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 THREE ALTAR OF BURNT-OFFERINGS IS SET UP V. 1-3 FEAST OF TABERNACLES IS KEPT V. 4-6 PROVISIONS MADE FOR REBUILDING THE TEMPLE AND LAY ITS FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE V. 7-8 CEREMONIES ARE KEPT V. 9-11 SOME WEEP AND OTHERS SHOUT FOR JOY V. 12-18

READ: EZRA 3:1-2 1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:1-2 1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? WERE THE PEOPLE UNITED IN THIS EFFORT?

WHO WAS JESHUA? ZERUBBABEL? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:1-2 1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. WHO WAS JESHUA? ZERUBBABEL?

ZERUBBABEL WAS THE SON OF SHEALTIEL QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:1-2 WHO WAS ZERUBBABEL? READ: HAGGAI 1:1 1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, (NKJ) READ: HAGGAAI 2:2 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: (NKJ) ZERUBBABEL WAS THE SON OF SHEALTIEL THE GOVERNOR OF JUDAH

JESHUA WAS THE SON OF JEHOZADAK QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:1-2 WHO WAS JESHUA? READ: HAGGAI 1:1 1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, READ: HAGGAAI 2:2 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: (NKJ) JESHUA WAS THE SON OF JEHOZADAK THE HIGH PRIEST

WHY DID THEY BUILD AN ATLAR? MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THEIR SINS? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:1-2 1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. WHY DID THEY BUILD AN ATLAR? MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THEIR SINS? OBTAIN GOD’S BLESSING?

READ: EZRA 3:3-5 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. 5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD.

WHERE DID BUILD THE ALTAR? ON THE BASES OF THE ORIGINAL ALTAR? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. WHERE DID BUILD THE ALTAR? ON THE BASES OF THE ORIGINAL ALTAR? WHAT DID THEY OFFER TO THE LORD? WHEN SHOULD THEY OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS??

WHEN SHOULD THEY OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 WHEN SHOULD THEY OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS? READ: EXODUS 29:38-39 38 “This is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 "One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. READ: LEVITICUS 6:9 9 "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.

HOW DID THEY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. HOW DID THEY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES?

WHY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. WHY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? READ: LEVITICUS 23:34 34 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. (NKJ) READ: NEHEMIAH 8:14 14 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, (NKJ)

WHY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 WHY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? READ: ZECHARIAH 14:18 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (NKJ) READ: EZRA 3:4 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. WHAT WAS THE ORDINANCE? READ: NUMBERS 29:13-17

WHAT OTHER OFFERINGS DID THEY OFFER? WHAT IS A ‘FREEWILL OFFERING’? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:3-5 5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD. WHAT OTHER OFFERINGS DID THEY OFFER? WHAT IS A ‘FREEWILL OFFERING’? READ: EXODUS 35:29 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.

WHAT IS A ‘FREEWILL OFFERING’? READ: LEVITICUS 22:21 21 ‘Whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. READ: DEUTERONOMY 16:10 10 “You shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. (NKJ)

READ: EZRA 3:6-7 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. 7 They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO BRING THEIR OFFERINGS? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:6-7 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO BRING THEIR OFFERINGS? WHAT WAS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY? BRING OFFERINGS TO THE LORD? OR BUILD THE TEMPLE?

HOW DID THEY SUPPORT THE WORK? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:6-7 7 They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia. HOW DID THEY SUPPORT THE WORK? WHY GIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF TYRE AND SIDON? WHO GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DO THIS? READ: EZRA 1:1-4

READ: EZRA 3:8-9 8 In the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:8-9 8 In the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. ALSO: (NEHEMIAH 7:43) WHEN DID THEY BEGIN TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE? WHO WAS APPOINTED TO OVERSEE THE WORK?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:8-9 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites. ALSO: (NEHEMIAH 7:43) WHY ‘ONLY’ LEVITES?

READ: EZRA 3:10-11 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel." All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

WHO LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:10-11 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. WHO LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE? WHAT DID THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES DO? WHY DID THEY DO THIS? WAS THIS AN ORDINANCE OF DAVID?

QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:10-11 WHY DID THEY DO THIS? 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. WHY DID THEY DO THIS? READ: NEHEMIAH 4:18 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. (NKJ)

WHY DID THE LEVITES SING? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:10-11 10 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel." All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. WHY DID THE LEVITES SING? WHAT DID THEY SING?

WHAT DID THE LEVITES SING? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:10-11 10 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel." All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. WHAT DID THE LEVITES SING? READ: PSALMS 136:1-3 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endure 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: (NKJ)

WHAT DID THE PEOPLE DO? WHY? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:10-11 10 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel." All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. WHAT DID THE PEOPLE DO? WHY?

READ: EZRA 3:12-13 12 Many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off. (NKJ)

WHAT DID SOME OF THE ‘OLDER’ MEN DO? WHY WERE THEY WEEPING? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:12-13 12 Many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, WHAT DID SOME OF THE ‘OLDER’ MEN DO? WHY WERE THEY WEEPING? WHAT DID MOST OF THE PEOPLE DO? WHY WERE THEY SHOUTING WITH JOY?

WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE NOT ABLE TO DISCERN? QUESTIONS: EZRA 3:12-13 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off. (NKJ) WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE NOT ABLE TO DISCERN? WHY WERE THE PEOPLE SHOUTING AND WEEPING? READ: HAGGAI 2:9 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts.“ (NKJ)