ned them was about
fifty thousand, including above seven thousand male and female servants.
Before they departed, Cyrus restored to them the more valuable of the
sacred utensils, which had been removed by Nebuchadnezzar, and preserved
by his successors, and which were now to be again employed in the
service of the sanctuary. Zerubbabel was also entrusted with large
contributions toward the expense of rebuilding the temple, from the Jews
who chose to remain behind. The beasts of burden in this caravan
exceeded eight thousand. In the book of Ezra, the names of the families
which returned to this first colony, and in those which followed, are
carefully given.

The incidents of the journey are not related. On reaching Palestine the
caravan repaired at once to Jerusalem, which they found utterly ruined
and desolate. Before they separated to seek habitations for themselves,
they raised a large sum by voluntary contributions toward the rebuilding
of the temple. Then they employed themselves in securing dwellings and
necessaries for their families; and at the ensuing Feast of Tabernacles
again repaired to Jerusalem, where sacrifices were offered on an altar
erected upon the ruins of the temple. After this the people applied
themselves zealously to the necessary preparation for the restoration of
that edifice. In a year from the departure from Babylon, the
preparations were sufficiently advanced to allow the work to be
commenced; and, accordingly, the foundations of the second temple were
then laid with great rejoicings and songs of thanksgiving. While the
work proceeded, the Samaritans manifested a desire to assist in the
work, and to claim a community of worship in the new temple. This was
declined by the Jews on the ground that the decree of the Persian king
extended only to the race of Israel.

[Illustration: The Magi offering Presents.]

Being thus frustrated in their design, the Samaritans employed every
means they could devise to thwart the undertaking. Their origin appears
to have given them considerable influence at the Persian court; and
although they could not act openly against the plain decree of Cyrus, an
unscrupulous use of their money and influence among the officers of the
government enabled them to raise such obstructions, that the people were
much discouraged, and the work proceeded but languidly, and at length
was suspended altogether. From this lethargy they were roused by the
exhortations and reproac