Ezra 6:1
OUTLINE:
I. \\#Ezra 1:1-2:70\\ The First Return to Israel
A. \\#Ezra 1:1-4\\ The Command to Return
B. \\#Ezra 1:5-11\\ Preparations for the Journey
C. \\#Ezra 2:1-65\\ The People Who Returned
D. \\#Ezra 2:66-67\\ The Animals That Returned
E. \\#Ezra 2:68-69\\ The People’s Reaction
F. \\#Ezra 2:70\\ Life Begins
II. \\#Ezra 3:1-6:22\\ Construction of the Temple
A. \\#Ezra 3:1-7\\ In the First Year
B. \\#Ezra 3:8-13\\ In the Second Year
C. \\#Ezra 4:1-24\\ The Temple Work Is Stopped
D. \\#Ezra 5:1-6:22\\ The Temple Completed
1. \\#Ezra 5:1-2\\ The Work Begun
2. \\#Ezra 5:3-5\\ The Law Comes
3. \\#Ezra 5:6-17\\ The Official Inquiry Made
4. \\#Ezra 6:1-5\\ The Search Was Done
5. \\#Ezra 6:6-12\\ The Command Given
6. \\#Ezra 6:13-14\\ The Command Obeyed
7. \\#Ezra 6:15-22\\ The Temple Completed
III. \\#Ezra 7:1-8:36\\ The Second Return to Israel
IV. \\#Ezra 9:1-10:44\\ Restoration of the People
I. \\#Ezra 5:1-6:22\\ The Temple Completed
A. \\#Ezra 5:1-2\\ The Work Begun
B. \\#Ezra 5:3-5\\ The Law Comes
C. \\#Ezra 5:6-17\\ The Official Inquiry Made
D. \\#Ezra 6:1-5\\ The Search Was Done - Darius found the record of
Cyrus’ command as the Jews had said. More details are given here
concerning the command than any other place.
1. \\#3\\ It was to be a place where sacrifices were offered.
2. The foundations were to be strong.
3. The dimensions were 60 cubits by 60 or 90 feet by 90.
4. \\#4\\ It was to have three rows of great stones. The Jews
interpreted that to be three walls of marble.
5. A row of new timber - Probably cedar wood for a roof across
the top of it.
a. This was similar to the inner court—just one section of
the Jewish temple—that the Jews had built in the first
temple, although I do not think the size of the inner
court (Priest’s Court) would have been nearly so large as
what Cyrus degreed.
1Kings 6:36 And he built the inner court with
three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar
beams.
b. This detail would makes me wonder if Cyrus asked the Jews
about their temple and offered to help in a way that they
might appreciate.
6. \\#5\\ Cyrus also restored the items Nebuchadnezzar took from
the Jewish temple.
E. \\#Ezra 6:6-12\\ The Command Given
1. \\#7\\ Upon finding the record, King Darius ordered that Tatnai
leave the Jews alone.
2. \\#8\\ And further, that of the "tribute" from that area,
"expenses be given unto these men." Apparently, neither the
stones or the timber had ever been supplied from the King’s
treasury. If it had, it would appear that it no longer was
available so the king did this to help cover the costs.
3. \\#9\\ And even further, that sacrifices for offerings and
food items be given to the priests daily so that they could
immediately begin to do the work of their God.
4. \\#10\\ And that they might "pray for the life of the king and
of his sons."
5. \\#11\\ Doing anything to hinder the Jews from doing these
things would result in the death and destruction of his
entire household.
F. \\#Ezra 6:13-15\\ The Command Obeyed
1. \\#13\\ "so they did speedily" - The governor and his
companions did as they were commanded, fearing the king.
2. \\#14\\ "the elders of the Jews builded" - That is, they lead
the nation to do the building.
3. "and they prospered through" - God blessed the preaching of
Haggai and Zechariah.
4. "And they builded and finished it" - The temple was complete.
5. "according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes"
a. We understand how the command of Cyrus and Darius were
completed for they commanded that the temple should be
built, but why was Artaxerxes given any credit?
(1) Some connect this Artaxerxes to the Artaxerxes of
\\#Ezra 7:1\\ who sent Ezra back to Jerusalem to
revive the people and to help re-establish their
understanding and obedience to the Law of God.
(2) Others believe he was another helper to King Darius,
perhaps a son who co-reigned with him.
(3) I say it is a reference to the king mentioned in Ezra
4 who stopped the work of the temple.
(a) It was this Artaxerxes who officially stopped
the work of temple for eight years so that it
would not be built until the 70 years were
expired.
(b) God’s "stops" are just as much a part of His
plan as His "starts"!
(c) So then the Jews did build the temple
"according" to the commands of all three of
these kings.
b. \\#15\\ So the temple of God was finished in the third day
of Adar, the twelfth month of Darius’ sixth year.
(1) That would be the year 516 BC.
(a) That would be exactly 70 years from the year the
temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586
BC.
(b) This would end the 70 years in which the land
lay in desolation as prophesied by Jeremiah
\\#Jer 25:11\\.
(2) It was be 22 years since Cyrus first issued the
degree that the Jews could return (538 BC).
(3) It would be 19 years since the foundation was laid
(535 BC).
G. \\#Ezra 6:16-22\\ The Temple Completed
1. \\#16-18\\ The Jews dedicated their temple.
2. \\#19\\ On the 14th of the first month (the next month which
would have been 41 days later), they celebrated their first
Passover in the temple.
3. \\#22\\ And on the heels of the Passover, they celebrated the
Feast of Unleavened Bread and celebrated it for seven days as
God has commanded.
<Close Window>
