1. Christ Baptist Church Spring 2015 Chapter 5

2. Ezra / Nehemiah Timeline PERSIAN KINGDATESBIBLICAL CORRELATIONTime Line CYRUS539-530 Return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 1-3) Temple work begins 538 536 CAMBYSES530-522 Rebuilding at Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4)530 DARIUS I522-486 Haggai and Zechariah prophesy Temple Completed (Ezra 5-6) 520 516 XERXES486-464 Story of Esther (Esther 1-9) ARTAXERXES I464-423 Return of Ezra (Ezra 7-10) Return of Nehemiah (Nehemiah (1-2) Prophecy of Malachi 458 445 443 Chap 7 - 10 Chap 5 - 6 Chap 4:7-23 Chap 1 – 4:6,24

3. Ezra Chapter 6 – Royal Response Ezra 6:1-5 – Royal Action 1.What did Darius do when he received Tattenai’s letter? Where did he find the answer he sought? 2.How is the temple described? 3.How was the work financed? 4.Read Daniel 1:1-2. Ponder the thread through history. Share your thoughts with the group. The Holy Mary Church of Hamadan Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, a tomb believed by some to hold the remains of Esther and Mordechai Ecbatana (Hamadan)

4. Ezra Chapter 6 – Royal Response Ezra 6:6-12 – Royal Decree 5. What did Darius tell Tattenai and his companions to do regarding the work (v 6,7)? 6.What decree did he issue to help provide for the work (v8-10)? 7.What did he say the people should do in the temple (v10)? What can we learn? 8.What penalty would be incurred by any who opposed the work? 9.How was the work to be carried out?

5. Ezra Chapter 6 – Royal Response Ezra 6:13-18 – Tattenai Complies 10.How did Tattenai and his companions respond? 11.Thought question: Why does God allow help from the Persian Kings and not the Samaritans who lived in the land? 12.Based on what the people heard from Tattenai, what did they do, and what was the result (v14,15)? When was the work completed? 13.Whose voice did they really obey (Haggai 1:12)? 14.What did the people do when the temple was complete? How did they do this (v 16-18)?

6. Ezra Chapter 6 – Royal Response Ezra 6:19-22 15.What was the first feast celebrated at the temple? Describe the feast: What was done, and what was the purpose? How did the Israelites prepare to worship? 16.In addition to the people of Israel, who else participated in the feast (v21)? 17.Thought Question: How do you see God’s sovereignty on display in this passage?

7. Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word God’s work needs to be done in God’s way Zechariah 4:6 - Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Are we prepared to exercise our faith in the realities off everyday life? Ezra 6:8 I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue Who are you putting on your prayer list? Ezra 6:10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons

8. Ezra Overview Chapter 1 God stirs King Cyrus to act Chapter 2 God stirs the Israelites to return 50,000 obeyed Chapter 3 God is worshiped! the Altar is built, foundation laid Chapter 3 Old men remember the old temple and weep … “Sound heard far away.” Chapter 4 Opposition begins subversion, discouragement, fear, bribery, frustration Haggai 1 The people return to God

9. Timeline http://www.blueletterbible.org/images/rosepub/imageDisplay/#s=OT_timeline2_b