When was the rebuilding of the temple completed?
(Ezra 1:1-7; 4:1-7; 7:1-28; Isa. 45:1-5, 13; Jer. 21:11-12; Dan. 9:1-21) Blog Sep 29-Oct 5, 2019
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
INTRODUCTION: This quarter we will consider the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. They tell the story of the return of the exiles from Babylon to Judea. This return was promised by God in Isaiah and Jeremiah and enacted by three Persian kings. Unlike Israel’s escape from Egyptian slavery only a small portion of God’s people came out of Babylon but it was through them and their descendants that Jerusalem and its temple would be rebuilt, God’s law would be preserved, and Messiah would come to fulfill God’s everlasting covenant.
Precursors to freedom (2 Chron. 36:15-23; Ezra 1:1-11; 2:64-65; Isa. 44:24-28; 45:1-6, 13; Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan. 1:1-4; 9:1-4)
1. According to Daniel 1:1-4 what was the condition of God’s people after Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem? Their kingdom was defeated, their king was dethroned, their sanctuary was sacked, & their people were carried captive.
2. Why did Daniel seek God by fasting, humiliation, and prayer as recorded in Daniel 9? Because he desired for God to fulfill his promise to release his captive people & restore their sanctuary.
3. What was the basis of Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9? The Word of God as recorded in Jeremiah 25 & 29 that promised that the Babylonian captivity would only last 70 years & God’s instruction that his people should pray for its fulfillment.
4. Who did God use for the fulfillment of Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem? God used Cyrus the king of Persia to release his captive people so they could rebuild God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem.
5. When did Cyrus, the Persian King, make a decree to release the Jewish captives in Babylon? In the first year of his reign (538 BC), two years after having conquered Babylon during which Darius the Mede was king.
6. What convincing evidence of the true God and his mission for himself must Cyrus have seen before making his decree of freedom for God’s people? Cyrus must have observed Daniel’s freedom from the lion’s den & the prophecies of Isaiah 44 & 45 concerning himself & God’s will for him.
Freedom decreed (Ezra 1:1-7; 6:1-12; 7:10-21; Neh. 2:1-5)
7. Who led the Jewish captives back to Jerusalem when Cyrus decreed their freedom? Joshua the high Priest, Zerubbabel the governor, & Sheshbazzar (or that is another name for Zerubbabel) the treasurer led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem.
8. In response to Cyrus decree how many Jews returned to Judea? Approximately 50,000.
9. Besides decreeing their freedom what else did Cyrus do for the Jews? Cyrus not only decreed the Jews freedom but also loaded them down with the sanctuary vessels, contributed to their mission, & legislated that the provinces where they were to travel provide their needs as well.
10. When opposition to the work of restoring God’s sanctuary arose years later who made the second decree to rebuild God’s sanctuary? Darius the Persian made the second decreed to rebuild God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem (probably in the second year of his reign – 520 BC).
11. When and by whom was the third decree made to restore God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem? The third decree to restore God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem was made by Artaxerxes in the seventh year of his reign over Persia (457 BC).
12. Who led the return to Jerusalem under the third decree? Ezra led the return to Jerusalem under the third decree in the seventh year of Artaxerxes reign.
13. When did Nehemiah go to Jerusalem? Nehemiah went to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes reign (444 BC).
Leaders of freedom (Ezra 2:1-2; 3:1-13; 4:12-13; 6:15; 7:10)
14. When Zerubbabel led 50,000 Jews back to their homeland under Cyrus’ decree what did they celebrate in the seventh month? After establishing themselves throughout the land they all gathered in Jerusalem to rebuild God’s altar & celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
15. When did the returned exiles begin to rebuild God’s temple? In the second month of the second year of their return under the decree of Cyrus (about 536BC).
16. When was the rebuilding of the temple completed? In the sixth year of King Darius after he made the second decree. That was in about 516 BC – approximately twenty years after it was begun in 536BC.
17. Before Ezra led captives back to Jerusalem under the third decree what did the surrounding tribes do to hinder the rebuilding of Jerusalem? After trying other means they sent letters to King Artaxerxes asking him to stop the rebuilding because Jerusalem was known as a rebellious city.
18. Besides diligently studying and teaching God’s law what made Ezra a great spiritual leader? Ezra not only studied & taught God’s law, he also obeyed the law, making him a great spiritual leader.