer. xxv. 11, 12. Here let it be observed, that as there were several seasons, and under different kings, when part of the children of Israel and Judah were carried into captivity, and several periods whence their desolations may commence; so there were several seasons also of their return and restoration; But the chief dura-. tion of their captivity and desolate circumstances was seventy years; See 2 Kings xxiv. 1, 2, 10-14. and chap. xxv. 11. compared with Ezra i. I, 2. and chap. vi. 1 -12. chap. vii. 7. and Nehem. ii. I, &c. 2. Q. Who gave them release from their captivity in Baby- lon ? A. When Babylon was taken by Cyrus, the general of the army under Darius, the king of the hiedes, the Assyrianor Babylonish empire was finished. After Darius's death, Cyrus himself became king of Persia, and he not only gave the people of the Jews a release, but gave them also a commission to re- build the temple, and restored to them the vessels of gold and silver ; and this he did by the hand Of Sheshbazzar, a prince of Judah ; Ezra i. 7-11. Note, Now was that prophecy fulfilled whiçh Isaiah pro- nounced above a hundred years before ; Is. xliv. 28. that it was Cyrus who should say to Jerusalem, Be thou built ; and to the temple, Bethy foundation laid ; and chapterxiv. 13. who should build the city of God, and releasehis captives. 3. Q. Which' of the tribes did accept of this commission, and return to their own land? A. There were many persons and families of several tribes of Israel, who took this oppor- tunity of returning ; yet it was chiefly those of Judah and Ben- jamin, with the priests and several of the levites, Who returned, and were -now all united under the name of Jews; Ezra, i. 5. and iv. 12. 4. Q. Who were their first leaders and directors ? A. Zerubbabel, a prince of Judah, of the seed royal, whose Chal- daick or Babylonish name was Sheshbazzar ; he was their prince or captain, and Jeshua or Joshua was their high-priest; Ezra
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