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 EIGHT GENEALOGY OF PERSONS WHO WENT WITH EZRAV. 1-14 NO LEVITES AMONG THEM; LEVITES FOUND AT AHAVAV. 15-20 FAST FOR DIVINE PROTECTION ON THEIR JOURNEYV. 21-23 EZRA DELIVERS THE GOLD, SILVER, ETC TO THE PRIESTS THEY BRING IT TO THE HIGH PRIEST IN JERUSALEMV. 24-30 AT JERUSALEM EVERYTHING IS ACCOUNTED FORV. 31-34 THEY OFFER BURNT-OFFERINGS TO GODV. 35 DELIVER THE KING'S COMMISSIONS TO HIS LIEUTENANTS V. 36

4. READ:EZRA 8:1-5 1These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; 4of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; 5of the sons of Shechaniah, Ben-Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males;

5. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:1-5 1These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: WHO ARE THE ‘HEADS OF THEIR FATHERS’? ‘THE CHIEF MEN OF EACH TRIBE’? ALSO RECORDED IN(EZRA 2:3-15) WHO WENT UP WITH EZRA FROM BABYLON? WHERE DID THEY GO?WHEN? (458 BC)? IS THIS THE SECOND TIME?

6. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:1-5 1These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and registered with him were one hundred and fifty males;(150) 4of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males;(200) 5of the sons of Shechaniah, Ben-Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males;(300)

7. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:6-10 6of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males;(50) 7of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males;(70) 8of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males;(80) 9of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males;(218) 10of the sons of Shelomith, Ben-Josiphiah, and with him one hundred and sixty males;(160)

8. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:11-14 11of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males;(28) 12of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten males;(110) 13of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males;(60) 14also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.(70)

9. READ:EZRA 8:15-17 15I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there. 16I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia-- that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.

10. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:15-17 15I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava and we camped there three days. I looked among the people and the priests and found none of the sons of Levi there. WHY WERE THERE NO LEVITES PRESENT? WHO WENT UP WITH HIM THE FIRST TIME? READ:EZRA 3:8 8In 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. 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.

11. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:15-17 16I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and - I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia-- that they should bring us servants for the house of our God. WHO DID EZRA SEND FOR? WHERE DID HE SEND THEM?CASIPHIA? WHO WERE THEY TOLD TO SEE?IDDO? WHAT MESSAGE DID HE SEND TO IDDO? WHO WERE THE NETHINIM?

12. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:15-17 WHO WERE THE NETHINIM? READ:1 CHRONICLES 9:1-2 1All Israel was recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2The first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim.(NKJ) SERVANTS OF THE LEVITES?

13. READ:EZRA 8:18-20 18Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; 19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; 20Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name.

14. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:18-20 18Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; HOW WAS THE HAND OF THE LORD UPON THEM? WHO WAS SHEREBIAH? WHAT IS SAID ABOUT HIM? HOW MANY MEN CAME WITH THEM? READ:NEHEMIAH 12:12-21

15. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:18-20 HOW MANY MEN CAME WITH HIM? READ:NEHEMIAH 12:12-21 12In the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers' houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17of Abijah, Zichri; the son of Minjamin; of Moadiah, Piltai; 18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethaneal.(NKJ)

16. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:18-20 19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; WHO WAS JESHAIAH? READ:1 CHRONICLES 3:19-21 19The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister, 20And Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab- Hesed-- five in all. 21The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the sons of Shechaniah.(NKJ) THE GRANDSON OF ZERUBBABEL?

17. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:18-20 20Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name. WHO WAS APPOINTED AS SERVANTS TO THE LEVITES? HOW MANY NETHINIM WERE THERE? HOW WERE THESE MEN INDENTIFIED?

18. READ:EZRA 8:21-23 21I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23We fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

19. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:21-23 21I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. WHY DID EZRA PROCLAIM A FAST? WHAT DID HE SEEK FROM THE LORD?

20. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:21-23 22For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23We fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. WHY DIDN’T EZRA SEEK AN ESCORT FROM THE KING? WHAT HAD EZRA SAID TO THE KING? DID GOD ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS?

21. READ:EZRA 8:24-28 24I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests-- Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them-- 25I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered.

22. READ:EZRA 8:24-28 26I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27Twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold. 28I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

23. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:24-28 24I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests-- Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them-- 25I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered. WHO DID EZRA SEPARATE FROM THE PRIESTS? WERE THESE MEN TRUSTWORTHY? WHAT DID HE COMMIT TO THEIR TRUST?

24. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:24-28 26I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27Twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold. WHAT WAS THE TOTAL VALUE OF THESE ARTICLES? 450 LBS OF SILVER45,000 LBS OF GOLD $1,038,600 BRITISH POUND STERLING

25. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:24-28 28I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. WHAT DID EZRA SAY TO THEM? WHY COMMIT THESE THINGS TO LEVITES? READ:NUMBERS 1:50 50“You shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings. They shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle.(NKJ)

26. READ:EZRA 8:29-31 29"Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD." 30The priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31We departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.

27. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:29-31 29"Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD." HOW WERE THEY TO KEEP THESE VALUABLES? WHY WEIGH THEM AGAIN IN JERUSALEM?

28. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:29-31 30The priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31We departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. HOW DID THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES RECEIVE THEM? WHERE WERE THEY TO DELIVER THEM? WHEN DID THEY LEAVE TO GO TO JERUSALEM? HOW WAS THE ‘HAND OF THE LORD UPON THEM?

29. READ:EZRA 8:32-34 32We came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days. 33On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, 34With the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time.

30. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:32-34 32We came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days. 33On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, 34With the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time. WHERE DID THEY DELIVER THESE VALUABLES? WHY WEIGH THEM AGAIN? WHO WAS PRESENT FOR THE WEIGHING? WAS EVERYTHING ACCOUNTED FOR?

31. READ:EZRA 8:35-36 35The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36They delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God. (NKJ)

32. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:35-36 35The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. WHAT DID THEY OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS TO GOD? WHY TWELVE BULLS? WHY NINTY-SIX RAMS? WHY SEVENTY-SEVEN LAMBS? WHY TWELVE MALE GOATS?

33. QUESTIONS:EZRA 8:35-36 36They delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God. (NKJ) WHO DID THEY DELIVER THE KING’S ORDERS TO? HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THE KING’S ORDERS?