pie themselves had “a mind to work,” while over and above this, God was with them, supematurally blessing the labor. Other factors of impor tance also should be considered. There was a large force of work men, not only from Jerusalem, but also from all the outlying villages. The ruins of the previous wall con tained large quantities of stones. It is quite possible that additional ma terial also had been stockpiled before the work actually began. The closing verses of the sixth chapter apparent ly refer to the period of construction rather than to the time after the wall was finished. In chapter seven, verses 1-4 Nehe- miah makes provision for rule in Jerusalem. The wall having been completed, and assignments of Le- vites to their posts having been made, Nehemiah evidently contem plated returning to Persia. So pro vision was made for rule during his absence. He appointed Hanani his brother, and Hananiah the officer in charge of the fortress adjoining the temple, to be co-rulers while he was away. As a first step toward remedying the uninhabited condition of the city, Nehemiah undertook to make a cen sus of all the people. He finds the register of those who returned with Zerubbabel (7:5-73). Chapter 8 opens by telling how Ezra read the law to the people (w. 1-3). The reading was done on the first day of the seventh month. In a large open square before the wa ter gate, Ezra read the Law of Moses — the Torah (or Pentateuch) — from early morning until noon. When the people heard the law, they wept, realizing how they had broken it (w. 9-12). However, Nehe miah and Ezra urged them not to weep. The day was that of the feast of trumpets, an occasion of rejoicing, not of sadness. Ezra told them to go and feast instead, especially remem bering the poor. When the Levites also encouraged them in the same
direction, the people did as they were advised. It is an almost invariable rule that earnest listening to the clear teach ing of God’s Word whets the spirit ual appetite for more. Thus it was with these Israelites of the restora tion period. When the people learned that the feast of tabernacles was to be observed, it was decided that they would keep it exactly as the law had prescribed (8:13-18). Because of the nature of the sea son, the people previously had been restrained from the sorrow they felt on learning how far they had strayed from God’s holy law. Now that the feast of tabernacles was over, we find in chapter 9 that they met once again — this time for fasting and confession of sin (w . 1-3). Once more there was a time of Bible read ing, lasting for three hours. Then there was a period of similar length devoted to confession of sin. At the close of this general time of confes sion, a number of Levites “stood up continued from page 2 THE BIOLAHOUR OTHER STATES Albuquerque, New Mexico KARA 1310 8:00 A.M .M TW TF Caldwell-Boise
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