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[64]
Now when Zorobabel had obtained these grants from the king, he went
out of the palace, and looking up to heaven, he began to return thanks
to God for the wisdom he had given him, and the victory he had gained thereby,
even in the presence of Darius himself; for, said he, "I had not been
thought worthy of these advantages, O Lord, unless thou hadst been favorable
to me." When therefore he had returned these thanks to God for the
present circumstances he was in, and had prayed to him to afford him the
like favor for the time to come, he came to Babylon, and brought the good
news to his countrymen of what grants he had procured for them from the
king; who, when they heard the same, gave thanks also to God that he restored
the land of their forefathers to them again. So they betook themselves
to drinking and eating, and for seven days they continued feasting, and
kept a festival, for the rebuilding and restoration of their country: after
this they chose themselves rulers, who should go up to Jerusalem, out of
the tribes of their forefathers, with their wives, and children, and cattle,
who traveled to Jerusalem with joy and pleasure, under the conduct of those
whom Darius sent along with them, and making a noise with songs, and pipes,
and cymbals. The rest of the Jewish multitude also besides accompanied
them with rejoicing.
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