Unit 1: Liberating Passover (Pesach)
Key Verse:
Ezra 6:12a NLT
12a May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.
God is the great conductor. You only see him from behind, yet he orchestrates every note heard. Many are those of us who are but His holy vessels.
What you need to know
Four deportations (the exile to Babylon):
605 BC: Jehoiakim surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar and is forced to pay tribute. Selected royalty and state officials including Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are taken away to Babylon. This is the first exile. Daniel 1:1-7
598 BC - 597 BC: Jerusalem beseiged by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim killed. His son and successor, Jehoiachin reigned for three months, then was carried into exile into Babylon. This was the second deportation to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36:6-11
587 BC - 586 BC: King Zedekiah was executed by Nebuchannezer and the third deportation to Babylon occurs. The Temple is razed. 2 Kings 25
582 BC: The fourth and final deportation occurs as a result of the murder of the acting Governor of the province, Gedaliah. Jeremiah 41- 43
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Four returns: (The return from Babylon)
539 BC: Babylon is defeated by Persia under King Cyrus. Isaiah 48:14
538 BC: The first and second returns to Judah occur under Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel respectively by order of King Cyrus of Persia. Ezra 1:8, Ezra 2:2
537 BC: Rebuilding of the altar and laying of the foundations of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:10)
537 BC: Temporary cessation of work on the Second Temple due to interference by Israel’s enemies Ezra 4
520 BC: Resumption of work on the Second Temple during the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 4:24–6:14
516 BC: The rebuilding of the Temple is complete during the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 6:15
458 BC: Ezra leads the third return of exiles to Judah during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia. Ezra 7- 8
445 BC: Nehemiah leads the fourth (last) return of exiles to Judah during the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia. Nehemiah 1-2
445 BC: Repair of the wall completed in 52 days in that same year. Nehemiah 10
Prelude
Ezra 5:1-2 NLT
1 At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak[a] responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.
With inspiration from the prophets of God, Zerubbabel and Jeshua began again to rebuild the Temple. This was after a delay of seventeen years due to political conflict in the region west of the Euphrates river. Seventeen long years…
Matthew 1:12 NLT
12
After the Babylonian exile:
Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
Of note: Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin, the only king of Judah to go into captivity. Thus he became the progenitor of Christ, a critical link in the unbroken cord from God to Adam to Jesus Christ.
Ezra 5:6 NLT
6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River sent to King Darius:
Ezra 5:17 NLT
17 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”
When the rebuilding of the temple restarted under Zerubbabel's leadership, a dispute arose from the non-Jews who had previously settled in the land against the Jews who had returned from exile. Tattenai, the acting governor of the region sent a letter to King Darius, the successor to the throne of Cyrus, in order to resolve the matter. It was his hope that Darius would stop the rebuilding effort. God had a different plan…
The Lesson
Ezra 6:1-2a NLT
1 So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury. 2 But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found.
Kingdom business can be tedious. Darius first had the archives from Babylon searched for some record from his father, Cyrus, that permission had been given for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt. When that was search was unsuccessful, Darius sent word to the palace at Ecbatana, near Turkey, for a search of the records to be conducted there. Ecbatana was some three hundred miles from Persia and served as the King’s summer palace. The subsequent search must have taken weeks, or maybe even months.
Ezra 6:2b-5 NLT
This is what it said:
“Memorandum:
3 “In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.
“Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet.[a] 4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”
Reviewing last week’s lesson, we find that this edict from King Cyrus is the same one from Ezra 1:2-4, which permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple from which they would worship God. Additionally, we learn that the edict contained specific instructions for the dimensions of the Temple and for the materials to be used in the building of the Temple. The dimensions of ninety feet by ninety feet by ninety feet reflected the original dimensions of the first temple built by Solomon. Also, the layer of lumber between every third layer of stone provided for some flexibility of the structure in the case of earthquakes.
Cyrus’ edict also provided for the careful inventory and return of all of the holy articles taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar during the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC. These were the artifacts that were profaned by King Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar in 539 BC, which led to the episode of the “Handwriting on the wall”, recorded in Daniel 5 and the overthrow of the kingdom of Babylon permanently by the hand of Cyrus, by the will of God.
What happens next requires some insight. Don’t read through it too quickly. The gravity of Darius’ response must not be lost.
Ezra 6:6-7 NLT
6 So King Darius sent this message:
“Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River,[b] and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there! 7 Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.
“Now, therefore!” You really sense the immediate sense of urgency in King Darius’ response. After the tedium of weeks, possibly months of waiting for the original edict from Cyrus, Darius now produces an edict of his own to send to Jerusalem. And he begins with a stark warning. Stay away! Why? No doubt, Darius immediately discerns the scope and intent of his father’s vision. Surely, he also understands from his father’s own words, that the God of Heaven: the God of Israel inspired his father into action. If that is so, then Darius must continue the effort with all diligence due. Darius speaks directly to Tattenai and his officials: allow the work on the Temple of God to continue! Do not interfere with the people of God!
Ezra 6:8 NLT
8 “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.
Darius is serious. He commands that all of the revenue collected through taxation west of the Euphrates river be spent toward the rebuilding of the Temple. All of it. This money would normally have been sent to the treasury in Babylon or Persia to be used for the purposes of the kingdom of Persia. What this edict now established was that the rebuilding of the Temple was the purpose of the kingdom of Persia. Selah… let that sink in! Verse eight reveals one other intention of note: there is to be no further delay to the completion of the effort! Can you sense the urgency of the king?
Ezra 6:9-10 NLT
9 “Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. 10 Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.
In fact, what king Darius intends is for the Temple to be completed and for worship there to resume. And, he intends for every effort that he can summon to the task to be expended toward the completion of the effort, including the full resumption of worship to the God of Heaven in the Temple of Jerusalem. That means that Tattenai and other gentiles in the region are to make every effort to assist in the completion of the Temple.
I am reminded that in times past, the scions of great rulers would build great statues and other edifices in remembrance of the said ruler. The Pyramids and the Sphinx are ancient examples. In modern times, buildings are raised in the name of great philanthropists. We build libraries for former presidents.
What is unique about the effort that Darius is now supporting is that his father’s name will not be anywhere on the Temple. There won’t be advertising plastered all over the outside of the Temple proclaiming the greatness of Cyrus. There won’t be any edifices on the Temple grounds built remembering Cyrus. There won’t be a hall or a Palace built in Jerusalem dedicated to his memory. The only recognition will be of God. This is God’s Temple for the worship of God.
I am again reminded of Peter, James, and John with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-7). When Peter saw the goings-on around him, the appearance of Moses and Elijah there with Jesus, to strengthen him prior to His Passion, he (Peter) offered that they build three temples. God’s voice from Heaven gently reprimanded that His Son, Jesus was the only One worthy of their worship. Beloved, we idolize a lot of different things. Yes, we do. Please be reminded that Jesus is the only One worthy of our worship!
Ezra 6:11 NLT
11 “Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble.
So serious is king Darius’ intent that the Temple project be seen through to its completion that his official edict contains the threat of death to anyone who seeks to impede the work and the financial ruin of their surviving relatives. No resistance to his orders will be tolerated.
Ezra 6:12a NLT
12 May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.
And now, as if offering a prayer, the king pays great homage to the God of Israel and recognizes his ultimate authority and providence in protecting the Temple at Jerusalem. Protecting it against any who would seek its destruction. Such is the earnestness of King Darius’ intentions. Most certainly, all who heard this edict or heard of it treated it with the gravity with which it was spoken. Most certainly!
Ezra 6:12b NLT
12b … “I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.”
Be reminded. This edict was from the lips of the most powerful man in the world in his day! The Medo-Persian kingdom was an expansive kingdom as great as any that preceded it. Darius was its leader. He explicitly commanded that the work be carried forth with all diligence. Certainly, that is what would transpire. Be reminded. What God starts, He will finish!
Selah,
wb
Closing Thoughts:
Ezra 5:1-2 NLT
At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak[a] responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.
Zechariah 1:1 NLT
1 In November[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo:
Haggai 1:1 NLT
1 On August 29[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
Beloved, all of these men were ‘stirred’ by the Spirit of God. God started all of this effort from a place far from Jerusalem with a people who were born in captivity. And yet through it all, God’s Word prevailed. That will always be the case. Throughout the ages, God has moved on behalf of those in captivity to see them freed. He uses the weak as well as the powerful to see his purpose accomplished. His Word never fails. In this country, God called a prophet in the person of Dr. Martin Luther King to lead a movement that ended the subjection of the people carried away from their homeland in Africa. His voice resonates in the voices of all who continue the fight for justice, whether that is economic, social, or even, environmental justice. Even as we witness the cruel subjugation of the people of Ukraine by a ruthless tyrant, we know that God will prevail. The hope and the fight displayed in the people of Ukraine remind us that God still inspires us toward freedom. May we pray that God’s desire for all oppressed peoples to be free be made manifest. Ultimately, we know that the day will eventually come to pass on what scripture calls the “Day of The Lord”. Our task is to preach God’s Word, without fear or favor, to the end that tyranny worldwide would forever cease. May it be so in the Name of the Lord, Jesus Christ!
Amen!
Isaiah 55:11-13 NLT
11
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12
You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
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