On the Re-building of Jerusalem.
By Editor
DEAR SIR: I want to know whether the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem could be completed before the 20th year of Artaxerxes the king, as Ezra's commission was in the 7th year to restore, and Nehemiah asks for authority in the 20th year of the reign of the king to go forth to build Jerusalem, which is 13 years after? As it is a clue to the seventy weeks, will not the difference in the beginning, make the same difference in the conclusion? ANS.—The work Ezra was commissioned to do was not completed till the 20th year of Artaxerxes; but it was commenced in the 7th. Nehemiah did not ask for authority to complete, but for permission to go up and finish what Ezra had begun. As the 70 weeks were to date from the issuing of the decree for the accomplishment of the work, and not from the completion of the work, it follows that the period during which the work was being done, can have no effect on the ending of the 70 weeks. And that it did not affect their ending, is demonstrated by the epoch of the crucifixion, which was in the midst of the last one of the 70 weeks, according to the prediction, reckoning from the date of the decree given to Ezra.