ezra returning and rebuilding. medes persians lydians babylon

EZRAEZRA

Returning and RebuildingReturning and Rebuilding

Medes

Persians

Lydians

Babylon

539 515

Ezra 1-6 Cyrus the Great Cambyses

539 - Return to the Land Edict to return to land 515 - Temple completed Temple completed

482 473

Esther Xerxes 480 - War with Greece Esther story

458 Ezra 7-10 458 - 2nd Return under Ezra Second return under Ezra

445 420

Nehemiah

Artaxerxes

444 - Nehemiah & Walls Nehemiah rebuilds walls 432 - Malachi Malachi

CHRONOLOGY OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH

1 The Edict of Cyrus

2

Return from Babylon The Exiles who returned

3 Construction begun

4 Construction opposed

5 Construction delayed

6

1st Return under Sheshbazzar & Zerubbabel

Rebuilding of the Temple

Construction completed

7 Decree of Artaxerxes

8

Return from Babylon The Journey

9 Problem of mixed marriages

10

2nd Return under Ezra

Restoration of the People Solution to the problem

EZRA

Medes

Persians

Lydia

Babylon

Ezra 1:2-3Ezra 1:2-3Thus says Cyrus king of Thus says Cyrus king of

Persia, “The LORD, the God of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 33 Whoever there is among you of all Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:4Ezra 1:4““Every survivor, Every survivor,

at whatever place he at whatever place he may live, let the men may live, let the men of that place of that place support him with support him with silver and gold, with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, goods and cattle, together with a together with a freewill offering for freewill offering for the house of God the house of God which is in which is in Jerusalem.”Jerusalem.”

CyrustheGreat

Isaiah 44:28Isaiah 44:28 ““It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He

is My shepherd! And he will is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”foundation will be laid.’”

Isaiah 45:4Isaiah 45:4 “ “For the sake of Jacob My For the sake of Jacob My

servant, and Israel, My chosen servant, and Israel, My chosen one, I have also called you by your one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known honor though you have not known Me.”Me.”

Proverbs 21:1Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like channels of The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;water in the hand of the Lord;

He turns it wherever He wishes.He turns it wherever He wishes.

Romans 13:1Romans 13:1Let every person be in subjection Let every person be in subjection

to the governing authorities. For there to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by those which exist are established by God.God.

Ezra 1:5-8Ezra 1:5-8Then the heads of fathers’ Then the heads of fathers’

households of Judah and Benjamin households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

All those about them encouraged All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering.given as a freewill offering.

Ezra 4:1-2Ezra 4:1-2Now when the enemies of Judah Now when the enemies of Judah

and Benjamin heard that the people of and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, LORD God of Israel, 22 they approached they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, “Let us households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”brought us up here.”

Ezra 4:3Ezra 4:3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and

the rest of the heads of fathers’ the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded the king of Persia has commanded us.”us.”

Problems in the Offer ofProblems in the Offer ofAssistanceAssistance

The Fickleness of False FriendsThe Fickleness of False Friends

The Fabrication of False FidelityThe Fabrication of False Fidelity

The Fable of Formulaic FellowshipThe Fable of Formulaic Fellowship

Ezra 4:13Ezra 4:13““Now let it be known to the king, Now let it be known to the king,

that if that city is rebuilt and the walls that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, are finished, they will not pay tribute, custom or toll, and it will damage the custom or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings.”revenue of the kings.”

Ezra 4:14-15Ezra 4:14-15““Now because we are in the service Now because we are in the service

of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king, have sent and informed the king, 1515 so so that a search may be made in the record that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn discover in the record books and learn that that city is a rebellious city and that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces, and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it in that they have incited revolt within it in past days; therefore that city was laid past days; therefore that city was laid waste.waste.

Ezra 5:1-2Ezra 5:1-2When the prophets, Haggai the When the prophets, Haggai the

prophet and Zechariah the son of prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was name of the God of Israel, who was over them, over them, 22 then Zerubbabel the son then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.were with them supporting them.

Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai

Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish

this structure?"

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report should come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it. (Ezra 5:5).

Ezra 6:13-14Ezra 6:13-14Then Tattenai, the governor of the Then Tattenai, the governor of the

province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent.sent.

And the elders of the Jews were And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

Ezra 6:15Ezra 6:15TThis temple was completed on his temple was completed on

the third day of the month Adar; it the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.King Darius.

Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

The work of rebuilding is BEGUN

The work of rebuilding is HALTED

The work of rebuilding is RENEWED

The work of rebuilding is COMPLETED

Ezra 6:16-18Ezra 6:16-18And the sons of Israel, the priests, the And the sons of Israel, the priests, the

Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered for the dedication of this 17 They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, corresponding to the number of male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.the tribes of Israel.

Then they appointed the priests to their Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.written in the book of Moses.

1st Return

under Zerubbabel

Events of the book of Esther

2nd Return under Ezra

3rd Return under

Nehemiah Ezra 1-6 Book of Esther Ezra 7-10 Book of

Nehemiah 537-516 B.C. 473 B.C. 458-457 B.C. 537 B.C.

Chronology ofEzra, Nehemiah & Esther

Ezra 9:1Ezra 9:1Now when these things had been Now when these things had been

completed, the princes approached completed, the princes approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.Amorites.

Ezra 9:2Ezra 9:2 “ “For they have taken some of For they have taken some of

their daughters as wives for their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.”in this unfaithfulness.”

Ezra 10:2Ezra 10:2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one

of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.hope for Israel in spite of this.

Ezra 10:3-4Ezra 10:3-4 ““So now let us make a covenant So now let us make a covenant

with our God to put away all the wives with our God to put away all the wives and their children, according to the and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to God; and let it be done according to the law.the law.

““Arise! For this matter is your Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.”be courageous and act.”

The Plan for Divorce...The Plan for Divorce...

The absence of The absence of condemnation condemnation indicates approval, indicates approval, especially in light of especially in light of the fact that Ezra the fact that Ezra closes on this note.closes on this note.

There is no editorial There is no editorial confirmation. If confirmation. If Nehemiah is seen as Nehemiah is seen as the continuation of the continuation of Ezra, then it is Ezra, then it is possible that this was possible that this was merely a problem merely a problem along the way which along the way which was not satisfactorily was not satisfactorily resolved at the time.resolved at the time.

Was from God Was not from GodWas from God Was not from God


Ezra agrees to the Ezra agrees to the plan after a long time plan after a long time of prayer.of prayer.

The Lord did not The Lord did not reveal the plan to reveal the plan to Ezra as a prophecy.Ezra as a prophecy.


The nation was in The nation was in danger of falling into danger of falling into idolatry and idolatry and Deuteronomy 7:2-3 Deuteronomy 7:2-3 specifically forbids specifically forbids such intermarriage.such intermarriage.

It is never right to do It is never right to do wrong so that good wrong so that good may come of it. may come of it.


Nearly the entire Nearly the entire nation agreed to the nation agreed to the proposal.proposal.

Majority opinion is no Majority opinion is no guarantee of guarantee of righteousness .righteousness .


The actions of Ezra The actions of Ezra and the nation and the nation marked a return to marked a return to the observance of the observance of the Law.the Law.

The New Testament The New Testament confirms that believers confirms that believers are to remain married are to remain married to an unbelieving to an unbelieving spouse spouse


There was already a There was already a new generation new generation growing that would growing that would have pagan roots.have pagan roots.

1 Corinthians 7:14 1 Corinthians 7:14 tells how maintaining tells how maintaining such a mixed such a mixed marriage can have a marriage can have a positive effect upon positive effect upon the children.the children.


The rest of the story….The rest of the story….

Malachi 2:13-14Malachi 2:13-14This is another thing you do: you This is another thing you do: you

cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from the Lord.it with favor from the Lord.

Yet you say, “For what reason?” Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.companion and your wife by covenant.

Malachi 2:15-16Malachi 2:15-16But no one has done so who has a But no one has done so who has a

remnant of the Spirit. And what did that remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.against the wife of your youth.

““For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lord his garment with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”that you do not deal treacherously.”

Two Possible InterpretationsTwo Possible Interpretations

Interpretation #1:Interpretation #1: The decision of Ezra The decision of Ezra and the people of Israel was a correct, and the people of Israel was a correct, though difficult onethough difficult one

Interpretation #2:Interpretation #2: Though they had the Though they had the best of intentions in seeking to repent and best of intentions in seeking to repent and return from their sinful attitudes, Ezra and return from their sinful attitudes, Ezra and the people of Israel took a bad situation the people of Israel took a bad situation and made it worseand made it worse

ezra returning and rebuilding. medes persians lydians babylon

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