Ezra 3-5: Rebuilding Begins

Thoughts

Ezra 3

The people return to Jerusalem and gather together in unity. Jeshua son of Jozadak and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel lead in rebuilding the altar

The altar is rebuilt according to the Law of Moses. Daily burnt offerings are resumed, morning and evening as told in the Law

The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated, and the people present all the required sacrifices for each day of the festival. Offerings for the new moons and other feasts are also made.

The people collect resources and hire skilled workers to begin rebuilding the temple. Money is given to masons and carpenters, and food, wine, and oil are sent to Tyre and Sidon to obtain cedar wood from Lebanon.

In the second year after their return, work officially begins on the temple project. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the Levites organize and oversee the rebuilding effort.

Levites twenty years and older are appointed to supervise the labor. Jeshua and the Levite families work together in unity to direct those building the house of the Lord.

When the foundation of the temple is completed, a great ceremony is held. The people sing songs of thanksgiving, declaring God’s goodness and enduring love. The community shouts with joy, celebrating that God’s house is being restored.

However, some of the older priests and Levites who had seen Solomon’s temple begin to weep as they remember its former glory. The younger generation rejoices loudly over the new beginning, while the older ones mourn what was lost.

Ezra 4

From Ezra 4:8 to Ezra 6:18, everything is written in Aramaic.

After the rebuilding begins, the enemies of Judah and Benjamin hear that the returned exiles are constructing a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. These local peoples approach Zerubbabel and the other leaders, offering to help with the work, claiming that they too worship the same God. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the heads of the families firmly reject their offer, declaring that the rebuilding of the temple is the responsibility of Israel alone, as commanded by King Cyrus of Persia.

These surrounding people become hostile and begin discouraging and frightening the builders. They hire counselors and officials to oppose the Jews  throughout the reign of Cyrus and into the reign of Darius.

During the reign of Xerxes (Ahasuerus/ Esther’s husband), the enemies of Judah send accusations against the people of Jerusalem to the Persian court.

 Later, in the reign of Artaxerxes, a group of officials (Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and others from surrounding regions)write a formal letter to the king.

• The letter describes Jerusalem as a rebellious and troublesome city
• They warn that if Jerusalem is rebuilt and its walls restored, the king will lose control over the region and suffer financial loss.
• The accusers say  to look into the archives

King Artaxerxes orders a search of the historical records and finds that Jerusalem had a history of rebellion against former empires. He sends a decree commanding that the rebuilding of the city and its walls must stop immediately until further notice.

When Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates receive the royal decree, they rush to Jerusalem and alt the work. The temple construction remains unfinished.

Ezra 5

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah begin to speak to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah.Their messages stir the people’s hearts to resume the temple construction. Zerubbabel, the governor, and Jeshua, the high priest lead the people.

The regional governor Tattenai, along with Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, notice that the temple construction has resumed. They confront the builders and ask for the names of the leaders in charge of the project.

Tattenai and his companions write to King Darius to inform him of the situation. The Jews also report that their ancestors angered God, and He allowed Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy the temple and carry the people away into exile.  However, King Cyrus issued their return. The letter concludes with a request that Darius order a search of the royal archives to verify whether Cyrus had indeed issued such a decree.

While awaiting Darius’s response, the Jews continue rebuilding with confidence.

Questions

How did they know the design of the temple?

When did this happen in relation to Daniel’s stories given the Darius overlap?

What did Haggai and Zechariah say to the people?

Application

The exiles have returned! However they were surrounded by nations who didn’t really want them there.  The text even says “they set the altar on its foundation, for they were afraid of the peoples around them.” They were afraid but they still obeyed. We see this theme repeat in each of the three chapters: They built the altar despite enemies nearby, they laid the temple foundation despite criticism, and they kept rebuilding even while Persian officials questioned their right to do so. It may be easy to obey when we have comfort and confidence, but how strong is our faith in fearful times? Your fear doesn’t have to be ignored, but you can still carry out God’s plan. 

From https://russmeek.com/2020/11/timeline-of-ezra-and-nehemiah/