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rom the king no armed force for protection。 〃I was ashamed；〃 he has explained； 〃to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way： because we had spoken unto the king； saying； The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him； but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him。〃 Verse 22。
In this matter； Ezra and his companions saw an opportunity to magnify the name of God before the heathen。 Faith in the power of the living God would be strengthened if the Israelites themselves should now reveal implicit faith in their divine Leader。 They therefore determined to put their trust wholly in Him。 They would ask for no guard of soldiers。 They would give the heathen no occasion to ascribe to the strength of man the glory that belongs to God alone。 They could not afford to arouse in the minds of their heathen friends one doubt as to the sincerity of their dependence on
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God as His people。 Strength would be gained； not through wealth； not through the power and influence of idolatrous men； but through the favor of God。 Only by keeping the law of the Lord before them； and striving to obey it； would they be protected。
This knowledge of the conditions under which they would continue to enjoy the prospering hand of God； lent more than ordinary solemnity to the consecration service that was held by Ezra and his company of faithful souls just before their departure。 〃I proclaimed a fast there； at the river of Ahava；〃 Ezra has declared of this experience； 〃that we might afflict ourselves before our God； to seek of Him a right way for us； and for our little ones； and for all our substance。〃 〃So we fasted and besought our God for this： and He was entreated of us。〃 Verses 21； 23。
The blessing of God； however； did not make unnecessary the exercise of prudence and forethought。 As a special precaution in safeguarding the treasure； Ezra 〃separated twelve of the chief of the priests〃men whose faithfulness and fidelity had been proved〃and weighed unto them the silver； and the gold； and the vessels； even the offering of the house of our God； which the king； and his counselors； and his lords； and all Israel there present； had offered。〃 These men were solemnly charged to act as vigilant stewards over the treasure entrusted to their care。 〃Ye are holy unto the Lord；〃 Ezra declared； 〃the vessels are holy also； and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers。 Watch ye； and keep them； until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites；
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and chief of the fathers of Israel； at Jerusalem； in the chambers of the house of the Lord。〃 Verses 24；25；28；29。
The care exercised by Ezra in providing for the transportation and safety of the Lord's treasure； teaches a lesson worthy of thoughtful study。 Only those whose trustworthiness had been proved were chosen； and they were instructed plainly regarding the responsibility resting on them。 In the appointment of faithful officers to act as treasures of the Lord's goods； Ezra recognized the necessity and value of order and organization in connection with the work of God。
During the few days that the Israelites tarried at the river； every provision was completed for the long journey。 〃We departed；〃 Ezra writes； 〃on the twelfth day of the first month； to go unto Jerusalem： and the hand of our God was upon us； and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy； and of such as lay in wait by the way。〃 Verse 31。 About four months were occupied on the journey； the multitude that accompanied Ezra； several thousand in all； including women and children； necessitating slow progress。 But all were preserved in safety。 Their enemies were restrained from harming them。 Their journey was a prosperous one； and on the first day of the fifth month； in the seventh year of Artaxerxes； they reached Jerusalem。
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Chapter 51
A Spiritual Revival
Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem was opportune。 There was great need of the influence of his presence。 His coming brought courage and hope to the hearts of many who had long labored under difficulties。 Since the return of the first company of exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua； over seventy years before； much had been accomplished。 The temple had been finished； and the walls of the city had been partially repaired。 Yet much remained undone。
Among those who had returned to Jerusalem in former years； there were many who had remained true to God as long as they lived； but a considerable number of the children and the children's children lost sight of the sacredness of God's law。 Even some of the men entrusted with responsibilities were living in open sin。 Their course was largely neutralizing the efforts made by others to advance the cause of God； for so long as flagrant violations of the law
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were allowed to go unrebuked； the blessing of Heaven could not rest upon the people。
It was in the providence of God that those who returned with Ezra had had special seasons of seeking the Lord。 The experiences through which they had just passed； on their journey from Babylon； unprotected as they had been by any human power； had taught them rich spiritual lessons。 Many had grown strong in faith； and as these mingled with the discouraged and the indifferent in Jerusalem； their influence was a powerful factor in the reform soon afterward instituted。
On the fourth day after the arrival； the treasures of silver and gold； with the vessels for the service of the sanctuary； were delivered by the treasures into the hands of the temple officers； in the presence of witnesses； and with the utmost exactitude。 Every article was examined 〃by number and by weight。〃 Ezra 8：34。
The children of the captivity who had returned with Ezra 〃offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel〃 for a sin offering and as a token of their gratitude and thanksgiving for the protection of holy angels during the journey。 〃And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants； and to the governors on this side the river： and they furthered the people； and the house of God。〃 Verses 35； 36。
Very soon thereafter a few of the chief men of Israel approached Ezra with a serious complaint。 Some of 〃the people of Israel； and the priests； and the Levites〃 had so far disregarded the holy commands of Jehovah as to intermarry
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with the surrounding peoples。 〃They have taken of their daughters for themselves； and for their sons；〃 Ezra was told； 〃so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people〃 of heathen lands； 〃yea； the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass。〃 Ezra 9：1； 2。
In his study of the causes leading to the Babylonish captivity； Ezra had learned that Israel's apostasy was largely traceable to their mingling with heathen nations。 He had seen that if they had obeyed God's command to keep separate from the nations surrounding them； they would have been spared many sad and humiliating experience