1. 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)?

2. 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 - PRIESTEZRA 2:2(536 BC)? JEREMIAH - PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)? JESHUA - HIGH PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)? EZRA - PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)? KING DARIUS:EZRA 1-6(538-516 BC)? ESTHER QUEEN OF PERSIA (478 BC)?(58 YEARS)? ARTAXERXES: EZRA 7-10(458-457 BC)? (ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS: 465-424 BC?)

3. OUTLINE CHAPTER SEVEN SEVENTH YEAR OF ARTAXERXES(458 BC)? EZRA, PRIESTS, AND LEVITES GO TO JERUSALEM V. 1-10 LETTER FROM ARTAXERXES CONCERNING THE JEWSV. 11-26 EZRA'S THANKSGIVING TO GODV. 27-28

4. READ:EZRA 7:1-5 1After these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest--

5. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:1-5 1After these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, ‘AFTER THESE THINGS’? HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED?(516-458 BC)? A GAP OF 57 YEARS? 58 YEARS AFTER KING CYRUS? WHO WAS KING OF PERSIA AT THIS TIME? WHEN DID HE REIGN?(458 BC)?

6. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:1-5 1After these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— IS THIS GENEALOGY OF EZRA COMPLETE? 16 GENERATIONS? OR 22 GENERATIONS?

7. READ:1 CHRONICLES 6:3-15 3The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehas begot Abishua; 5Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi; 6Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth; 7Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 8Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz; 9Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan; 10Johanan begot Azariah (it was he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem); 11Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 12Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum; 13Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah; 14Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak. 15Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (NKJ)TWENTY-TWO GENERATIONS?

8. READ:EZRA 7:6-8 6This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:6-8 6This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. WHAT WAS EZRA’S TRADE? WHERE WAS EZRA GOING? WHAT HAD THE KING GRANTED HIM? WHAT WAS EZRA’S REQUEST?

10. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:6-8 6This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. WHAT IS ‘ACCORDING TO THE HAND OF THE LORD’? READ:NEHEMIAH 2:8 8“A letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy." And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.(NKJ)

11. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:6-8 7Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. WHO WENT TO JERUSALEM WITH EZRA? WHEN DID EZRA GO UP TO JERUSALEM? (458 BC)?

12. READ:EZRA 7:9-12 9On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. 11This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel: 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.

13. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:9-12 9On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. WHEN DID EZRA BEGIN HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM? WHEN DID HE ARRIVE IN JERUSALEM? WHAT FAR: BABYLON TO JERUSALEM 520MILES? HOW LONG DID IT TAKE HIM TO GO 520 MILES?

14. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:9-12 9On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. WHY WAS ‘THE HAND OF THE LORD UPON HIM’? HOW HAD EZRA PREPARED HIS HEART? WHAT DID EZRA SEEK TO DO?

15. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:9-12 11This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel: 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth. WHAT DID THE KING WRITE ABOUT EZRA? WHY DID THE KING ADDRESS THE LETTER TO EZRA? WHAT KIND OF SCRIBE WAS EZRA?

16. READ:EZRA 7:13-16 13I 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. 14Whereas 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;

17. READ:EZRA 7:13-16 15And whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; 16And whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem--

18. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:13-16 13I 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. 14Whereas 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; WHO DID THE KING DECREE TO GO WITH EZRA? WHO SENT EZRA TO JERUSALEM? WHY WAS EZRA GOING TO JERUSALEM?

19. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:13-16 15And whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; 16And whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem— WHAT WAS EZRA TO CARRY WITH HIM? WHO OFFERED THIS ‘GOLD AND SILVER’? WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS OFFERING?

20. READ:EZRA 7:17-20 17Now therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.

21. READ:EZRA 7:17-20 19Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king's treasury.

22. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:17-20 17Now therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. WHAT COULD EZRA BUY WITH THIS MONEY? WHAT SHOULD EZRA DO WITH THESE THINGS?

23. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:17-20 18And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God. 19Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. WHAT ELSE COULD THEY PURCHASE? HOW WERE THEY TOLD TO DO THIS? WOULD THEY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

24. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:17-20 20And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king's treasury. WERE PROVISIONS MADE FOR OTHER NECESSITIES? HOW WERE THEY TO BE FUNDED?

25. READ:EZRA 7:21-23 21And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, do issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, 22Up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. 23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

26. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:21-23 21And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, do issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, 22Up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. WHO IS THE KING ADDRESSING HERE? WHAT WERE THEY COMMANDED TO DO? WAS THERE A LIMIT TO WHAT EZRA COULD REQUIRE?

27. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:21-23 23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? WHO IS GIVING THE COMMANDS HERE? HOW SHOULD IT BE HANDLED? WHY IS THE KING DOING THIS?

28. READ:EZRA 7:24-26 24Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God. 25And 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. 26Whoever 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.

29. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:24-26 24Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God. WHO IS THE KING TALKING TO HERE? WHAT DID HE TELL THEM ‘NOT TO DO’?

30. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:24-26 25And 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. WHAT DID THE KING TELL EZRA TO DO? WHY SET UP MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES? WHAT WAS EZRA TO TEACH THEM?

31. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:24-26 25Whoever 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. WHO WOULD ENFORCE THESE LAWS? WHAT WAS THE PUNISHMENT FOR DISOBEDIENCE?

32. READ:EZRA 7:27-28 27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28And has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.(NKJ)

33. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:27-28 27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, WHY DID EZRA BLESS THE GOD OF HEAVEN? WHAT DID THE LORD PUT IN THE KING’S HEART?

34. QUESTIONS:EZRA 7:27-28 28And has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.(NKJ) HOW DID THE LORD EXTEND HIS MERCY? WHAT EFFECT DID THIS HAVE ON EZRA? HOW DID EZRA RESPOND?