A CENTURY POEM 2

Centuries
B. C.

Years
B. C.

7

700

13

And the date of their woe in the mind we retain,
Though Hosea's living in Hosea's reign!
One pointed to earth!  And the other to Heaven!
The years, twenty one, and the centuries seven!

14

And though the worst kingdom was the first to expire,
Whilst Judah's revived under good Hezekiah!
The ruin of Judah, Isaiah foretold,
On King Hezekiah's displaying his gold.

15

He said his descendants the servants should be,
Of the kings that we later in Babylon see!
And were they not servants?  Was not Daniel one?
When Nebuchadnezzar the Victory won!

6

600

16

And the date of their woe, in the mind we affix,
As B.C. 600 the era of six!
As three were the kings and the prophets were three,
We inEgypt,Jerusalem,Babylon see!

Centuries
B. C.

Years
B. C.

17

Ezekial at Chebar depicted the fray,
And told of the year and the month and the day
Of Babylon's conquest!  Jerusalem's woe!
And captives led forth by a pitiless foe!

18

And unto the Jews in captivity dire,
A letter was written, by sad Jeremiah!
He wrote it in tears!  And to lessen their fears,
And told of its ending in seventy years!

Centuries
B. C.

Years
B. C.

19

And then when the seventy years had been ended,
The pleadings of Daniel to Heaven ascended;
Since Cyrus was King whom the Israelites claimed,
As this was the Cyrus, whom Isaiah named.

20

And then were the words of Isiah fulfilled!
Permisson was granted the Temple to build!
As King Cyrus made and proclaimed a decree,
That granted permission to build it, we see!

21

But ere to complete it, the people were able,
Whilst under the guidance of Prince Zerubbabel.
Good King Cyrus died, and his fated successor,
Succeeded in proving a hated aggressor.

22

And yet when the King Artaxerxes was slain,
They thought not, or sought not, assistance to gain,
Till Haggai recalled them, reproved their delay,
And the Temple completed in Darius' day.

Centuries
B. C.

Years
B. C.

5

500

23

And when at the height of their joy they arrive,
It is B.C. 500 the era of five.
And then is the Temple with joy dedicated,
Ere their favor is cooled, and their ardor abated!

4

400

24

They have sadly abated in one hundred years,
When Malachi last of the prophets appears.
He tells of Elijah preparing the way,
For Him, who was promised, in Abraham's day.

Centuries
B. C.

Years
B. C.

25

Of Him, whom the wicked King Herod abhored!
Of the great and the horrible day of the Lord!
And bidding them cling to the teachings of Moses,
With Malachi’s warnings the Testament closes!

The End.