1. After The Fall Ezra and Nehemiah Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem Ezra Chapters 7-8

2. Announcements

3. WeekDateTopic 104 Sep 13Rebuilding the Temple: Ezra 1-3 211 Sep 13Opposition to Rebuilding the Temple: Ezra 4-6 318 Sep 13Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem: Ezra 7-8 425 Sep 13Ezra’s Prayer: Ezra 9-10 502 Oct 13Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem: Nehemiah 1-2 609 Oct 13Rebuilding the Walls: Nehemiah 3-4 716 Oct 13Nehemiah Helps the Poor: Nehemiah 5-6 823 Oct 13Nehemiah Reads the Law: Nehemiah 7-8 930 Oct 13Israelites Confess Their Sins: Nehemiah 9-10 1006 Nov 13New Residents of Jerusalem: Nehemiah 11-12 1113 Nov 13 Nehemiah's Final Reforms: Nehemiah 13 1220 Nov 13 Summary of Ezra and Nehemiah 1327 Nov 13 Malachi 1-4 Nehemiah

4. Today’s Objectives Review last weeks lesson on Nehemiah 5-6 Provide an overview of Ezra’s return Learn what the king of Persia’s letter said about Ezra’s return Learn about those that came with Ezra Learn about the Ezra’s journey from Babylon to Jerusalem Learn about Ezra’s arrival in Babylon and what happens during the first several days

5. Overview of Ezra Two distinct parts: –Part 1 – From 538-515 BC, return, rebuilding the temple –Part 2 – Around 459 BC, Ezra’s arrival and teaching, first and third person writing style Ezra was a priest and scribe, son of Seraiah and a lineal descendant of Phinehas, the son of Aaron Ezra is sent by the Persian king to Jerusalem to enforce religious laws Ezra leads the second body of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in 459 BC Book of Ezra is a work of religious history Describes his religious reforms, including introduction of the law and divorce of foreign wives

6. Babylonian Empire Under Nebuchadnezzar (600 BC) Turkey Iran Iraq Saudi Arabia

7. Achaemenid Persian Empire Under Cyrus (530 BC) Iran Afghanistan Syria Iraq Turkmenistan Pakistan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan India Saudi Arabia Turkey Azerbaijan Georgia Armenia Kazakhstan China

9. Main Characters of Chapter 7-8 Sheshbazzar (Persian name)/Zerubbabel - Prince of Judah, at the head of the first Jews that returned to Jerusalem after the Exile Ahasuerus – some call Xerxes, ruled around 485- 465 BC, tried to prevent rebuilding of the city Artaxerxes - reigned between 464 and 424 BC Sons of Levi – descendents of the priestly line of Levi

10. Places of Chapter 7-8 Judah – region of southern Israel, strategically located on the mountains overlooking the Jordan river Jerusalem – capital of Judah, or the southern kingdom, “city of David”, location of the temple Babylon – South of modern day Baghdad, Iraq; place where Ezra left to journey to Jerusalem Persia – part of modern day Iran

11. 612 BC — Fall of the Assyrian Empire 587 BC – Nebuchadnezzar’s third attack on Jerusalem, remaining people carried away 546 BC – Cyrus becomes king of Persia 539 BC – Cyrus conquers Babylon 535 BC – Second temple reconstruction begins (approx) 515 BC – Second temple reconstruction completes 480 BC – The Battle of Thermopylae (Persians against Greeks) 458 BC – Ezra returns to Jerusalem 458 BC – Cincinnatus is named dictator of the Roman Republic 454 BC – Athens loses a fleet and possibly as many as 50,000 men in a failed attempt to aid an Egyptian revolt against Persia 445 BC – Artaxerxes I gives Nehemiah permission to rebuild Jerusalem Geopolitical Situation

12. Overview of Ezra’s Return (Ezra 7:1-10) Genealogy of Ezra (7:1-5) –60 years pass between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7 or 458 BC –Artaxerxes ruled Persia 465-424 BC, successor to Xerxes, the king who married Esther –Events of Esther took place between Ezra 6 and 7 –Ezra was a descendent of both Aaron, Zadok, and Seraiah Ezra, a skilled scribe (7:6) –Came up from Babylon –An expert in the law of Moses –Artaxerxes granted him all of his requests

14. Ezra’s arrival to Jerusalem (7:7-10) –Traveled for four months to reach Jerusalem –Came to teach the Law of the Lord to Israel –Seek, do, and teach God’s word (Guzik) Overview of Ezra’s Return (Ezra 7:1-10)

15. Letter of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-28) Xerxes directs resources to the temple (7:11-16) –All the people of Israel that volunteer to go back, may go back –Sending Ezra to inquire of Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of God –Travel with gold and silver from the kingdom for the house of God in Jerusalem Providing for the temple expenses (7:17-22) –For grain and drink offerings –King’s treasurer will provide for the temple –Whatever Ezra wants, he is to be given

16. Motives of Artaxerxes (7:23) –Wanted to avoid the wrath against his kingdom –Shows his belief in God’s power, but exposes his desire to protect his kingdom from many enemies Ezra’s legal power to enforce God’s laws (7:24-26) –No taxes on priests, Levites, etc. –Ezra establishes magistrates and judges to judge all in the region beyond the Euphrates –Establishes punishment for failure to abide by the law Ezra gives thanks (7:27-28) –Credits God with his blessings, leaves encouraged Letter of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-28)

17. Those who came with Ezra (Ezra 8:1-20) List of families (8:1-14) –Similar to 7:1-10 –Prominent family names, counting only men –1496 men in the group, around 7,000 total Lack of Levites in the group (8:15) –None of the sons of Levi were at the initial camp Ezra addresses the lack of Levites (8:16-20) –Ezra sends an appeal, who will serve the temple? –Iddo’s influence brought many servants, 38 Levites, and 220 Nethinims, the descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties of the temple

18. On the Journey (Ezra 8:21-32) Prayer of protection (8:21-23) –River Ahava, Ezra proclaims a fast, prayer –Refused a king’s escort, to show the hand of God Distribution of treasures (8:24-30) –Divided the silver, gold, and articles –Among 12 leaders of the priests –As the priests are holy, so are the treasures Departure and arrival in Jerusalem (8:31-32) –Departed the Ahava on 12 th day of the first month –Came to Jerusalem and stayed three days –Hand of God was upon them (protect, guide, and bless)

19. Arrival in Jerusalem (Ezra 8:33-36) Precious articles offered to the Lord (8:33-34) –On the fourth day, silver and gold is weighed, recorded –Possibly to prove the integrity of the men with Ezra Sacrificial offerings made to the Lord (8:35) –Children of those carried away –Offer burnt offerings Artaxerxes orders are presented (8:36) –Delivered to the king’s representatives –They give support to the people and to the temple

21. Review Reviewed last weeks lesson Provided an overview of Ezra’s return Learned that King Artaxerxes of Persia directed complete support for Ezra’s return to Jerusalem Learned about those that came with Ezra Learned about the Ezra’s journey of faith from Babylon to Jerusalem Learned about Ezra’s arrival in Babylon and what happens during the first several days Next week – Ezra 9-10, Ezra’s message in Jerusalem, the people’s confession and repentance