Ezra 5

Ezra 5Ezra 5OppositionOpposition

Internal & ExternalInternal & External

Continued Continued

Ezra 3:2-3Ezra 3:2-3

Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and and built the altarbuilt the altar of the God of Israel, to of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offeringsoffer burnt offerings on it, on it, as as it isit is written written in the Law of Mosesin the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 the man of God. 3 ThoughThough fearfear had comehad come upon them upon them because of the people of those countries, because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, bothboth the morning and evening burnt the morning and evening burnt offerings. offerings.

Ezra 4:24Ezra 4:24

24 Thus the 24 Thus the workwork of the of the house of God which house of God which isis at at Jerusalem Jerusalem ceasedceased, and it , and it was discontinued until the was discontinued until the second year of the reign of second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 5:1Ezra 5:1

  1 Then the prophet Haggai and 1 Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews prophets, prophesied to the Jews who who werewere in Judah and in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, God of Israel, who waswho was over over them. them.

What happened?What happened?

536-530 BC536-530 BC work progressed 6 years work progressed 6 years 530 BC530 BC work stopped work stopped 530-520 BC 530-520 BC

– People fearedPeople feared– Haggai 1:1-11Haggai 1:1-11

522-486 BC522-486 BC Darius Darius

Condition before 1Condition before 1stst attack attack

FearfulFearful DiscouragedDiscouraged

Condition after attackCondition after attack Give up and go home without a fight Give up and go home without a fight

Haggai 1:1-2Haggai 1:1-2

1 In the second year of King Darius, in 1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, saying,

2 “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, 2 “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: saying: ‘This people says, “The time ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the has not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.”’”LORD’s house should be built.”’”

3 Then the word of the LORD 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 saying, 4 ““Is itIs it time for you time for you yourselves to dwell in your yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple paneled houses, and this temple to lieto lie in ruins?” in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!” “Consider your ways!”

Haggai 1:6Haggai 1:6“ “ You have sown much, and bring You have sown much, and bring

in little; in little; You eat, but do not have enough;You eat, but do not have enough;You drink, but you are not filled You drink, but you are not filled

with drink; with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one You clothe yourselves, but no one

is warm; is warm; And he who earns wages, And he who earns wages, Earns wages Earns wages to putto put into a bag with into a bag with

holes.” holes.”

Wake up call!Wake up call! 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

“Consider your ways!“Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build mountains and bring wood and build the temple, the temple, that I may take pleasure that I may take pleasure in it and be glorifiedin it and be glorified,” says the LORD. ,” says the LORD. 9 “9 “YouYou looked for much, but indeed looked for much, but indeed it it came tocame to little; and when you brought little; and when you brought it home, it home, I blew it awayI blew it away. . WhyWhy?” says ?” says the LORD of hosts. “the LORD of hosts. “Because of My Because of My house that house that is inis in ruins, while every ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.”one of you runs to his own house.”

10 Therefore the heavens above 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. earth withholds its fruit.

11 For I called for a drought on 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of livestock, and on all the labor of youryour hands.” hands.”

Where did this attack come from?Where did this attack come from?

Zechariah 3:1-5Zechariah 3:1-5    1 Then he showed me 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high Joshua the high

priest standing before the Angel of priest standing before the Angel of the LORDthe LORD, and Satan standing at his , and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, LORD said to Satan, “The LORD “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! IsIs this not a brand plucked from the this not a brand plucked from the fire?”fire?”3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before garments, and was standing before the Angel. the Angel.

4 Then He answered and spoke to 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from “Take away the filthy garments from him.”him.” And to him He said, And to him He said, “See, I “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”and I will clothe you with rich robes.” 5 And I said, 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. by.

Haggai 1:12-15Haggai 1:12-15 The People’s ObedienceThe People’s Obedience

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,

and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophetand the words of Haggai the prophet, as , as the LORD their God had sent him; and the the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORDpeople feared the presence of the LORD. . 13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, 13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s message to the people, spoke the LORD’s message to the people, saying, saying, “I “I amam with you, says the with you, says the LORD.”LORD.”

14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; remnant of the people;

and they came and worked on the and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, house of the LORD of hosts, theirtheir God,God,

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.King Darius.

Zechariah 4:6-7Zechariah 4:6-7 6 So he answered and said to me: 6 So he answered and said to me:

“ This “ This isis the word of the LORD the word of the LORD to to Zerubbabel: Zerubbabel:

 ‘  ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Spirit,’       Says the LORD of hosts.       Says the LORD of hosts.

7 ‘ Who 7 ‘ Who areare you, O great mountain? you, O great mountain?   Before ZerubbabelBefore Zerubbabel you shall becomeyou shall become a plain! a plain! And he shall bring forth the And he shall bring forth the capstonecapstone    With shouts of    With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Zechariah 3:6-7Zechariah 3:6-7

Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Then the Angel of the LORD admonished JoshuaJoshua, , saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:

           ‘  ‘ If you will If you will walk in My wayswalk in My ways, ,       And if you will       And if you will keep My keep My

commandcommand, ,       Then you shall also judge My       Then you shall also judge My

house, house,       And likewise have charge of My       And likewise have charge of My

courts; courts;             I will give you places to walk I will give you places to walk

      Among these who stand here.      Among these who stand here.             

Restoration of the Temple Restoration of the Temple ResumedResumedEzra 5:2Ezra 5:2

So Zerubbabel the son of So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which build the house of God which isis in Jerusalem; and in Jerusalem; and the prophets of the prophets of God God werewere with them, helping with them, helping them. them.

Opposition InquisitionOpposition Inquisition Ezra 5:3-5Ezra 5:3-5

3 At the same time Tattenai the governor 3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of of the regionthe region beyond the River and beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?”temple and finish this wall?” 4 Then, 4 Then, accordingly, we told them accordingly, we told them the namesthe names of of the men who were constructing this the men who were constructing this building. 5 building. 5 But But the eye of their Godthe eye of their God was was upon the eldersupon the elders of the Jews, so that they of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this was returned concerning this matter.matter.

6 This is a copy of the letter 6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent:    The that Tattenai sent:    The governor of governor of the regionthe region beyond beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and his companions, the and his companions, the Persians who Persians who were in the were in the regionregion beyond the River, to beyond the River, to Darius the king.Darius the king.

Persian KingsPersian KingsCyrus the greatCyrus the great (the Darius Median (the Darius Median

in Daniel was his uncle or another in Daniel was his uncle or another name for Cyrus himself)name for Cyrus himself)

CambysesCambyses (Cyrus’ son) (Cyrus’ son)Psuedo SmerdisPsuedo Smerdis (imposter) (imposter)Darius IDarius I (Hystaspes) (Cyrus’ son (Hystaspes) (Cyrus’ son

in law)in law)Xerxes IXerxes I (Darius I son) (Darius I son) the the

Ahasuerus in EstherAhasuerus in Esther

Darius IDarius I

Expands Persian kingdom to India Expands Persian kingdom to India and Egyptand Egypt

Established postal systemEstablished postal system Reformed taxationReformed taxation Famous “Battle of Marathon” he lost Famous “Battle of Marathon” he lost

to the Greeksto the Greeks Kind to the JewsKind to the Jews

7 (They sent a letter to him, in which 7 (They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus)was written thus)

To Darius the king: All peace.To Darius the king: All peace.

  8 Let it be known to the king that we 8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, went into the province of Judea, to to the temple of the great God,the temple of the great God, which is which is being being built with heavy stones, and built with heavy stones, and timbertimber is being laid in the walls; and is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.prospers in their hands.

The QuestionsThe Questions  9 Then we asked those 9 Then we asked those

elders, elders, andand spoke thus to spoke thus to them: them: “Who commanded you “Who commanded you to build this temple and to to build this temple and to finish these walls?”finish these walls?” 10 We 10 We also also asked them their names asked them their names to inform youto inform you, that we might , that we might write the names of the men write the names of the men who who werewere chief chief among them.among them.

  11 And thus they returned us an 11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: answer, saying: “We are the “We are the servants of the God of heaven servants of the God of heaven and earthand earth, , and we are rebuilding and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.and completed.

12 But because our fathers provoked 12 But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, the God of heaven to wrath, He He gave them into the handgave them into the hand of of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, Chaldean, whowho destroyed this temple destroyed this temple and carried the people away to and carried the people away to Babylon. Babylon.

13 However, in the first year of 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus king of Babylon, King King Cyrus issued a decree to Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of Godbuild this house of God. .

14 Also, the gold and silver 14 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that taken from the temple that waswas in Jerusalem and carried into the in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—those temple of Babylon—those King King Cyrus took from the temple of Cyrus took from the temple of BabylonBabylon,,

and they were given to one and they were given to one named named Sheshbazzar, whom Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governorhe had made governor. .

15 And he said to him, ‘Take 15 And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go, carry them these articles; go, carry them to the temple to the temple sitesite that that isis in in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem, and let the house let the house of God be rebuilt on its of God be rebuilt on its former siteformer site.’ .’

’’16 Then the same 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came Sheshbazzar came andand laid laid the foundation of the house the foundation of the house of God which of God which isis in Jerusalem in Jerusalem; ; but from that time even until but from that time even until now it has been under now it has been under construction, and it is not construction, and it is not finished.”finished.”

17 Now therefore, if 17 Now therefore, if it seemsit seems good good to the king, to the king, let a search be made let a search be made in the king’s treasure housein the king’s treasure house, , which which isis there in Babylonthere in Babylon, , whether it is whether it is soso that that a decreea decree was issued was issued by King Cyrusby King Cyrus to build to build this house of God at Jerusalem, this house of God at Jerusalem, and and let the king send us his let the king send us his pleasure concerning this pleasure concerning this matter.matter.