THE TEMPLE SOLOMONS TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE

THE TEMPLE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE DESTROYED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR (959 BC)? (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)?

PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ZERUBBABEL - SHESHBAZZAR - LEVITE GOVERNOR OF JUDAH - HAGGAI 1: 1 (536 BC)? KING CYRUS: EZRA 1: 1 (536 BC)? LEVITES WHO CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL NEHEMIAH - PRIEST EZRA 2: 2 (536 BC)? JEREMIAH - PRIEST NEHEMIAH 12: 1 (536 BC)? JESHUA - HIGH PRIEST NEHEMIAH 12: 1 (536 BC)? EZRA - PRIEST NEHEMIAH 12: 1 (536 BC)? KING DARIUS: EZRA 1 -6 ESTHER QUEEN OF PERSIA (478 BC)? ARTAXERXES: EZRA 7 -10 (ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS: 465 -424 BC? ) (538 -516 BC)? (58 YEARS)? (458 -457 BC)?

OUTLINE CHAPTER EIGHT GENEALOGY OF PERSONS WHO WENT WITH EZRA V. 1 -14 NO LEVITES AMONG THEM; LEVITES FOUND AT AHAVA V. 15 -20 FAST FOR DIVINE PROTECTION ON THEIR JOURNEY V. 21 -23 EZRA DELIVERS THE GOLD, SILVER, ETC TO THE PRIESTS THEY BRING IT TO THE HIGH PRIEST IN JERUSALEM V. 24 -30 AT JERUSALEM EVERYTHING IS ACCOUNTED FOR V. 31 -34 THEY OFFER BURNT-OFFERINGS TO GOD V. 35 DELIVER THE KING'S COMMISSIONS TO HIS LIEUTENANTS V. 36

READ: EZRA 8: 1 -5 1 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3 of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; 4 of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; 5 of the sons of Shechaniah, Ben-Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males;

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 1 -5 1 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: WHO ARE THE ‘HEADS OF THEIR FATHERS’? ‘THE CHIEF MEN OF EACH TRIBE’? ALSO RECORDED IN (EZRA 2: 3 -15) WHO WENT UP WITH EZRA FROM BABYLON? WHERE DID THEY GO? WHEN? (458 BC)? IS THE SECOND TIME?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 1 -5 1 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3 of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; (150) 4 of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; (200) 5 of the sons of Shechaniah, Ben-Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males; (300)

QUESTIONS: 6 EZRA 8: 6 -10 of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males; (50) 7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males; (70) 8 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males; (80) 9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males; (218) 10 of the sons of Shelomith, Ben-Josiphiah, and with him one hundred and sixty males; (160)

QUESTIONS: 11 EZRA 8: 11 -14 of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males; (28) 12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten males; (110) 13 of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males; (60) 14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. (70)

READ: EZRA 8: 15 -17 15 I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there. 16 I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia-- that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.

QUESTIONS: 15 EZRA 8: 15 -17 I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava and we camped there three days. I looked among the people and the priests and found none of the sons of Levi there. WHY WERE THERE NO LEVITES PRESENT? WHO WENT UP WITH HIM THE FIRST TIME? READ: EZRA 3: 8 8 In the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites. All those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 15 -17 16 I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and - I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia-- that they should bring us servants for the house of our God. WHO DID EZRA SEND FOR? WHERE DID HE SEND THEM? CASIPHIA? WHO WERE THEY TOLD TO SEE? IDDO? WHAT MESSAGE DID HE SEND TO IDDO? WHO WERE THE NETHINIM?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 15 -17 WHO WERE THE NETHINIM? READ: 1 CHRONICLES 9: 1 -2 1 All Israel was recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2 The first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim. (NKJ) SERVANTS OF THE LEVITES?

READ: EZRA 8: 18 -20 18 Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; 19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; 20 Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name.

QUESTIONS: 18 EZRA 8: 18 -20 Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; HOW WAS THE HAND OF THE LORD UPON THEM? WHO WAS SHEREBIAH? WHAT IS SAID ABOUT HIM? HOW MANY MEN CAME WITH THEM? READ: NEHEMIAH 12: 12 -21

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 18 -20 HOW MANY MEN CAME WITH HIM? 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 READ: NEHEMIAH 12: 12 -21 In the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers' houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; of Abijah, Zichri; the son of Minjamin; of Moadiah, Piltai; of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethaneal. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: 19 EZRA 8: 18 -20 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; WHO WAS JESHAIAH? READ: 1 CHRONICLES 3: 19 -21 19 The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister, 20 And Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed -- five in all. 21 The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the sons of Shechaniah. (NKJ) THE GRANDSON OF ZERUBBABEL?

QUESTIONS: 20 EZRA 8: 18 -20 Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name. WHO WAS APPOINTED AS SERVANTS TO THE LEVITES? HOW MANY NETHINIM WERE THERE? HOW WERE THESE MEN INDENTIFIED?

READ: EZRA 8: 21 -23 21 I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him. " 23 We fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

QUESTIONS: 21 EZRA 8: 21 -23 I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. WHY DID EZRA PROCLAIM A FAST? WHAT DID HE SEEK FROM THE LORD?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 21 -23 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him. " 23 We fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. WHY DIDN’T EZRA SEEK AN ESCORT FROM THE KING? WHAT HAD EZRA SAID TO THE KING? DID GOD ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS?

READ: EZRA 8: 24 -28 24 I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests-Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them-- 25 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered.

READ: EZRA 8: 24 -28 26 I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27 Twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold. 28 I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 24 -28 24 I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests-Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them-25 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered. WHO DID EZRA SEPARATE FROM THE PRIESTS? WERE THESE MEN TRUSTWORTHY? WHAT DID HE COMMIT TO THEIR TRUST?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 24 -28 26 I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27 Twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold. WHAT WAS THE TOTAL VALUE OF THESE ARTICLES? 450 LBS OF SILVER 45, 000 LBS OF GOLD $1, 038, 600 BRITISH POUND STERLING

QUESTIONS: 28 EZRA 8: 24 -28 I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. WHAT DID EZRA SAY TO THEM? WHY COMMIT THESE THINGS TO LEVITES? READ: NUMBERS 1: 50 50 “You shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings. They shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle. (NKJ)

READ: EZRA 8: 29 -31 29 "Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. " 30 The priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31 We departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.

QUESTIONS: 29 EZRA 8: 29 -31 "Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. " HOW WERE THEY TO KEEP THESE VALUABLES? WHY WEIGH THEM AGAIN IN JERUSALEM?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 29 -31 30 The priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31 We departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. HOW DID THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES RECEIVE THEM? WHERE WERE THEY TO DELIVER THEM? WHEN DID THEY LEAVE TO GO TO JERUSALEM? HOW WAS THE ‘HAND OF THE LORD UPON THEM?

READ: EZRA 8: 32 -34 32 We came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days. 33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, 34 With the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 32 -34 32 33 We came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days. On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, 34 With the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time. WHERE DID THEY DELIVER THESE VALUABLES? WHY WEIGH THEM AGAIN? WHO WAS PRESENT FOR THE WEIGHING? WAS EVERYTHING ACCOUNTED FOR?

READ: EZRA 8: 35 -36 35 The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 35 -36 35 The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. WHAT DID THEY OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS TO GOD? WHY TWELVE BULLS? WHY NINTY-SIX RAMS? WHY SEVENTY-SEVEN LAMBS? WHY TWELVE MALE GOATS?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 8: 35 -36 36 They delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God. (NKJ) WHO DID THEY DELIVER THE KING’S ORDERS TO? HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THE KING’S ORDERS?