Haggai and Zechariah, minor prophets, encourage the Jews to resume their work on the temple. When they resume work Persians officials want to know who has given permission to rebuild. Yet they allow work to continue until they can consult with the king. The Jewish elders admit God gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar because of their unfaithfulness and that Cyrus issued the decree authorizing Sheshbazzar to rebuild the temple on the basis of which he laid the foundations of the house of God. In search of the decree they find it in Ecbatana. Darius issues a new decree with a threat to those who attempt to altar it. A joyful dedication follows the completion with the celebration of Passover and the feast of the unleavened bread. Ezra, a descendent of Aaron, returns to Jerusalem in the reign of Artaxerxes. He is a scribe skilled in the law of Moses and is authorized to appoint magistrates and judges with full authority to enforce the law of God and the law of the king. In the first person, Ezra concludes with a hymn of praise. It is “the God of our fathers” who has moved the king’s heart. It is his guiding hand that has led this little community across the desert.
Haggai and Zechariah, minor prophets, encourage the Jews to resume their work on the temple. When they resume work Persians officials want to know who has given permission to rebuild. Yet they allow work to continue until they can consult with the king. The Jewish elders admit God gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar because of their unfaithfulness and that Cyrus issued the decree authorizing Sheshbazzar to rebuild the temple on the basis of which he laid the foundations of the house of God. In search of the decree they find it in Ecbatana. Darius issues a new decree with a threat to those who attempt to altar it. A joyful dedication follows the completion with the celebration of Passover and the feast of the unleavened bread. Ezra, a descendent of Aaron, returns to Jerusalem in the reign of Artaxerxes. He is a scribe skilled in the law of Moses and is authorized to appoint magistrates and judges with full authority to enforce the law of God and the law of the king. In the first person, Ezra concludes with a hymn of praise. It is “the God of our fathers” who has moved the king’s heart. It is his guiding hand that has led this little community across the desert.
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