Bible Reading 2
The World of Ezra and Nehemiah
1. What work is outlined in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah and how is this important to us today?
"The work of restoration and reform carried on by the returned exiles under the leadership of Zerubabbel, Ezra and Nehemiah, presents a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be wrought in the closing days of this earth's history." (E. G White, Prophets and Kings p677)
2. What did Cyrus command in 538BC?
Ezr 1:1-4 (KJV) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, [2] Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. [3] Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. [4] And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
3. What did Isaiah prophesy about this time?
Isa 45:1-6 (WEB) Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: [2] “I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron. [3] I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel. [4] For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me. [5] I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me; [6] that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.
How did God's people react to Cyrus's decree?
4. What had previously been prophesied about the return of God's people?
Jer 29:10 (WEB) For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
5. What period of time was the land of Israel to be desolate?
Jer 25:11-14 (WEB) This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. [12] “It will happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,” says Yahweh, “for their iniquity. I will make the land of the Chaldeans desolate forever. [13] I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. [14] For many nations and great kings will make bondservants of them, even of them. I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.”
6. What did Daniel discover?
Dan 9:1-2 (WEB) In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, [2] in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.
7. What other historical prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as promised in the Word?
Gal 4:4 (WEB) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
8. What comfort can we draw from this - how does prophecy strengthen our failth?2Pe 1:19 (WEB) We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:
Isa 55:11 (WEB) so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
9. When did the first contingent of Exiles return to the land and who led them?
Ezr 2:1-2 (WEB) Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city; [2] who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Ezr 3:2 (WEB) Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
Ezr 3:8 (WEB) Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.10. What did the adversaries of Israel do when the faithful remnant returned to the land?
Ezr 4:1-2 (WEB) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel; [2] they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
11. What was the reply of Zerubabbel and Jeshua?Ezr 4:3 (WEB) But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
12. What were the tactics of the opposition following on from this?Ezr 4:4-6 (WEB) Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. [5] They hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. [6] In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
a)to discourage
b)to trouble them in the building
c)to hire counsellors against them
d)to frustrate their purpose
e)to accuse them
(in other words, pretty much the same tactics Satan uses against us today)
13. Who were the various kings ruling Persia during the return of the exiles?
Cyrus
Ezr 4:3 (WEB) But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
Darius
Ezr 6:1 (WEB) Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched.
Xerxes (i.e Ahasuerus)
Ezr 4:6 (WEB) In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Artaxerxes
Ezr 4:7 (WEB) In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.
14. What is it important to know abou the chronology of the Book of Ezra?
That it is not always in chronological order; it contains digressions.
15. The letter in Ezra 4 is addressed to which king?
Ezr 4:7 (WEB) In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language.
16. Is Ezra 5 and 6 covering events before the time of this king?
Yes, Darius comes before Artaxerxes historically
Ezr 5:5 (WEB) But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
17. Which king allowed Ezra to return to Jerusalem?
Ezr 7:1-10 (WEB) Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, [2] the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, [3] the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, [4] the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, [5] the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— [6] this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahweh his God’s hand on him. [7] Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. [8] He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. [9] For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. [10] For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
18. What were the components of the king's decree?
Ezr 7:11-28 (WEB) Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of Yahweh’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel: [12] Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now [13] I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. [14] Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, [15] and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, [16] and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; [17] therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. [18] Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God. [19] The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. [20] Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house. [21] I, even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence, [22] up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. [23] Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? [24] Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God. [25] You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them. [26] Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. [27] Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem; [28] and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
1)Volunteers2)silver and gold - supplied by king and counsellors
3)silver and gold -supplied by their neighbours
4)articles for the temple
5)help from the treasurers across the river
6)ability of Ezra to appoint magistrates
7)tax exemptions for the temple staff
19. Why were these instructions important for the people of Israel?
It made it easier for Ezra and the Israelites to restore their homeland
20. Why is it important to trust God's word?
Tit 1:2 (WEB) in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;
21. What do we know about the Ezra as a person?
Ezr 7:6-10 (WEB) this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahweh his God’s hand on him. [7] Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. [8] He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. [9] For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. [10] For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
22. How did E.G White describe the education of Ezra?
"Born of the sons of Aaron , Ezra had been given a priestly training; and in addition to this he had acquired a familiarity with the writings of the magicians, the astrologers, and the wise men of the Medo -Persian realm. But he was not satisfied with his spiritual condition. He longed to be in full harmony with God; he longed for wisdom to carry out the divine will. And so 'he prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it Ezra 7:10. This led him to apply himself diligently to a study of the history of God's people, as recorded in the writings of the prophets and kings. He searched the historical and poetical books of the Bible to learn why the Lord had permitted Jerusalem to be destroyed and His people carried captive into a heathen land - Prophets and Kings p.608
23. What does Ezra 7:6 and 10 teach us about the importance of a proper religious education?
He had to unlearn a great deal of what he had learned from the world and go back to the word of God - the Bible
24. How may we prepare our hearts to seek the law of the Lord?
Deu 6:3-9 (WEB) Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. [4] Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. [5] You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. [6] These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; [7] and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. [8] You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the door posts of your house, and on your gates.
25. Even when there is pain and suffering in the world - how may we learn to trust God's sovereignty?
Pro 21:1 (WEB) The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Ezr 7:27-28 (WEB) Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem; [28] and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
