Some of the finest literary passages in the Bible are to be found here.

Read carefully chapters 40, 42, 43, 52, 53, 55, 61. Note the large number of passages in frequent use by modern writers.

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CHAPTER XI

THE PERIOD OF RESTORATION

HAGGAI

BABYLON was taken by Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, in B. C. 538. As a matter of policy in dealing with a disaffected people he permitted a large num ber of Jews (forty-two thousand according to Ezra) to return to Jerusalem and restore the temple. The Samaritans, who came from the northern kingdom, requested to be allowed to join this expedition, but were refused through tribal jealousy. The story of their efforts to hinder the work of restoration is related in Ezra and Nehemiah,

During this period a number of the "minor prophets" appeared with messages of encouragement.

Haggai and Zechariah appear to have been closely associated. The message of Haggai was chiefly one of reproach for the delay in building the temple, and encouragement for the future when it should be completely restored. There are no passages of especial literary merit in the book.

ZECHARIAH

This prophet makes use of the methods of types and figures employed by his predecessors. His vision extends beyond the immediate restoration of the temple to a time when true worship of Jehovah shall be set up in Jerusalem. Many of the passages are of high order, and the conclusion is most excellent. Note the selected passages (chapter 1).

OBADIAH

This prophecy is contained in one short book of

twenty-one verses. Its chief burden is the destruction of the Edomites for the wrong they have done the Jews at various times. Little is known concerning the writer, and the book possesses little literary impor tance.

MALACHI

This prophet lived some time after Haggai and Zechariah, a time when the enthusiasm due to the return from exile had considerably abated. The name is an impersonal one indicating "my messenger." The message comprises a harsh criticism of Israel for their neglect of Jehovah, of the priests for their immorality, and the better classes for falling in with the current corruption (2. 12). Chapters 3 and 4 are characterized by religious fervor, and they should be carefully read.

JOEL

The date of this prophecy has been the subject of much controversy. By some it has been placed at an early date; others make it contemporaneous with Malachi. The book deals with general judgments upon sin rather than denunciation of any particular people. The author makes frequent quotations from earlier prophets, and the style is characterized by considerable vigor. The book should be read with these comments in mind.

JONAH

This book, as in the case of Joel, gives no definite indication of its historical setting. There seems to be some reason for placing it among the late books of this period. Scholars are divided regarding the message of this book. It may be a literal statement of actual occurrences; it may be allegorical; it may be a satire upon the narrowness of the Jewish conception of re-. ligion-an anticipation of Peter's vision of the unclean beasts. The reader should familiarize himself with

the story, but care should be exercised to avoid placing emphasis upon an interesting detail to the neglect of the meaning of the message.

DANIEL

Although Daniel was a prophet it is not quite correct to classify this book with either the major or the minor prophets, but it seems to stand by itself as the Old Testament apocalypse. It is thought to have been writ ten in the time of Antiochus IV, who ruled in the second century B. C.

The following is an outline of the narratives which should be studied:

1. Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the king's por tion.

2. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream.

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3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to wor ship the golden image, and are thrown into a fiery furnace. They are miraculously delivered. 3 4. Belshazzar's feast and the handwriting on the wall. 5

5. Daniel is made first president of the kingdom. He refuses to obey the king's decree and is cast into a den of lions. He is unharmed.

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The remainder of the book is largely given up to visions which are obscure in their meaning and of little literary value.

CHAPTER XII

THE LETTERS OF PAUL

HAVING studied the activities of Saint Paul in the book of Acts, we come to the consideration of a series of letters addressed in some cases to specific bodies of believers and in others to Christian converts in general. Saint Paul has achieved distinction as a theologian, as a philosopher, and as a man of letters. His writings are filled with theological and philosophical problems, but they show throughout a distinct literary charm.

Following the generally accepted chronology, we come first to the two letters addressed to the Thessalonians, written from Corinth. These and several of the following letters were written while Paul was a traveling evangelist. While preaching at Thessalonica Paul had caused a division among the people; and it was in part to establish the faith of those who remained steadfast that the first epistle was written. Both epis fles deal with the second coming of Jesus, and some evident misconceptions due to the first epistle are corrected in the second.

The following brief outline should be studied: Paul leaves Athens for Corinth, where he works at his trade as a tent-maker. Timothy comes to Corinth after a visit to Thessalonica, and his report of the condition of the churches leads Paul to write these two letters. After the customary salutation, note in the first letter Paul's warning against sensuality (4), remarks on the state of the Christian dead (4), remarks on Christ's second coming (5).

The second epistle covers much the same ground as the first. Chapter 2 should be noted, for further dis cussion of Christ's coming.