“Jehovah hath done great things for them;”
Yea, Jehovah hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
Bring back, O Lord, our captives,
Like streams in a parched land.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
The sower goeth forth with weeping, bearing the seed;
He cometh back with rejoicing, bringing the sheaves.
“Thus they returned to the Holy Land, Israel and Judah one rod, according to the words of Ezekiel. They take possession of the country, build villages, and even raise Jerusalem out of her ruins, but without repairing her walls. In the next month, Tisri, the whole congregation assembled at Jerusalem, as one man, to the feast of tabernacles. They set up the altar upon its base, amidst the ruins of the temple, and offered thereon burnt-offerings, morning and evening, according to custom, as the duty of every day required; and afterwards the burnt-offerings of the new moons, and all the feasts of the Lord that were hallowed.[[63]]
“In the second month of the second year of their return, they laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, the expenses being supplied by their voluntary contributions. All set their hands to the work, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upwards, had the superintendence. The foundation being laid, the priests stood in their apparel, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord with the psalms of David, king of Israel, and they sung in responsive strains, praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, because he is good and his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a loud shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house was laid. But many of the aged priests, and Levites and chiefs, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy; so that the people could not distinguish the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people.
“The prophets Haggai and Zechariah arose and encouraged the people to persevere—but difficulties were thrown in their way by the Samaritans, who, worshipping Jehovah along with their idols, had been desirous of partaking in the building of the temple.[[64]] As their proposal was rejected, they obtained an order from a king of Persia, a successor of Cyrus, that the work should be stopped. But Jehovah aided his people: the temple was at length completed; and Haggai prophesied: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the glory of the former, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will give peace in this place.[[65]] The new temple was dedicated, and the passover kept with joy.