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Esther, the Hebrew Girl Who Became Queen
Nearly fifty thousand children of the captivity had taken advan-
tage of the decree permitting their return. These, however, were no
more than a mere remnant. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites had
chosen to remain in Medo-Persia rather than endure the hardships
of the return journey and of reestablishing their ruined cities and
homes.
After twenty or more years passed, Darius Hystaspes, the
monarch then ruling, issued another favorable decree. In this way
God mercifully provided another opportunity for the Jews to return
to the land of their ancestors. The Lord foresaw the trouble-filled
times that were to follow during the reign of Xerxes (Ahasuerus of
the book of Esther), and He inspired Zechariah to plead with the
exiles to return:
“‘Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Baby-
lon.’ For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to
the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the
apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and
they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that
the Lord of hosts has sent Me.’”
Zechariah 2:7-9
.
It was still the Lord’s intent that His people should glorify His
name. He had given them many opportunities to return to Him.
Some had chosen to listen, and some had found salvation in the
midst of affliction. Many of these were among the remnant that
would return.
Those “whose spirits God had moved” (
Ezra 1:5
) returned under
the decree of Cyrus. But God did not stop pleading with those who
remained voluntarily in the land of exile, and in various ways He
made it possible for them also to return. However, most of those
who failed to respond to the decree remained unimpressible, and
even when Zechariah warned them to escape from Babylon, they
did not accept the invitation.
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