RETURN & REBUILDING: BIBLE SUMMARY

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Return And Rebuilding

a) The return of the remnant commenced after seventy years of exile under the Babylonians.

b) Some of the Jews were able to return to Judah in order to begin rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. This remnant of a once-great nation was still greatly oppressed, and it was only with distress that they rebuilt the city over several decades.

c) In this, we see Zerubbabel and the Jews' first return and attempt at rebuilding.

2. Bible Summary (Ezra 1-6)

@1. Cyrus issues a decree to let the exiles of Judah return and rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 1).  

@2. Details and genealogies of those who returned (Ezra 2).

@3. The altar erected and the temple foundation laid (Ezra 3).

@4. Opposition from the foreigners whom the Assyrians had earlier settled in Israel (Ezra 4).

@5. The rebuilding comes to a standstill (Ezra 4).

@6. Rebuilding of the temple resumes, supported by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5).

@7. Opposition is unsuccessful. Darius reads the decree Cyrus had made, and confirms it with his own decree (Ezra 6).

@8. The rebuilding of the temple is completed (Ezra 6).

@9. The Passover is observed again (Ezra 6). 

The End ...