Ezra Recounts the Challenges Endured in the Rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem

5/9/2018

Ezra

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐ 6:22 • In obedience to the Word of the Lord spoken by Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua begin rebuilding the Temple. • Zerubbabel and Jeshua had clear instructions from God and did not nor should they have requested the permission of anyone else. • The opposition was swift and strong but contrary to earlier times did not stop the building. The fact that the regional governor, Tattenai came to check out the building reflects the continuing opposition from those referenced in Ezra 4:4‐5. Ezra 5:3‐5

1 5/9/2018

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐ 6:22 • Tattenai the provincial governor send a letter to Darius based on his interactions with the people building the Temple. • The text of the letter indicates a greater sincerity than the letter we saw to Araxerxes. • The fact that they did not forcibly stop the work showed at least a cautious belief in the possibility of a claim of a decree by Cyrus. • There seems to be an accurate recounting of the reason given by the Jews for rebuilding and a sincere desire to know if such a decree was made by Cyrus.

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐6:22 • The reasons given by the Jews for building the Temple • They are servants of the God of heaven and earth • They are rebuilding what Solomon had built many years ago. • The Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar due to God’s judgment on His people. • Cyrus had issued a decree about 30 years before this that the Temple be rebuilt.

2 5/9/2018

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐ 6:22 • The decree by Cyrus is found after a search decreed by Darius and Darius responds to Tattenai. • Tattenai and others are ordered to not in any way hinder the work. • The work is to be supported financially with the revenue from that area. • Provision is to be made to them for the required sacrifices. • Request is made for the Jews to pray for the king and his family

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐ 6:22 • A the decree by Cyrus is found after a search decreed by Darius and Darius responds to Tattenai. • The penalty for failing to obey the decree by Darius was a horrible and public death. • Further an appeal is made to God in the decree to overthrow anyone who would hinder this work. • A note should be made that Daniel would have held a high position in Darius’ kingdom at this time and one would wonder if he even had a hand in drafting this decree since it shows such familiarity with the sacrificial system.

3 5/9/2018

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐6:22 • The work continued to the completion of the Temple four years later. Completed in 516 B.C. sixth year of reign of Darius. (Note that this was 70 years after the Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C.) • Tattenai and company diligently obey the decree of Darius. • The work is supported and encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah. • The decrees of the kings are acknowledged. • The temple was dedicated with great celebration and the priests and Levites were placed in their appointed placed to carry on the services of the Temple.

Ezra recounts the challenges endured in the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. • Now we return to the matter of the building of the Temple. 4:24‐ 6:22 • The Passover observed • According to the Mosaic Law in Deuteronomy 16:5‐7 the Passover sacrifice could only be made in the place where God would choose to establish His Temple. From David’s time that was Jerusalem. • This would indicate that this was the first time since the destruction of the Temple that the Passover sacrifice was made and the Passover observed. • The observance was made possible because the priests and Levites had been vetted and the Temple was completed.

4 5/9/2018

(Ahasuerus) [Esther] [Ezra/Nehemiah]

Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem

• This is the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia who reigned 465 B.C. to 425 B.C. • Ezra was a priest documented by his lineage traced by to Aaron the first High Priest of Israel. • Ezra was also a scribe. A scribe would be a professional writer. One of the main responsibilities of a scribe would be to make fresh copies of the Law of Moses (the Torah). This made him an expert in the law. • His favor in the eyes of king Artaxerxes is explained in the words, “the hand of the LORD his God was on him.”

5 5/9/2018

Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem

• Ezra’s return to Jerusalem shows that, although there was an initial mass return, groups kept coming out of exile for some time. • The journey was one of inconceivable length for us—4 months to traverse 900 miles.* This is not to mention the perils of the ever present bandits along the way. The indication that this was making good time and the reason is that “the good hand of his God as on him.”

(A boat trip from Long Beach, California to Tokyo is only 13 days. Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina by car was done in just under 24 days.)

6 5/9/2018

Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem

• Ezra’s reason for going to Jerusalem • He had set his heart to study the Law of God • He had committed to obey the Law of God • He was committed to teach God’s Word in Israel.