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 TEN EZRA SEEKS THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN FOREIGN WIVES V. 1 -8 ASSEMBLE ON THE 20 TH DAY OF THE NINTH MONTH V. 9 EZRA EXHORTS THEM: PUT AWAY THEIR FOREIGN WIVES V. 10 THEY AGREE BUT REQUEST TIME TO DO IT V. 11 -14 TIME IS GRANTED TO COMPLETE BY THE FIRST MONTH V. 15 -17 LIST OF THOSE WHO HAD FOREIGN WIVES V. 18 -44

READ: EZRA 10: 1 -2 1 While Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. 2 Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 1 -2 1 While Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. WHAT WAS EZRA DOING BEFORE THE HOUSE OF GOD? WHO HAD GATHERED WITH HIM? WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE DOING?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 1 -2 WHAT DID SOLOMON ASK THE LORD? READ: 1 KINGS 8: 30 -34 30 "You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. 33 "When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, 34 “Then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 1 -2 2 Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. WHO WAS SHECHANIAH? WHAT DID HE SAY TO EZRA? WHY WAS THERE HOPE FOR ISRAEL? HAD THEY REPENTED OF THEIR TRANGRESSIONS?

READ: EZRA 10: 3 -6 3 “Therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4 "Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it. "

READ: EZRA 10: 3 -6 5 Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath. 6 Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 3 “Therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. WHAT DID SHECHANIAH SUGGEST THEY DO? WHY PUT AWAY THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN? ACCORDING TO WHAT LAW? READ: DEUTERONOMY 24: 1 -4 READ: MATTHEW 19: 8 2 CORINTHIAN 6: 14

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 ACCORDING TO WHAT LAW? READ: DEUTERONOMY 24: 1 ? 1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, (NKJ) 2 “When the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. 3 "Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. 4 "For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. (NKJ) WHAT IS THIS CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCEMENT? WHO GAVE THIS WRITING OF DIVORCEMENT?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 ACCORDING TO WHAT LAW? READ: MATTHEW 19: 8 8 Jesus said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (NKJ) READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 6: 14 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? (NKJ) WHAT IS ‘UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER’? DOES THIS AGREE WITH DEUTERONOMY 7: 1 -4?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 4 "Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it. " WHAT DID SHECHANIAH TELL EZRA TO DO? WHO IS ‘WE’? WOULD THEY SUPPORT HIM? WHY IS THIS EZRA’S RESPONISBILITY?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 WHY IS THIS EZRA’S RESPONSIBILITY? READ: EZRA 7: 13 -14 13 I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand; (NKJ) EZRA 10: 4 4 "Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it. " WHY WOULD IT TAKE COURAGE TO DO THIS?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 5 Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath. WHAT DID EZRA MAKE THE PRIEST AND LEVITES DO? WHY MAKE THE ‘SWEAR AN OATH’? TO WHOM WOULD THEY MAKE THIS OATH? READ: DEUTERONMY 10: 20 20 "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 3 -6 6 Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity. WHERE DID EZRA GO? WHO WAS JEHOHANAN? HIGH PRIEST? 10 Joiada, READ: NEHEMIAH 12: 10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot WHAT DID EZRA DO? WHY DID HE MOURN? SHOULD WE MOURN FOR OTHERS GUILT?

READ: EZRA 10: 7 -9 7 They issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, 8 And that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity. 9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 7 -9 7 They issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE COMMANDED TO DO?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 7 -9 8 And that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DID NOT COME? DID EZRA HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS? READ: EZRA 7: 26 26 Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 7 -9 9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain. WHO GATHERED AT JERUSALEM? WHY WERE THE PEOPLE TREMBLING? READ: EZRA 9: 4 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

READ: EZRA 10: 10 -11 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. 11 "Now make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives. "

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 10 -11 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. 11 "Now make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives. " WHAT DID EZRA SAY TO THE PEOPLE? WHAT WERE THEY GUILTY OF? WHAT ARE THEY COMMANDED TO DO? WAS THIS GOD’S WILL?

READ: EZRA 10: 12 -15 12 All the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, "Yes! As you have said, so we must do. 13 "But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter.

READ: EZRA 10: 12 -15 14 "Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let all those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in this matter. " 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 12 -15 12 All the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, "Yes! As you have said, so we must do. 13 "But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter. HOW DID THE PEOPLE RESPOND TO EZRA? DID THEY HAVE A CHOICE IN THIS MATTER? WHY DID THEY NEED MORE TIME?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 12 -15 14 "Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let all those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in this matter. " 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support. WHAT WAS THERE REQUEST? WHO OPPOSED THIS PROPOSITION? WHO SUPPORTED IT? WHY COULD THEY NOT ALL AGREE?

READ: EZRA 10: 16 -19 16 The descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the fathers' households, were set apart by the fathers' households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 By the first day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives.

READ: EZRA 10: 16 -19 18 Among the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 16 -19 16 The descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the fathers' households, were set apart by the fathers' households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 By the first day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives. WHAT DID THE PEOPLE OF THE CAPTIVITY DO? WHO HAD AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THIS? HOW WAS THIS DECISION CARRIED OUT? HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE? TWO MONTHS?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 16 -19 18 Among the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering. WERE ANY OF THE PRIESTS GUILTY? WHO? WHAT DID THEY PROMISE TO DO?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 16 -19 19 They gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering. WHY DID THE OFFER A TRESPASS OFFERING? READ: LEVITICUS 6: 6 6 “He shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering, to the priest. (NKJ) WHAT LAW DID THEY TRANSGRESS?

WHO ELSE WAS GUILTY? READ: EZRA 10: 20 -26 20 Also of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah; 21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah; 22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. 25 And others of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah; 26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah;

WHO ELSE WAS GUILTY? READ: EZRA 10: 27 -33 27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza; 28 Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai; 29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth; 30 Of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh; 31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah; 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;

WHO ELSE WAS GUILTY? 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 READ: EZRA 10: 34 -42 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai, Bani, Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;

WHO ELSE WAS GUILTY? READ: EZRA 10: 43 -44 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44 All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: EZRA 10: 44 44 All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children. (NKJ) WHAT WERE THEY GUILTY OF? HOW MANY WERE LISTED ‘AS GUILTY’? 4 of the high priest's family 13 other priests 10 Levites 86 Israelites 113 TOTAL WHAT WERE THEY COMMANDED TO DO? WAS THIS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DIS-OBEYED?

HOW MANY CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL? EZRA 2: 64 & NEHEMIAH 7: 66 64 The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, (42, 360) HOW MANY WERE IN THE ASSEMBLY? HOW MANY WERE DEFILED? 42, 360 113 HOW MANY GAVE UP THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN? WHAT HAPPENED IF THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO THIS?