THE TEMPLE SOLOMONS TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE

THE TEMPLE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE (959 BC)? DESTROYED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR (586 BC)? ZERUBBABEL’S TEMPLE RECONSTRUCTION UNDER CYRUS (536 BC)? BUILDING CEASES UNDER ARTAXERXES (17 YEARS)? BUILDING CONTINUES UNDER DARIUS (519 BC)? TEMPLE COMPLETED UNDER DARIUS (516 BC)? (516 -458 BC)? HEROD’S TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN (20 BC)? COMPLETED 46 YEARS (JOHN 2: 20) (64 AD)?

CHRONOLOGY OF BOOKS OBADIAH (605 -585 BC)? EZEKIEL (593 -571 BC)? DANIEL EZRA (605 -530 BC)? (538 -457 BC)? ZECHARIAH (520 -480 BC)? ESTHER (479 -478 BC)? NEHEMIAH (445 -432 BC)? MALACHI (440 -430 BC)?

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY NEBUCHADNEZZAR DANIEL 1: 1 (539 BC)? CYRUS EZRA 1 -3 (538 -537 BC)? AHASUERUS EZRA 4 (7 MONTHS) (537 BC)? DARIUS EZRA 5 -6 (536 -516 BC)? QUEEN ESTHER 2 -10 (479 -478 BC)? ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS EZRA 7 -10 NEHEMIAH 1 -13 (465 -424 BC)? (458 -457 BC)? (445 -432 BC)?

PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NEBUCHADNEZZAR - DESTROYED JERUSALEM (586 BC)? ARTAXERXES - KING OF PERSIA LONGIMANUS - SON OF XERXES 465 -425 BC? NEHEMIAH - COMFORTED OF YAHWEH SON OF HACHALIAH - BROTHER OF HANANI 445 -433 BC? ADVERSARIES OF NEHEMIAH SANBALLAT THE HORONITE - GOVERNOR OF SAMARIA TOBIAH THE AMMONITE - JOINT GOVERNOR WITH SANBALLAT GESHEM THE ARAB - CHIEF OF THE ARABS IN SAMARIA ELIASHIB THE HIGH PRIEST EZRA THE PRIEST - THE SCRIBE

OUTLINE NEHEMIAH CHAPTER EIGHT LAW IS READ AND INTERPRETED TO THE PEOPLE: V. 1 -8 THE EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE: V. 9 THE PEOPLE ARE EXHORTED TO BE REJOICE: V. 10 -12 EZRA READS FROM THE BOOK OF THE LAW: V. 13 -18

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 1 -3 1 All the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 1 -3 1 All the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. WHERE DID THE PEOPLE GATHER? WHAT DID THEY TELL EZRA THE SCRIBE? IS THE SAME EZRA IN THE BOOK OF EZRA?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 1 -3 2 Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. WHO WAS PRESENT? WHY ALL WHO COULD HEAR WITH UNDERSTANDING? HOW LONG DID EZRA READ? HOW DID THE PEOPLE RESPOND? WAS THIS THE LORD’S WILL?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 1 -3 WHAT HAD EZRA PREPARED HIS HEART FOR? READ: EZRA 7: 10 10 Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. (NKJ) WHAT DID ARTAXERXES TELL EZRA? READ: EZRA 7: 25 25 You, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them. (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. They bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. WHY WAS EZRA STANDING ON A PLATFORM? WHO STOOD WITH HIM? WHO WERE THESE MEN? READ: EZRA 8: 16 16 I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. WHAT DID EZRA DO? WHY DID THEY ALL STAND UP? SHOULD WE STAND WHEN GOD’S WORD IS READ?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. They bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. HOW DID EZRA ‘BLESS THE LORD’? HOW DID THE PEOPLE REPOND? WHAT DOES ‘AMEN, AMEN’ MEAN? WHAT ABOUT ‘LIFTING UP THEIR HANDS’? OR ‘WORSHIP WITH THEIR FACES ON THE GROUND’?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 WHAT IS THE PROPER POSTURE FOR WORSHIP? ‘LIFT UP HOLY HANDS’? READ: 1 KINGS 8: 22 22 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; (NKJ) READ: 1 TIMOTHY 2: 8 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 WHAT IS THE PROPER POSTURE FOR WORSHIP? ‘KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY’? READ: DANIEL 6: 10 10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (NKJ) READ: PSALMS 95: 6 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 WHAT IS THE PROPER POSTURE FOR WORSHIP? ‘KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY’? READ: ACTS 7: 60 60 Stephen knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin. " When he had said this, he fell asleep. (NKJ) READ: ACTS 9: 40 40 Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise. “ She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up. READ: ACTS 20: 36 36 When Paul had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 4 -6 WHAT IS THE PROPER POSTURE FOR WORSHIP? READ: JOB 1: 20 20 Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. (NKJ) READ: EPHESIANS 3: 14 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ) READ: 1 TIMOTHY 2: 8 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 7 -9 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 They read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. 9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn nor weep. " For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 7 -9 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. WHO WERE THESE MEN? HOW DID THEY HELP THE PEOPLE? WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO TEACH? READ: 2 TIMOTHY 2: 2 2 The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 7 -9 8 They read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? ‘READ DISTINCTLY? ‘GAVE THEM THE SENSE’? READ: ACTS 8: 30 -31 30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading? " 31 He said, "How can I, unless someone guides me? “ He asked Philip to come up and sit with him. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 7 -9 9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep. " For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. WHAT DID NEHEMIAH, EZRA AND THE LEVITES TELL THE PEOPLE? WHY WAS THIS DAY ‘HOLY TO THE LORD’? WHY WERE THEY TOLD NOT TO WEEP OR MOURN? WHY WERE THEY WEEPING?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 7 -9 WHY WERE THEY TOLD NOT TO WEEP? READ: JOEL 2: 12 12 "Now, therefore, " says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. “ (NKJ) READ: ECCLESIASTES 3: 4 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 10 -12 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. " 11 The Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved. " 12 All the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 10 -12 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. " WHAT DID NEHEMIAH TELL THEM? WHY WAS THIS TO BE A DAY OF REJOICING? WHO WERE THEY TO SEND PORTIONS TO?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 10 -12 11 The Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved. " 12 All the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. WHAT DID THE LEVITES TELL THE PEOPLE? HOW DID THE PEOPLE RESPOND? WHY REJOICE? READ: PSALMS 118: 24 24 This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 13 -15 13 On the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 They should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written. "

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 13 -15 13 On the second day the heads of the fathers‘ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. WHO DID THEY GATHER TO? WHY EZRA? WHAT WERE THEY SEEKING? REMEMBER: EZRA 7: 25 25 You, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 13 -15 14 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, WHAT DID THEY FIND WRITTEN IN THE LAW? FEAST OF TABERNACLES? READ: LEVITICUS 23: 34 -43 DEUTERONOMY 16: 13 -17

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 13 -15 WHAT DID THEY FIND WRITTEN IN TH E LAW? READ: LEVITICUS 23: 34 34 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. READ: LEVITICUS 23: 42 -43 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 13 -15 15 They should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written. “ WHAT DID THEY TELL THE PEOPLE TO DO? WHAT WERE THEY TO BUILD?

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 16 -17 16 The people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 16 -18 16 The people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. HOW DID THE PEOPLE RESPOND TO THIS? WHERE DID THEY SET UP THESE BOOTHS?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 16 -18 17 The whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. WHAT DID THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY DO? HAD THIS FEAST BEEN NEGLECTED SINCE JOSHUA? READ: EZRA 3: 4 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 8: 18 18 Day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 8: 18 18 Day by day, from the first day until the last day, He read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner. WHO IS ‘HE’? WHAT DID HE DO ‘DAY BY DAY’? WHAT DID THE PEOPLE DO? WAS THIS A ‘SACRED ASSEMBLY’? READ: LEVITICUS 23: 36 36 Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. (NKJ)