BOLD 203 Ezra-Nehemiah

Period of time between the altar being rebuilt and temple being completed

20 years

When Ezra traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem

445 BC

What total number returned?

50,000 Jews

When the temple was completed

515 BC

How long did it take to rebuild the wall and what 2 factors ensured this outcome?

52 days because God was with them, and people wanted to work

When the altar was rebuilt

537 BC

When Cyrus of Persia captures Babylon

539 BC

When were each destroyed?

586 BC and 70 AD

What are the 3 "fun facts" about the books?

All of the events are after the exile; Records the last narrated events of Israel's history in the OT; Ezra is mostly Hebrew, but also some Aramaic

Whose authority did Zerubbabel claim for resuming the rebuilding of the temple?

Cyrus

What did this observation of the Passover specifically mean for these returnees?

Deliverance from Babylon

Why will the temple never be rebuilt in our lifetime?

Dome of the Rock was built there

What was Nehemiah's genius plan for rebuilding the wall?

Each person built the part of the wall by their home and job.

Who was Nehemiah

Governor, cup bearer; Helped rebuild the wall

What caused the people to resume building? What does this tell us about the purpose of "prophesying"?

Haggai and Zachariah prophesied to the people

How did Nehemiah deal with the problems of debt, Sabbath, tithe, marriage, and temple dwelling?

He chastised the rich, and shared his wealth

What are 2 underlying reasons Zerubbabel refused the Samaritans' help in rebuilding the temple?

He doubts their genuineness, and because there were not 'Israel'

What compelled him to leave this high position to go to Jerusalem?

He heard of the wall still being torn down and not rebuilt

What was Nehemiah's position in Persia & what did it entail? Nehemiah's position in Judea?

He was cupbearer to the Persian king. It was high-risk

What are the Hebrew and English words for the territory of Israel?

Hebrew: Yehud; English: Judea

Who was Joshua

High priest

What makes Ezra 7-9 "the Ezra Memoirs" or Neh 1-13 "the Nehemiah Memoirs"?

It was a reliable first hand account

Who worked beside Nehemiah in reading the Law to the people?

Levites

Was Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around all of Judea, all of Jerusalem, or mainly around the Temple?

Mainly around the temple

What oath did the community agree to take to deal with pagan marriages? Who were sent away?

Oath to divorce foreign wives or be banned; Wives and their children were sent away

What did Cyrus' decree offer the Jews?

Permission for captives to return to the native land

What 3 aids did Ezra use to ensure that the people understood the Law?

Platform, levites among the people, and levites explaining what he read

What were the peoples' 5 responses when they heard and understood the law?

Repented, observed feast of booths, confessed sin, mourned they were slaves to Persian, and recovenanted with God

Who was Sheshbazzar

Restored the temple vessels to the newly build second temple that was stolen by Nebuchedezzer

What are the names of the two Samaritan officials who opposed Nehemiah?

Sanballat and Tobiah

Who was Ezra

Scribe and priest; restored law

Who build the first temple of Yahweh?

Solomon

Who was Zerubbabel

Son of the last king of Israel; Governor; Lead the first wave of Jews back to the promised land

What was Ezra's three-part strategy with regard to the law of God?

Studied, followed, and taught the law

What caused Zerubbabel to halt the rebuilding project?

The Samaritans told the Persian king of Jerusalem's rebellious past.

Why were the older Israelites crying in sorrow and younger in joy? What was the resulting sound?

The older said it wasn't like the first; the Younger said it was beautiful; Result was mingled together

Why are there no more "kings" over Israel after the exile?

There are governors under the king of Persia, Greece, and Rome

Why did some not return?

They are too stubborn or comfortable in exile

What was selfish about the returnees' decision to rebuild the altar of the Lord before the temple?

They built him the altar

What reversal occurs for the enemies of Israel who tried to stop the rebuilding?

They end up paying for the rebuilding

In what ways did the enemies of Nehemiah oppose the rebuilding of the wall?

They mocked him, and discouraged the people

How many different waves returned to Judea?

Three waves

Who build the second temple?

Zerubbabel