Chronology of Events from the taking of Jerusalem to the close of the Old Testament B.C. History. 558. Jerusalem taken. over} 572. About this time Nebuchadnezzar, having completed his conquests over the nations, sets up the image of gold in the plains of Dura 571. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree. 570. Commencement of the seven years of Nebuchadnezzar's madness Jehoiachim had been a captive for thirty-seven years, having been carried 555. Daniel's vision of the four beasts "in the first year of Belshazzar". His prayer, and the great prophecy of the "seventy weeks" 536. Edict of Cyrus king of Persia, for the return of the Jews from Babylon, and for the rebuilding of the temple, "in the first year of his reign.' Close of the seventy years' captivity, reckoned from B.C. 606. (See Jerem. xxv. 12; xxix. 10) 49,697 of the people of Israel go up to Jerusalem under Sheshbazzar, or Zerubbabel, carrying their sacred vessels 535. The foundations of the temple are laid amid mingled joy and weeping "in the second year of their coming" 534. Daniel's last vision "in the third year of Cyrus" The adversaries of the Jews endeavour to hinder the building of the temple 529. Death of Cyrus. Ahasuerus (Cambyses of profane history) king of Persia. In the beginning of his reign an accusation is written to him against the Jews 522. Artaxerxes (Smerdis the Magian of profane history) king of Persia, by whose decree the building of the temple is hindered for nearly two years 521. Darius king of Persia 520. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, set forward again the building of the temple, in the second year of Darius. 519. Tatnai and Shethar-boznai endeavour to prevent their building; but Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, gives orders that it should be proceeded with 518. Zechariah utters the prophecies of ch. vii. and viii. of his book, "in the fourth year of Darius.' 516. The house of God is finished and dedicated "in the sixth year of Darius," twenty years after its foundations were laid . From this time to the year B.C. 458, i. e. the seventh year of Artaxerxes 462. year of his reign." In the same year Ezra goes to Jerusalem from 457. Ezra reforms the strange marriages which the people had contracted 452. Haman's attempt on the Jews dispersed in the kingdom of Artaxerxes is turned aside by Esther. Haman hanged, and Mordecai advanced in the kingdom The feast of Purim, or lots, instituted to commemorate this deliverance 446. Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, mourns for the desolation of the city of Jerusalem "in the twentieth year" of that king's reign 445. He obtains a commission from the king for the repairing of the city He goes to Jerusalem, and views the ruined walls, and incites the Jews' The charge over Jerusalem is committed to Hanani and Hananiah A solemn fast kept, and a covenant entered into by the people 433. After certain days," probably at the end of a twelvemonth, he goes again to Jerusalem, and there effects a reformation of abuses which had grown up during his absence About this time flourished Malachi, the last of the Old Testament A COUNTRY VICAR. STRAY-NOTES. "Tradition has clothed with aggravated horrors the gloominess of the scene. Upon the shores of the Dead Sea was said to grow nothing but the deceptive fruit (apples of Sodom), fair to the eye and touch, yet turning to ashes in the mouth; nor was any bird seen to skim above its surface. The last of these assertions, however, is not absolutely true; gulls have been seen floating on its bosom, and swallows are often known to fly across; while the absence of other species (of birds) is accounted for by the surrounding naked hills and the barren plains. Large pieces of bitumen (a kind of pitch) may be picked up in walking along the shore; and the water, though clear to appearance, is excessively salt and bitter. On bathing, it is found to be possessed of extraordinary buoyancy; but those who attempt this find that their skin, as soon as dried, has become encrusted with salt, causing for a time extraordinary pain and unpleasant irritation. Well does this sea derive the name of Dead, for not a wave breaks its surface; and the surrounding mountains are uncovered with tree or shrub, nay, do not own possession even of a tuft of grass." Wanderings of a Pilgrim in Palestine. [See Ps. lxxv. 5, 6, 12; xcii. 9, PrayerBook.] "Nothing particular occurred during our return to Zahle, except that we passed some women on horseback wearing the tantour, that extraordinary ornament of the head worn by the Druse females; it is a horn of silver, or of copper silvered over, a foot and a half or two feet in length, springing from the top of the forehead like the horn of a unicorn, and adorned with raised figures of stars, animals, and a variety of patterns. Over this hangs a drapery of white muslin, by means of which the wearer can conceal her features at pleasure. The horn is fixed upon a cushion fastened on the head with such cumbrous machinery, that it is sometimes not taken off for a month together, an inconvenient nightcap, one would fancy, for any lady." Three Weeks in Palestine and Lebanon. "Moloch is the name of the god of the Phoenicians, frequently mentioned in Scripture as the god of the Ammonites, and probably the same as the Saturn of the Tyrians and Carthaginians. Moses in several places forbids the Israelites to dedicate their children to Moloch, by making them pass through the fire in honour of that god. It was chiefly in the valley of Tophet and Hinnom, to the east of Jerusalem, that this idolatry was committed. The statue of Moloch was brass, hollow within, with its arms extended, and stooping a little forward. They lighted a great fire within the statue, and another before it. They put the child intended to be sacrificed upon one of its arms, which soon fell down into the fire at the foot of the statue, whose shrieks and cries were drowned by the rattling of drums and the sound of other musical instruments. This was also the practice of the Carthaginians, who were the descendants of the Phoenicians. Solomon built a temple to Moloch upon the Mount of Olives; and Manasseh, long after, imitated his impiety by making his son pass through the fire. Dr. Nuttall's Classical and Archæological Dictionary. "That which is most valued in this earthly glory, that which is the peculiar good of it, does it come fully into the heart? Is it a deep sweet luxury there? Is it a more delightfully-animated lifeblood? Or does it obstinately remain on the outside, just as in the northern regions the soil is intensely frozen underneath, while the thin surface is overspread with flowers? So that there are moments when the possessors of a large share of this earthly glory feel as if they could be willing to resign it all to be really happy at heart. And in default of knowing how to be happy either with or without it, what low and vulgar resources many of Glory's favourites have been driven to for relief!" Foster's Broadmead Lectures. Notices to Correspondents and Inquiries. [Correspondents are requested to favour us with their communications some time before the 20th of the month. We cannot undertake to notice anonymous communications, or return Mss. which have been declined.] "O." and "C.'s" answers to "C. B.," and "George Gay's" to "Emily," we hope to insert in our next. "W. Pulham" has mistaken the object of " C. B.'s" inquiry. "G. W." is thanked. His letter, subjected to a few slight alterations, may appear, we hope, in a future Number. "Sinceritas" and "H. B.'s" communications are declined with thanks. We cannot accede to "H. B.'s" request, as we never undertake to criticise articles sent to us for insertion. THE Meetings of the Committee of the National Society have been attended during the past month by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Romney, the Bishops of Winchester, Bangor, Worcester, Lichfield, Oxford, and St. Asaph; Sir Thomas Phillips, the Ven. Archdeacons Sinclair and Harrison, C. W. Puller, Esq., M. P.; Rev. Canons Jennings and Wordsworth, and Thomas D. Acland, Esq. Anniversary Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the Society is fixed to take place on Thursday, the 18th June next, in the Central Schoolrooms, Sanctuary, Westminster. The chair will be taken at 12 o'clock. Members of the Society only are admissible. Tickets may be obtained on application at the Society's office, or by letter addressed to the Secretary. SECRETARIES' MEETING. The Meeting of Secretaries and Treasurers of Diocesan and Local Boards will be held in the Central Schoolrooms on Wednesday, the 17th June, when a discussion on the subjects notified in the last Number of this Paper will take place. Diocesan Inspectors are admissible to this Meeting. The chair will be taken at 12 o'clock. Building Grants. The following Grants have been voted by the Society since the last announce The Treasurer has been authorised to pay the Grants voted to the Schools in the following places, the several undertakings having been reported as completed: St. Mark's College, Chelsea. The Anniversary of this College was celebrated as usual on St. Mark's Day, April 25th. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of London, who took his text from the Epistle of the Day: "Speaking the truth in love, we may grow up unto Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." The chapel was very fully attended by a congregation consisting of great numbers of former students, and of clergymen and other friends of the College. The offertory collection amounted to 38/. 11s. 8d., including several contributions from former students who were unable to attend. Between the morning and afternoon services the students and many visitors dined together in the College Hall. In the evening, Mendelssohn's Oratorio "St. Paul" was performed by the resident students, under the direction of Mr. Hullah. Parochial Collections Fund. (Parochial Collections, continued from May Number.) The following collections are a portion of the sums already remitted to the Society, being in lieu of those heretofore made under the authority of the Royal Letter triennially granted in its favour. In the majority of dioceses the Bishops, in conformity with the recommendation of the Archbishop, have issued a Pastoral Letter, requesting the Clergy to preach a sermon and make a collection in behalf of the Society. In most cases the suggestion which emanated from the Committee of the Society has been added, that the proceeds should be divided between the Parent Society and the Diocesan Board of Education. The returns are those received from the undermentioned counties since the last announcement (15th April) at the Receiver's office up to the 15th May. They comprise, in some instances, the whole amount collected; in others only the moiety, the other half having been forwarded to the Diocesan Board. Collections received since 15th of May will appear in future Numbers. Collections forwarded for the Society's General Fund are not included in this list, but have been acknowledged in the monthly list of contributions to the Society. * Printed in error in the last Paper as from the Parish Church of Milton, the collection for which church had been previously announced in the December Paper. Dunsfold Nutfield 0 Bangor 2 19 9 7 SUSSEX. 2 4 1 13 3 6 King William's 0 15 4 Local Collectors. The Committee have to acknowledge with many thanks the efforts made by those who have undertaken in the above-named capacity to aid the funds of the National Society. While anxious to adopt such plans only as are consistent with that willingness which renders the giver's contribution valuable, it was strongly urged on them by a few kind volunteers that many, especially teachers who had themselves perhaps derived benefit from the Society's operations, were desirous of making some return by means of personal exertions in its favour; and that, on the other hand also, there were persons in a humble station of life who would gladly avail themselves of opportunities for contributing towards the work of Church-education, the advantages of which they have experienced either in their own case or that of their children. The results given below show that the anticipations of such friends were not wrong; and while the Committee again offer their thanks to those by whose efforts these results have been brought about, they feel themselves justified by them in asking for the continued exertions of "Local Collectors" in support of the Society. N.B. Future communications should be addressed to the Society's Secretary, Sanctuary, Westminster, S. W., who will gladly add to the List the names of any persons willing to become collectors, and supply them with the necessary instructions. New Subscriptions. The following Donations and new Annual Subscriptions have been contributed since the last announcement, and are hereby thankfully acknowledged. The List is made up to the 15th May. |