EZRA LESSON 6

     We will begin this lesson in Ezra 6:1 Then Darius the king made a
decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the
treasures were laid up in Babylon.

     This is saying, that Darius sent orders for the records to be
searched to see if such a decree had been made by Cyrus. They searched
first in Babylon, but there was more than one place for the records to
kept. The record, in Babylon, was destroyed, if there was one.

     Ezra 6:2 "And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that
[is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record
thus written:"

     This was a place in the province of the Medes. It was, possibly,
an extra copy of the decree that Cyrus had made. He was aware that one
might be destroyed, probably. Achmetha was the capital of northern
Media. Cyrus the 2nd held his court here.

     Ezra 6:3 "In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus
the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let
the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let
the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof
threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;"

     In this decree, we see more details than we had in the first
chapter, where we read of Cyrus wanting to re-build the temple. They
not only found the decree, but it spelled out exactly what was to be
done.

     Ezra 6:4  "[With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new
timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:"

     Cyrus had given from his own treasury toward this building.  The
Jews had put money in on this themselves, as well.  It appears, from
this, however, that all expenses were to be paid for by Persia.

     Ezra 6:5 "And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house
of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which [is]
at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again
unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, [every one] to his place, and
place [them] in the house of God."

     This, also, had been done with all of the vessels found that had
been taken from the temple in Jerusalem, when Zerubbabel led the first
group back to Judah.

     Ezra 6:6 "Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are]
beyond the river, be ye far from thence:"

     Tatnai was not to have anything to do with stopping the work.
Darius sent him word to leave them alone. The message, in short was,
"leave them alone".

     Ezra 6:7 "Let the work of this house of God alone; let the
governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of
God in his place."

     Darius warned Tatnai not to interfere in any way with the
building of this temple. They were to be left alone to build the
temple to God.

     Ezra 6:8 "Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders
of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the
king's goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith
expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered."

     Darius commanded Tatnai to give the tribute money to them to pay
their men for the work on the temple. They must not be hindered in
this work. Darius would make sure they did everything that Cyrus
promised to do.

     Ezra 6:9 "And that which they have need of, both young bullocks,
and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,
wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the
priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
without fail:"

     Somehow, he had to know which animals they used in sacrifice.
These were to be given to them in abundance, so they would have enough
for their sacrifices. They were to be fed of the king's supplies. This
was to be seen after every single day.

     Ezra 6:10 "That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto
the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his
sons."

     Darius wanted them to pray for him and his sons. He believed the
power of their God was the true power.

     Ezra 6:11 "Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter
this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up,
let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for
this."

     There would be no more opposition, because of the punishment to
be inflicted on those who opposed the building of the temple.

     Ezra 6:12 "And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there
destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter
[and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius
have made a decree; let it be done with speed."

     The decree of Darius went even further than the decree of Cyrus.
He was speaking of the One True God here. He called for God to destroy
any king, or people, who came against the building of the temple.
     Ezra 6:13  "Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius
the king had sent, so they did speedily."

     Tatnai did exactly as the king had commanded him to do.

     Ezra 6:14 "And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered
through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of
Iddo. And they builded, and finished [it], according to the
commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of
Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia."

     Haggai prophesied of a day when the house of the Lord would be
far greater than anything in the past. His prophecies encouraged the
people so greatly, that they worked diligently on the temple to
complete it. There was no shortage of funds, because Darius had agreed
to pay for the services of the people in this work. The chiefs of the
fathers, and the priests, and high priests, and even Zerubbabel, were
to oversee the work. All the young men 20 years old, and older, did
the actual labor. Haggai and Zechariah preached and kept them with the
desire to do this according to the will of God. Cyrus had written
instructions that the LORD had given him, and Darius and Artaxerxes
gave orders of how it was to be finished, too.

     Ezra 6:15 "And this house was finished on the third day of the
month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the
king."

     We find that from the time the foundation was laid, until its
completion, the temple was 21 years in the building. After God sent
Haggai and Zechariah to them, it took 4 years and 5 months. Many of
the 21 years there was nothing done on it all. Adar was the twelfth
month on their calendar. It would be equivalent to our March.

     Ezra 6:16  "And the children of Israel, the priests, and the
Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the
dedication of this house of God with joy,"

     This dedication was on the order of the dedication that Solomon
did, when he and the people dedicated the temple the first time. This
was a time of great joy, because they were re-united in fellowship
with their God. They suddenly had a place of worship. At this point,
the people were really home.

     Ezra 6:17 "And offered at the dedication of this house of God an
hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin
offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of
the tribes of Israel".

     This number of animals offered were many less than was offered by
Solomon at his dedication, and fewer even than those offered by
Hezekiah. We must remember, however, that there were not nearly as
many people living in Judah now as there were then. In Solomon's time,
all 12 tribes were included.
     Ezra 6:18 "And they set the priests in their divisions, and the
Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which [is] at
Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses."

     Everything was done as it was prescribed in the book of Moses. We
remember, that the priests were Levites, too. Not all Levites were
priests, however. Some were keepers of the doors. Some were singers
and musicians. All Levites were set aside for the service of the Lord.
Just a few were priests.

     Ezra 6:19 "And the children of the captivity kept the passover
upon the fourteenth [day] of the first month."

     The returned exiles were spoken of as Israel. Not all who
returned were of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Some were from the
other 10 tribes, and all of the people of the various tribes, who came
back into the land, kept the Passover. This day is approximately the
14th day of April by our calendar. Passover was a remembrance of the
night in Egypt, when death passed over the Hebrew houses that had the
blood of the lamb over and around their doors. This was the 10th
plague God sent on Egypt to free the children of Israel.

     Ezra 6:20 "For the priests and the Levites were purified
together, all of them [were] pure, and killed the passover for all the
children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for
themselves."

     The priests were anointed to the LORD, while they were in the
temple for service. In this case, it seems that all of the Levites,
for all of the various services were anointed with the anointing oil
for service.

     Ezra 6:21 "And the children of Israel, which were come again out
of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from
the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of
Israel, did eat,"

     The passover lamb was eaten by all of the people sacrificing.
Each family had a lamb the size their family could eat in one night.
This Passover is very similar to communion that the Christians partake
of. The lamb the Hebrews ate was symbolic of the body of the Lord
Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb. The unleavened bread that we take at
communion, also, symbolizes the body of our Lord Jesus.

     Ezra 6:22 "And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with
joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the
king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of
the house of God, the God of Israel."

     The celebration of Unleavened Bread overlaps Passover. We
mentioned that the unleavened bread symbolizes the LORD Jesus Christ
who is the Bread of life. It must be unleavened, because He was
without sin. We partake of His righteousness. "Seven" means
spiritually complete. The king of Assyria recognizes the Lord as God.
                             Ezra 6 Questions


1.  What did Darius do to find Cyrus' decree?
2.  Where did they search first?
3.  Where were they found?
4.  What was on the roll?
5.  What were the dimensions of the temple to be built?
6.  Quote Ezra chapter 6 verse 4?
7.  What was to be done with the gold and silver vessels, that
    Nebuchadnezzar  had taken from the temple?
8.  Who had led the first group back to Judah from captivity?
9.  What message did Tatnai receive from Darius?
10. The funds to build the temple would come from where?
11. In verse 9, we read of what being given to the Hebrews?
12. Why did Darius want to be sure they sacrificed to their God?
13. What decree did Darius make about anyone who changed the word?
14. What did he decree that would happen to anyone who tried to
    destroy the temple?
15. How did Tatnai take the orders  from Darius?
16. Who supervised the building?
17. What three kings were in on the building of the temple?
18. How did Haggai encourage them?
19. What other prophet was helpful to the building of the temple.
20. Who did the actual work on the temple?
21. How long did it take to build the temple from the time the
    foundation was laid?
22. How many of those years were after the prophets came?
23. What was the example for the dedication.
24. Why were there fewer animals sacrificed here, than in Solomon's
    dedication?
25. When was the house finished?
26. Who kept the dedication?
27. When did they keep the Pasover?
28. Who were purified for service for the Passover?
29. Who ate the passover lamb?
30. What did the passover lamb symbolize?
31. What does Passover celebrate?
32. When is Unleavened Bread celebrated?
33. Who is the Unleavened Bread?