Christ Baptist Church
Spring 2015
Chapter 7:1-10
Ezra / Nehemiah Timeline
PERSIAN KING
CYRUS
Chap 1 –
4:6,24
Chap 5 - 6
Chap 4:7-23
Chap 7 - 10
CAMBYSES
DATES
BIBLICAL CORRELATION
539-530 Return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 1-3)
530-522
Time
Line
Temple work begins
Rebuilding at Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4)
538
536
530
520
516
DARIUS I
522-486
Haggai and Zechariah prophesy
Temple Completed (Ezra 5-6)
XERXES
ARTAXERXES I
486-464
464-423
Story of Esther (Esther 1-9)
Return of Ezra
(Ezra 7-10)
Return of Nehemiah
(Nehemiah (1-2)
Prophecy of Malachi
458
445
443
80 years
Chapter 7 - Ezra Arrives!
Ezra 7:1-5
1. How many years passed between the first exodus led
by Zerubbabel and the second led by Ezra?
2. Ezra has a remarkable lineage. Who was Zadok?
(1Kings 1:32) How far back does the lineage go?
3. How was Ezra uniquely qualified to lead the spiritual
life of the Jewish people? Why was this important?
Chapter 7 - Ezra Arrives!
Ezra 7:6-7
4. What was Ezra and what were his skills?
5. What made this special (Law of Moses)?
Why should it be special to you? What gift
do you possess from God today? (Eph 2:8-9)
6. Why do you think the king granted him all
he asked for?
• How is this different from Moses leaving Egypt?
8 For by grace
you have been
saved through
faith. And this
is not your own
doing; it is the
gift of
God, 9 not a
result of
works, so that
no one may
boast.
Chapter 7 - Ezra Arrives!
Ezra 7:6-7
7. What do these two verses tell you about Ezra’s
character?
8. Why do you think the “hand of the Lord his God
was on him?” What do you get out of the wording?
9. What is the model for planning and strategy?(Col
1:29)
Col 1:29
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me
Chapter 7 - Ezra Arrives!
Ezra 7:8-9
10.Which city did Ezra come from and which city did he arrive
in? What does Robert Fyall say about this journey (p103)?
11.What was “on” him?
Ezra 7:10
12.From v10 list 4 things Ezra did with the Law.
preach the word; be
ready in season and out
of season; reprove,
rebuke, & exhort, with
complete patience and
teaching. 2 Tim4:2
13.Application: What are some important lessons we can
learn regarding Bible study from Ezra’s example?
(2 Tim 4:2, Nehemiah 8)
Christ Baptist Church
Spring 2015
Chapter 7:12-28
Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word
Studying
Devoting
ourselves to God
His Word
Acting according
to His Will
Teaching others
about His Grace
Are we:
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
Ezra 7:11-12
1. 1.Who is the author of the letter and how
is he described?
2. 2.What two authorities are mentioned in
these two verses?
3. How is Ezra described and what
responsibilities did Artaxerxes say he had?
The king's heart is
a stream of water
in the hand of
the Lord; he turns it
wherever he will
Proverbs 21:1
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
Tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargadae
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
Ezra 7:12-20
4. What three groups are allowed to
return with Ezra?
5. What did the letter of the king
authorize Ezra to do in vs 12-20?
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
VS
Description
13
•
•
•
•
14
• Inquire about Jerusalem and Judah and send a report back
• Institute the Law of God
15
• Take with them a free will offering from the king and his counsellors
• Live in Jerusalem
16
• Take a free will offering of gold and silver from the people of Babylon
• Use it for offerings in the house of their God in Jerusalem
17
• Use the money to buy bulls, rams, lambs with meal offerings and their drink offerings
• Offer them upon the alter of the house of your God in Jerusalem
18
• Use the rest in ways that seem good to you
19
• Use the vessels of worship for worship of God
20
• Take whatever less you need to worship God from the treasury
Ezra can go to Jerusalem
People, Priests and Levites can go to Jerusalem
on their own free will
In all the realm
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
Ezra 7:21-24 – To the Treasurers beyond the River
6. What official title does Artaxerxes give Ezra in v 21?
7. What else did he promise Ezra in vv 21-23? What
reason did he give in v23?
8. What protection was given to religious leaders in v24?
Ezra Chapter 7 – Letter from king Artaxerxes
Ezra 7:25-28 – Closing - To you, Ezra
9. What authority and responsibilities were given
to Ezra?
10.How did Ezra respond to the king’s commands
(vv 27,28)?
11.Who gave Ezra the strength or courage to
perform his tasks and responsibilities?
Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word
• Ezra made an impact on Artaxerxes. What impact are you
making on non-believers?
• How does a non-believer describe you?
• Ezra gives God the complete credit (“hand of my God”)
are you giving God the credit in your life when things are
good in your life?
• What about when they go bad?
Timeline
http://www.blueletterbible.org/images/rosepub/imageDisplay/#s=OT_timeline2_b