Who was the Persian king that issued the decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem?

• Answer: Cyrus

• Verse: Ezra 1:1 – “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing.”

Who led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem?

• Answer: Zerubbabel

• Verse: Ezra 2:2 – “These came with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak.”

What was the first thing the Israelites did when they returned to Jerusalem?

• Answer: They built an altar to offer burnt offerings

• Verse: Ezra 3:2 – “Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.”

Which prophet encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the temple despite opposition?

• Answer: Haggai

• Verse: Ezra 5:1 – “Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.”

What did the people celebrate when the temple was completed?

• Answer: They celebrated the dedication of the temple with joy and offerings

• Verse: Ezra 6:16 – “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.”

What was Ezra’s role in the restoration of the people’s faith in God?

• Answer: He taught the Law and led a revival of religious practices

• Verse: Ezra 7:10 – “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

Who was the king that gave Ezra everything he asked for, according to the hand of God?

• Answer: Artaxerxes

• Verse: Ezra 7:6 – “This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.”

What did Ezra do when he heard about the intermarriage of the Israelites with foreign women?

• Answer: He prayed, confessed the sins, and mourned

• Verse: Ezra 9:3 – “When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled.”

What decree did King Darius issue to support the rebuilding of the temple?

• Answer: He decreed that the expenses for the temple be paid from the royal treasury

• Verse: Ezra 6:8 – “Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop.”

What did Ezra request from King Artaxerxes before traveling to Jerusalem?

• Answer: Safe passage and provisions for the temple and its service

• Verse: Ezra 8:21 – “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”

How did Ezra respond when he realized the extent of the people’s sin?

• Answer: He gathered the people and led them in making a covenant to correct the sin

• Verse: Ezra 10:1 – “While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.”

What was the main purpose of Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem?

• Answer: To teach the Law of God and to restore proper worship

• Verse: Ezra 7:10 – “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

Who was the high priest during the time of Ezra’s return to Jerusalem?

• Answer: Jeshua

• Verse: Ezra 3:2 – “Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel.”

What did the Israelites do in response to the letter from King Darius confirming the decree of Cyrus?

• Answer: They resumed and completed the rebuilding of the temple

• Verse: Ezra 6:14 – “So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel.”

How did the surrounding nations respond to the rebuilding of the temple?

• Answer: They opposed it and tried to discourage the builders

• Verse: Ezra 4:4 – “Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.”

What did Ezra do to purify the people from their sin?

• Answer: He instructed them to separate themselves from their foreign wives and their children

• Verse: Ezra 10:3 – “Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.”

What was the outcome of Ezra’s public confession and prayer?

• Answer: The people were moved to repentance and action

• Verse: Ezra 10:1 – “While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.”

What did King Artaxerxes provide to Ezra for the temple service?

• Answer: Silver, gold, and other supplies, as well as permission to appoint magistrates

• Verse: Ezra 7:17 – “With this money, be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.”

What did the people do when they finished laying the foundation of the temple?

• Answer: They sang songs of praise to the Lord

• Verse: Ezra 3:11 – “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”

What were the people instructed to do with their offerings to support the temple?

• Answer: To bring their offerings to the temple treasury

• Verse: Ezra 2:68-69 – “When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments.”

Who were the chief leaders who supported Ezra’s mission?

• Answer: The Levites and priests

• Verse: Ezra 8:24 – “Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their associates, and weighed out to them the silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God.”

How did the people react when Ezra read the Law to them?

• Answer: They wept and rejoiced, understanding the words of the Law

• Verse: Nehemiah 8:9 – “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.”

What was the significance of the “fast” proclaimed by Ezra at the Ahava Canal?

• Answer: It was a time for seeking God’s protection and guidance for their journey

• Verse: Ezra 8:21 – “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”

What did Ezra do to ensure the temple’s worship was conducted properly?

• Answer: He organized and taught the people about proper worship practices

• Verse: Ezra 7:10 – “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

What did Ezra find when he arrived in Jerusalem regarding the temple?

• Answer: The temple was completed, and the people were reestablishing worship

• Verse: Ezra 7:27-28 – “Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way, and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”

What was the purpose of Ezra’s letter to King Artaxerxes?

• Answer: To seek support and resources for the temple and its services

• Verse: Ezra 7:6 – “This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given.”

What did Ezra do with the gold and silver provided for the temple?

• Answer: He weighed it and used it for the temple’s needs

• Verse: Ezra 8:33 – “On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites—Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.”

What did Ezra do to deal with the problem of mixed marriages among the returned exiles?

• Answer: He led the people to make a covenant to send away their foreign wives

• Verse: Ezra 10:3 – “Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.”

How did the people respond to Ezra’s call for a covenant to address their sins?

• Answer: They agreed to the covenant and committed to following it

• Verse: Ezra 10:12 – “The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: ‘You are right! We must do as you say.'”

Who helped Ezra in his mission to teach the people the Law of God?

• Answer: The Levites and priests who assisted in explaining the Law

• Verse: Nehemiah 8:7-8 (often associated with Ezra’s work) – “The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah—invited the people to stand where they were. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”