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Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Theme: 2 Chronicles ends with Cyrus, king of Persia, asking for volunteers to return to Jerusalem and build the temple. Ezra continues the account. When they returned they were also returning to the influence of God's word. Their faith was tested and they were led to remove sin from their lives. Ezra 1 __2-3_Cyrus, king of Persia said, the LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a house for Him in Jerusalem of Judah. Anyone from among His people may go to Jerusalem to build His house.
__4_Those willing to go should be supported by the people living where they now live. They should give him silver and gold, goods and cattle and a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.
__5-6_Everyone from the households of Benjamin and the priests and the Levites, who were stirred by God's Spirit, made plans to go back and rebuild the house of the LORD. Those living around them encouraged them by providing the things needed for the journey, resettlement and the building of the temple.
__7-11_King Cyrus brought out those articles from the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the house of his own gods. There were 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates, 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other things. In all there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver.
Ezra 2 __3-13_The sons of Paroah, 2,172; __14-24_The sons of Bigvai, 2,056; __25-34_The sons of Kiriath-Arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743; __35-41_The sons of Senaah, 3,630. The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973; The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
__42-44_The gate keepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all 139. The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
__45-49_The sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
__50-54_The sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
__55-57_The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-Hazzebaim, the sons of Ami.
__58_All of the temple servants, and the sons of Solomon's servants, were 392.
__59-60_Here is a list of those who came up from Tel-Melah. Tel-Harsha, Cherub and Immer. These were not able to prove that they and their children were Israelites. There were the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 652.
__61-63_And the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barziiai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name. These were searched in their ancestral registration but were not found and excluded from the priesthood.
__64-67_The whole assembly numbered 42,360. There were also 7,337 male and female servants. There were 200 men and women singers. They has 736 horses, 245 mules, 434 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
__68-70_Some important people offered to bear the expense of laying the foundation of the temple in Jerusalem. According to their means they gave 61,000 gold drachmas, 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments. Some of the priests and Levites lived in their own cities.
Ezra 3 __3-4_They set up the alter on its foundation and began to offer morning and evening sacrifices to the LORD. At this time they were afraid of the people of the land. They celebrated the offerings of the Feast of Booths and the set number of daily burnt offerings each day as required.
__5-7_The continual burnt offerings were made with offerings for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals. They began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the first day of the seventh month. Yet the foundation of the temple had not yet been laid. So money was given for the builders and supplies of cedar from Lebanon were paid.
__8-9_In the second month of the second year of their coming to Jerusalem, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, their brothers, and the priests and Levites, began work on the house of the LORD. Levites twenty years and older were appointed to oversee the work. Jeshua, Kadmiel and Henadad, and their brothers also helped the overseeing.
__10-11_When the temple builders had laid the foundation, the priests stood dressed in their apparel along with the sons of Asaph, and praised the LORD with cymbals, according to the directions given by David. They sang praises and gave thanks to the LORD for His loving kindness to Israel. And the people all gave a great shout.
__12-13_Yet many of the old men who had seen the first temple wept loudly so that their lament was mixed with the shouts of joy. The sound was so loud the people could not distinguish between the shouts of joy and the weeping. And it was so loud it could be heard far away.
Ezra 4 __3-6_But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the leaders would not allow them to help. So the people of the land did everything possible to discourage the exiles from building all the days of Cyrus until the days of Darius. In the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus these enemies sent a letter of accusation concerning Judah.
__7-14_And in the days of Artaxerxes they wrote another letter against Jerusalem saying that the Jews, known to be a rebellious people, were rebuilding the walls of the city. After the city was rebuilt they would not pay tribute, and this would cause the king damage. We are telling you this because we do not want you to be dishonored.
__15-22_Moreover, if you search the records in your books you will discover their history of revolt. We do not want you to loose your influence over this region. When the king of Persia got this letter he began an investigation and temporarily stopped the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem.
__23-24_So the Jews were stopped from building by force of arms and work on the house of God stopped until the second year of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 5 __4-10_They answered, according to all those doing construction. God was watching over them and they kept building while the report was making it way to Darius and a written reply was sent back. The letter to Darius from Tattenai, the governor, said that they had asked the men of Judah who gave them permission to build?
__11-12_They answered that they were servants of the Most High God and they were rebuilding His house of worship. They said that their fathers had provoked the God of heaven and He had given them over to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who had destroyed the temple when he deported them to Babylon.
__13-17_However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. He sent back the precious things Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple and told us to rebuild the temple. They said, we have been working on it ever since. Please search for a copy in your records for the decree made by Cyrus.
Ezra 6 __5-7_The gold and silver utensils of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought to Babylon, were to be brought back to Jerusalem and put in the house of God. Then Darius instructed the Tattenai, the governor who was causing the trouble, to keep away from the workers in Jerusalem while they rebuilt the temple.
__8-9_Moreover, the royal treasury was to pay the full cost of the rebuilding of the house of God from the taxes collected from the province beyond the River. This was to be done without delay. Whatever was needed, whether animals for burnt offering to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, it was to be given without fail.
__10-12_All of this is to be done so that acceptable sacrifices may be offered to the God of heaven. Anyone who violates this edict, he and his house will be destroyed. May He who caused His name to dwell in Jerusalem overthrow anyone who tries to destroy this house of God. I, Darius, have issued this decree and expect it to be carried out.
__13-14_Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River carried out the decree of Darius. And the Jews were successful in rebuilding with the help of the prophesying of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, and they were able to finish the build according to God's command the decree of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes.
__15-18_The temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The children of Israel celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. They offered a great number of animal sacrifices as sin offerings for Israel. Priests and Levites were appointed for the service as God had instructed by Moses.
__19-22_The exiles observed Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they slaughtered the Passover lamb for Israel. And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy because of the providence of the LORD God in helping them finish the rebuilding of the temple.
Ezra 7 __10-16_Ezra had set his heart on studying the law of God, practicing it and teaching it to Israel. The king had issued a decree that any of the people of Israel were free to return to Jerusalem, including priests and the Levites. Artaxerxes sent silver and gold as well as the freewill offerings from among the Jews who did not go back to Jerusalem.
__17-20_The money was to be used to purchase bulls, rams and lambs along with grain for offerings on the alter of God. They were to use the rest of the gold and silver as seemed best to them. They carried the temple service utensils. They were told that they could make additional purchaces for the temple from the royal treasury.
__21-23_Artaxerxes even instructed his treasurers in the provinces beyond the river to give Ezra the priest whatever he asked for, even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of oil and salt as needed. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done.
__24-28_He also told them that no tax was to be levied on the priests or Levites. Then he told Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges. The people were to be taught the law of God and were then to keep it. The local government had the right to enforce laws. Blessed be the LORD God Who has put all of this in the king's heart.
Ezra 8 __21-23_At the river of Ahava they all humbled themselves before God as they sought a safe journey. Ezra had not requested any of the king's troops to escort them. So they asked the LORD to protect them and He heard them.
__24-30_Ezra selected twelve of the leading priests and placed them in charge of the gold, the silver, the utensils and the offerings for the house of God.
__31-34_The hand of the LORD was with them as they began their journey from the river Ahava to Jerusalem on the twelfth day of the first month. They arrived at Jerusalem without mishap and delivered the silver and gold, the temple utensils and the offerings. Everything was numbered, weighed and recorded.
__35-36_Then those who had come from captivity made burnt offerings to the God of Israel. Then they delivered the king's edicts to the satraps and governors in the provinces beyond the River, and these then supported the exiles and the house of God.
Ezra 9 __3-7_When I heard about this I tore my robe and pulled out some of my hair. Others who agreed with me sat with me. When evening had come I fell on my knees before the LORD my God, saying, I am ashamed, O my God, because of our iniquities. Our guilt is as high as heaven. Like our fathers we have great guilt.
__8-12_For a brief time you have shown us Your grace. When we were in bondage You did not forsake us. You have always loved us and have now brought us back to this land. What can we say? We have forsaken Your commandments. You have told us not to give our daughters to their sons and take their daughters for our sons.
__13-15_You have treated us much better than we deserve. Shall we continue to break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples? Would You not be right to utterly destroying us? O LORD God, You are righteous and we are without excuse before you today.
Ezra 10 __3-6_They asked to make a covenant with God in putting away their foreign wives, and their children, according to the counsel of Ezra and according to the law. Ezra led them in making an oath concerning this matter. Then he did not eat or drink while he mourned over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
__7-9_A proclamation was made throughout Judah to assemble at Jerusalem. Anyone unwilling to come would forfeit all his possessions and be excluded from the assembly. So the men of Judah and Benjamin came together after three days. It was the ninth month and raining hard. The people trembled as they waited in the open square.
__10-12_Then Ezra stood up and addressed them, saying, you have been unfaithful in adding guilt to Israel by marrying foreign wives. Make confession to the LORD God of your fathers. Separate yourselves from the people of the land from your foreign wives. With one voice the people agreed to this.
__13-16_Then they suggested that during the rainy season the task was made greater. Let each city be represented by its leadership to accomplish what must be done. We do not want the fierce anger of our God to be against us in this matter. So Ezra appointed select men who met on the first day of the tenth month.
__17-44_They finished their investigation by the first day of the first month. Each guilty person put away his foreign wife and made sacrifice for his offense. A list is given of each one who had a foreign wife and in some cases had children by them.
Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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