THE TEMPLE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE (959 BC)? TEMPLE REPAIRED BY JOSIAH (640 BC)? DESTROYED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR (586 BC)? PROPHESIED BY ISAIAH (712 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 (516-458 BC)?

ZERUBBABEL - SHESHBAZZAR - LEVITE LEVITES WHO CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL 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 (538-516 BC)? ESTHER QUEEN OF PERSIA (478 BC)? (58 YEARS)? ARTAXERXES: EZRA 7-10 (458-457 BC)? (ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS: 465-424 BC?)

EZRA CHAPTER FOUR SAMARITANS TRY TO STOP THEIR WORK V. 1-5 SAMARITANS SENT A LETTER TO ARTAXERXES V. 6-9 A COPY OF THE LETTER V. 10-16 ARTAXERXES STOPS THE WORK ON THE TEMPLE: NO WORK IS DONE UNTIL THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS V. 17-24

READ: EZRA 4:1-2 1 The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, 2 They came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do. And we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

WHO WERE THE DESCENDENTS OF THE CAPTIVITY? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:1-2 1 The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, WHO WERE THE DESCENDENTS OF THE CAPTIVITY? WHO WERE THEIR ADVERSARIES? SAMARITANS? WHAT DID THEY HEAR?

WHAT DID THEY WANT TO DO? WHY? WHO DID THEY MAKE SACRIFICE TO? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:1-2 2 They came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do. And we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.“ WHAT DID THEY WANT TO DO? WHY? WHO DID THEY MAKE SACRIFICE TO?

WHAT DID THEY WANT TO DO? WHY? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:1-2 WHAT DID THEY WANT TO DO? WHY? READ: 2 KINGS 17:26-28 26 They spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land." 27 The king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there. Let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land." 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. (NKJ)

READ: EZRA 4:3-5 3 Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God. We alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." 4 The people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THEIR REQUEST? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:3-5 3 Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God. We alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THEIR REQUEST? WHY NOT LET THE SAMARITANS HELP THEM? WHO WAS COMMANDED TO BUILD THE TEMPLE?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:3-5 WHO WAS COMMANDED TO BUILD THE TEMPLE? READ: 2 CHRONICLES 36:22-23 (529 BC)? 22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up! (NKJ)

WHAT DID THE SAMARITANS TRY TO DO? WHY? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:3-5 4 The people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. WHAT DID THE SAMARITANS TRY TO DO? WHY? WHAT DID THEY HIRE COUNSELORS TO DO? HOW LONG DID THIS GO ON? KING DARIUS (538-516 BC)?

READ: EZRA 4:6-7 6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language.

WHO WAS AHASUERUS? CAMBYSES (529-522 BC)? WHAT DID THE SAMARITANS DO? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:6-7 6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. WHO WAS AHASUERUS? CAMBYSES (529-522 BC)? WHAT DID THE SAMARITANS DO?

(HE REIGNED SEVEN MONTHS 521 BC)? WHO WROTE A LETTER TO ARTAXERXES? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:6-7 7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script and translated into the Aramaic language. WHO WAS ARTAXERSES? (HE REIGNED SEVEN MONTHS 521 BC)? WHO WROTE A LETTER TO ARTAXERXES? WHY THE WRITE THE LETTER IN ARAMAIC?

WHY THE WRITE THE LETTER IN ARAMAIC? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:6-7 WHY THE WRITE THE LETTER IN ARAMAIC? READ: 2 KINGS 18:26 26 Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.“ (NKJ)

READ: EZRA 4:8-10 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion: 9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions-- representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River-- and so forth.

WHAT DID REHUM AND SHIMSHAI DO? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:8-10 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion: 9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions-- representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, WHAT DID REHUM AND SHIMSHAI DO? WHAT NAMES WERE INCLUDED IN THE LETTER? WHY?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:8-10 10 The rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River-- and so forth. WHO IS OSNAPPER? WHAT DID HE DO?

READ: EZRA 4:11-13 11 This is a copy of the letter that they sent him: To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth: 12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king's treasury will be diminished.

WHO IS THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO? WHO ARE ‘THE SERVANTS’? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:11-13 11 This is a copy of the letter that they sent him: To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth: 12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. WHO IS THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO? WHO ARE ‘THE SERVANTS’? WHAT DID THEY WANT TO BE KNOWN? WHAT WERE THE JEWS DOING?

WHAT DID THEY WANT TO BE KNOWN? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:11-13 13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king's treasury will be diminished. WHAT DID THEY WANT TO BE KNOWN? WHAT DID THEY SAY THE JEWS WOULD NOT DO? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE KING’S TREASURY?

READ: EZRA 4:14-16 14 Because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king's dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.

WHAT WERE THEY RECEIVING FROM THE KING? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:14-16 14 Because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king's dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, WHAT WERE THEY RECEIVING FROM THE KING? WHY DID THEY SEND THE LETTER TO THE KING? WHAT WAS NOT PROPER FOR THEM?

PREDECESSORS: CAMBYSES, CYRUS, ARTAXERXES? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:14-16 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. WHO ARE THEIR FATHERS? PREDECESSORS: CAMBYSES, CYRUS, ARTAXERXES? WHAT BOOKS DID THEY SEARCH? CHRONICLES?

WHAT BOOKS DID THEY SEARCH? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:14-16 WHAT BOOKS DID THEY SEARCH? READ: ESTHER 2:23 23 When an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows. And it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. (NKJ) READ: ESTHER 10:2 2 All the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

WHAT WILL THEY FIND IN THE BOOKS? WHY WAS THE CITY DESTROYED? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:14-16 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River. WHY SEARCH THE BOOKS? WHAT WILL THEY FIND IN THE BOOKS? WHY WAS THE CITY DESTROYED? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF JERUSALEM IS REBUILT?

READ: EZRA 4:17-20 17 The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. 19 I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.

HOW DID THE KING RESPOND? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:17-20 17 The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. HOW DID THE KING RESPOND?

WHAT DID HE FIND WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:17-20 19 I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. WHAT DID HE FIND WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS?

READ: EZRA 4:21-22 21 Give the command to make these men cease. And that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

WHAT DID THE KING COMMAND THEM TO DO? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:21-22 21 Give the command to make these men cease. And that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? WHAT DID THE KING COMMAND THEM TO DO? WHY?

READ: EZRA 4:23-24 23 When the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (NKJ)

WHO WAS THIS LETTER READ TO? WHAT DID THEY DO? QUESTIONS: EZRA 4:23-24 23 The copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, They went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. WHO WAS THIS LETTER READ TO? WHAT DID THEY DO? WHAT HAPPEN TO THE WORK ON THE TEMPLE? HOW LONG DID THE WORK CEASE?