LESSON 9 EZRA 5 : 1 – 6 : 22
They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia —Ezra 6:14
Repentant and greatly encouraged by the word of the Lord through the prophets, the remnant resumed the temple rebuilding effort in 520 BC. However, their work was soon challenged by Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, and some of his associates. These officials questioned the authorization of the build- ing project, and they sought to verify the Jews’ claim with King Darius. Despite this new opposition, the Jews diligently persevered in their work, until the temple was completed amidst great joy and celebration around 516 BC.
READ THE WORD Pray. Take a moment to pray, asking the Lord to prepare your heart and teach you.
Ezra 5:1–6:22 5 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. 3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it. 6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the governors who were in the prov- ince Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’ 10 We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders. 11 And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which
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