(2) Preparations. Ezra assembled the Jews who accompanied him on the banks of the River Ahava, where they halted three days in tents. Here Ezra proclaimed a fast, as an act of humilia tion before God and a season of prayer for Divine direction and safe conduct ; for, on setting out, he 'was ashamed to require a band of soldiers and horsemen to help them against the enemy by the way,' because he had asserteli to the king that the hand of his God is upon all them that seek him for good. Ezra next committed the care of the treas ures which he carried with him to twelve of the chief priests, assisted by ten of their brethren, appointing these to take charge of the treasures by the way and deliver them safely in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem.
(3) At Jerusalem. On the twelfth day from their first setting out Ezra and his companions left the River Ahava and arrived safely at Jeru salem in the fifth month, having been delivered from the hand of the enemy and of such as lay in wait by the way. Three days after their arrival the treasures were weighed and delivered into the custody of some Levites. The returning exiles offered burnt offerings to the Lord. They de livered also the king's commissions to the viceroys and governors, and gave needful help to the people and the ministers of the Temple.
(4) Foreign Wives. When Ezra had dis charged the various trusts committed to him the princes of the Jews came to him and complained that the Jewish people generally, who had re turned from the captivity, and also the priests and Levites, but especially the rulers and princes, had not kept themselves separate from the people of the land, but had done according to the abotni nations of the remnant of the nations whom their forefathers had driven out, and married their daughters and allowed their children to inter marry with them. On hearing this Ezra was deeply afflicted ; and, according to the Jewish custom, he rent his mantle and tore the hair of his head and beard. They gathered round 13im all those who still feared God and dreaded his wrath for the transgression of those whom he had brought back from captivity. Having waited till
the time of the evening sacrifice. Ezra rose up, and, having again rent his hair and his garments, made public prayer and confession of sin. The assembled people wept bitterly, and Shechaniah, one of the sons of Elam, came forward to propose a general covenant to put away the foreign wives and their children. Ezra then arose and admin istered an oath to the people that they would do accordingly.
(5) Commission of Investigation. Procla mation was also made that all those who had re turned from captivity should within three days gather themselves together unto Jerusalem, under pain of excommunication and forfeiture of their goods. The people assembled at the time ap pointed, trembling on account of their sin and of the heavy rain that fell. Ezra addressed them, declaring to them their sin, and exhorting them to amend their lives by dissolving their illegal connections. The people acknowledged the justice of his rebuke, and promised obedience. They then requested that, as the rain fell heavily, and the number of transgresses was great, he would ap point times at which they might severally come to be examined mespecting this matter, accom panied by the judges and elders of every city. A commission was therefore- formed, consisting of Ezra and some others, to investigate the extent the evil. This investigation occupied three months.
In Nch. viii. we read that. on the occasion of the celebration of the feast of the seventh month, subsequently to Nehemiah's numbering the people, Ezra was requested to bring the book of the law of Moses; and that he read therein standing upon a pulpit of wood, which raised him above all the people.
(6) Later History. Josephus tells its that Ezra died soon after this celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, and was buried at Jerusalem with great magnificence. According to some Jewish chroniclers he died in the year in which Alexander came to Jerusalem, in the same year in which took place the death of the prophets Haggai. Zechariah and Malachi, and in which prophecy became ex