EZRA

(Answers)

 

Updated 12/2023

 

CHAPTER 1

  1. King Cyrus issued the first decree to rebuild the temple.
  2. All the articles of silver and gold used for the service of the temple were sent back in addition to livestock and other free will offerings.

 

CHAPTER 2

  1. Some were excluded from the priesthood because they could not be identified through genealogy that their fathers were of the priests of Israel.
  2. 42,360 people came back from Babylon.
  3. 7,337 servants came with the people

 

CHAPTER 3

  1. The people feared the other nations around them.
  2. They song songs and played music before the Lord as David had done when the Ark of The Covenant was returned to Jerusalem.
  3. Some shouted for joy, others wept emotionally.

 

CHAPTER 4

  1. The adversaries wanted to cause trouble and have the rebuilding of the temple stopped.
  2. a. King Artaxerxes was king at this time. b. They told the king that the Jews would rebel against him as they had done others in the past. He would not receive tribute from them, and his treasury would be diminished.
  3. The rebuilding of the temple resumed in the second year of Darius king of Persia.

 

CHAPTER 5

  1. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah motivated the people to resume rebuilding of the temple.
  2. a. King Darius was king at this time. b. They had him search the records and find the decree issued by King Cyrus stating that the temple of God should be rebuilt.

 

CHAPTER 6

  1. King Darius provided all the materials needed to rebuild the temple, even the animals for the burnt offerings and the food for the special offerings. He threatened to kill anyone who tried to stop the rebuilding.
  2. In the sixth year of King Darius the temple was finished.

 

CHAPTER 7

  1. Ezra was a descendent of Aaron and a skilled scribe and teacher of the Law of Moses.
  2. King Artaxerxes gave Ezra gold and silver to purchase the bulls, rams, sheep, grain, and drink to be offered to God in the temple.

 

CHAPTER 8

  1. a. There were no servants or people of the sons of Levi for the temple. b. Two hundred fifty-eight were recruited for servants in the temple.
  2. Ezra told the king that his God would protect them on their journey.
  3. Ezra fasted and prayed before God for His protection on their journey.

 

CHAPTER 9

  1. a. The people had intermarried with the people of the land from whom they were to keep separate. b. Ezra was greatly distressed. He tore his robe and plucked his hair. Ezra then fasted and prayed, confessing their sin before God.

 

CHAPTER 10

  1. Ezra told the people to put away their pagan wives and children.
  2. It took three months to put away the pagan wivesw and children as each Israelite was questioned on an individual basis.