Bible Workbook: Old Testament Volume Two (Of Two)

By Madison Laird

“very well done”

David Powell

Assistant Dean of Biblical Studies

Freed Hardeman University

“useful and appropriate curriculum for learning the Word”

John Weigand

Editor, Praise for the Lord

“insightful questions”

John Robert Hall

Chief Executive Offer

“honored just to be acknowledged”

James Tackett

Editor and Publisher, The Paperless Hymnal

This workbook contains extensive lesson outlines and questions for the last twenty-five books of the Old Testament. It is part of a series of lessons on the entire Bible. This workbook is appropriate for late teens to mature adults. Each lesson was developed and taught personally by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973662617

Madison Laird

Madison Laird has preached in dozens of churches in several different states and countries. He has thousands of hours volunteering and serving on the board of non-profits. In private enterprise he has started two companies and held key roles at the headquarters locations of both IBM and Cisco Systems.

Book preview

Lesson One: Ezra 1-6

• In this lesson will learn how the King Cyrus played a role in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. We will learn about how came out of exile, under what circumstances. We will also learn about what their reaction was when they came back. We will learn about the succession of kind in Persia, and study the effect that had upon the rebuilding process. Finally, we will learn what happens when the rebuilding of the temple is completed.

• God predicted through the prophet Isaiah that he would use a King named Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem and release Jewish captives. (Isaiah 45:1-13)

• It happens. In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus, God tells Him directly to rebuild Jerusalem and let people go from exile and he provides great riches to this endeavor. (Ezra 1)

• There is a detailed record of all the names of families who were exiled. This done all the way down to families with a few dozen people. (Ezra 2:1-62)

• There is an exact number of people who came out of exile: 42,320. They had 7,337 maid and servants, there was also a chorus of 200 men and women, 736 horses, 245 mules, 445 camels, 6,720 donkeys. (Ezra 2:63-70).

• Remember that the prophet Jeremiah had written a letter to the Israelites in exile in Babylon urging them to prosper there. (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

• Those who returned from exile began to sacrifice to God and then started rebuilding the temple. They sang, some shouted, and some wept. There we so many people making so much noise that you could not tell who was making what noise. (Ezra 3)

• Other nations than Israel opposed the building of the temple without them because they say they want to worship God too. They succeeded in creating a delay in construction and that worked all the way through the reign of King Darius. (Ezra 4:1-4)

• When Darius dies, Artaxerxes takes his place. The nations write a letter to Artaxerxes and tell him that if Jerusalem is rebuilt they will rebel and not pay taxes. This works. Artaxerxes decrees an end to the work. (Ezra 4:7-24)

• The prophets Haggai and Zechariah and the political leaders Zerubbabel and Jeshua start rebuilding again. A man named Tattenai who was the governor of the province (put in place by the Persians) wrote a letter back to King Darius (who was the successor to Artaxerxes) explaining that he has asked them why they were rebuilding and they told him the whole history and how they had to rebuild because God told them to and asked for the King’s permission. (Ezra 5)

• Darius does some research, learns that Cyrus had authorized all this work, and not only order the work to continue but also tells his people to help with resources as needed. (Ezra 6:1-12)

• In the sixth year of the King Darius, the temple is completed and consecrated. (Ezra 6:13-17)

• The feast of the Passover is celebrated. (Ezra 6:19-22)

QUESTIONS:

1. What prophet does God use to predict the name of the King who will eventually rescue the children of Israel from exile in Babylon?

2. Who was the world power who defeated the Babylonians?

3. What two things does Cyrus do?

4. Does Cyrus invest in this endeavor?

5. How detailed is the record of all the people who went into exile?

6. How many people and animals came out of exile?

7. What prophet had urged the Israelites to prosper in exile?

8. What three types of noise are the Israelites heard to have made while they started rebuilding the temple?

9. Why did nations other than Israel oppose the temple being rebuilt without them? Did it work?

10. Why did other nations tell Israel they want to also work on construction of the temple?

11. What did the nations other than Jerusalem say in their letter to Artaxerxes?

12. How did Artaxerxes react to the letter he received?

13. What two prophets and two political leaders are key to restarting the work on Jerusalem after work had stopped?

14. Who wrote the letter to Darius explaining why the work had restarted?

15. How does Darius react to the news that the work is restarting?

16. When is the temple rebuilding completed?

17. What feast is the first one celebrated when the temple is consecrated?

Lesson Two: Ezra 7-10

• In our previous lesson we learned about how Cyrus King of Persia released the Israelis from captivity and rebuilt Jerusalem as the prophet Isaiah had predicted. We noted the existence of very detailed records of all the Israelites who returned from exile and how they had clearly prospered in Babylon just as Jeremiah had predicted. We learned about how many who returned from exile sacrificed to God and then started rebuilding the temple. We noticed that they sang, some shouted, and some wept. We learned that there were so many people making so much noise that one could not tell who was making what noise. We learned how other nations first tried to tell Israel that they wanted to help, when they were refused hired lawyers to slow down the work, then appealed to Artaxerxes to stop the construction. Finally, we noted that the King of Persia after Artaxerxes, the new king Darius, discovered that Cyrus had originally commanded the rebuilding, and so he let them continue. Finally, we noted that they finished, consecrated the temple, and celebrated the Passover.

• In this lesson we will learn about how Ezra, in fulfilment of a prophesy, councils the Israelites. We will see how this applies to us today. We will learn about how Ezra is sent to Jerusalem and what he does while he is there. Finally, we will learn a specific lesson about how what Ezra did effects our lives today.

• Ezra was still living in Babylon under King Artaxerxes. Not all the Israelites went back to their land right away, many had to stay behind in Babylon even after the Persians had taken over. So, while Ezra 2 lists the people who went back right away, there some left and they were going when they could. Ezra is one of those people who goes back to Jerusalem to study and teach. (Ezra 7:1-10).

• Ezra is going to correct a problem that Israel had with lack of knowledge. God had told them through Hosea that this was the case. (Hosea 4:6)

• It is the same today except that we have better study tools, most importantly scripture. The only way to get deeper knowledge of God today is through study. (2 Timothy 2:15)

• Artaxerxes sends Ezra to Jerusalem with riches for use in the temple and a letter (decree) that he is in charge and all men who live in Israel must worship his God. (Ezra 7:11-27)

• There is a very specific list of the people who went with Ezra including their lineage. It was about 1300 men. (Ezra 8:1-14)

• Ezra found that there wasn’t anyone there of the priestly tribe of Levi so he sends for some. (Ezra 8:15-29)

• Ezra proclaims a fast so that they can pray for protection from their enemies (Ezra 8:21-23)

• Fasting remains a way to devote one’s self to prayer. It is often practiced throughout the NT, and although it is never commanded, it should be assumed. We read about Anna practicing it (Luke 2:37), Jesus practicing it (Matthew 4:1-11). In fact, Jesus assumed people would fast and pray, but he also cautioned against doing it to be seen by others. (Matthew 6:16-18) Saul fasted for three days after he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus in his conversion experience (Acts 9:8-11). In fact, we read of fasting occurring on many important events such as the installation of elders (Acts:14:23). The common thread in all these is prayer, which is what Ezra was doing.

• Ezra instructs some of the priests to guard the riches of the temple. (Ezra 8:24-30)

• The people with Ezra arrive in Jerusalem and immediately make sacrifices to God. (Ezra 8:31-35)

• Ezra is grieved that the Israelites continue to intermarry with people in the lands around them and asks God for counsel on this issue. (Ezra 9)

• The people see that this issue grieves Ezra and repent and divorce their foreign wives and abandon their families they had with them. (Ezra 10)

QUESTIONS:

1. What two things did Ezra go to Jerusalem to do?

2. In doing this, what problem was Ezra trying to correct?

3. How do we study today?

4. Who sends a letter with Ezra and what does it say?

5. About how many men accompanied Ezra to Jerusalem?

6. What problem did Ezra run into with temple worship and how did he solve it?

7. How does Ezra solve the problem of being faced with enemies?

8. What is the purpose of fasting?

9. Who does Ezra get to guard some of the temple riches?

10. What do the people with Ezra do first when they get to Jerusalem?

11. What issue continues to grieve Ezra to the point that he even petitions God about it?

12. What is the people’s response to this issue?

Lesson Three: Nehemiah 1-9

• In our last lesson, we learned about how Ezra went back to Israel to study and teach while he was overseeing the rebuilding of the temple and the return of riches. We learned that about 1300 people went back with Ezra, but how he still sent for priests from the tribe of Levi to help him. We observed how the priests and people followed Ezra’s instructions to guard the temple riches, fast, pray and offer sacrifices. We noticed that Ezra grieved that the people were marrying local people. Finally, we studied about how Ezra prayed to God, and caused the people to leave their foreign wives and families.

• In this lesson we will learn about a man named Nehemiah. We will learn about his circumstances in Persia, and about how he ends up in Jerusalem. We will find out about what he does there, with a special emphasis on the way he divides labor, how he fends off those who would distract the effort, and about the results. Finally, we will learn about what the nation of Israel does when Nehemiah completes his task.

• Late in the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was an Israeli named Nehemiah that was the cupbearer for the King. He hears about Jerusalem and the wall which was in disrepair and he is moved by this news. (Nehemiah 1)

• Artaxerxes lets Nehemiah go on leave for rebuilding after they agree on how long he will be gone. (Nehemiah 2:1-9)

• Nehemiah doesn’t tell anyone why he is in Jerusalem, but he rides around for three days inspecting the wall and other elements of the city. (Nehemiah 2:11-16)

• Nehemiah declares that the wall must be rebuilt despite the objection of some. (Nehemiah 2:17-29)

• Nehemiah organizes the work. There is a very specific list of which people were assigned to which tasks. A lot of people were involved. Work is easier when lots of people are working together. There is a (non-biblical) common proverb that is probably African in origin many hands make light work. (Nehemiah 3)

• There is powerful adversary developing in Samaria and their king named Sanbalat makes fun of the efforts of the Israelis to rebuild their wall with a man named Tobias who was with him. (Nehemiah 4:1-5)

• The wall was finally fully enclosing the city and was half its full height because we built the wall for the people had a mind to work. Notice he says we indicating Nehemiah was personally involved (Nehemiah 4:6) (CSB)

• The Arabs, Ammonites and Ashdodites, led by Sanbalat and Tobias, see that the Israelites are succeeding so they determine to attack pre-emptively. (Nehemiah 4:7-8)

• The Israelites pray to God and set a guard. (Nehemiah 4:9)

• The attackers plan to use construction materials which have been piling up to attack. Nehemiah senses this and stations half the people as soldiers while the other half are building the wall. Then he gives them a pep talk. Even those who are working on the wall now keep their swords with them. Everyone stays in the city and no one even bothers to change clothes. (Nehemiah 4:10-22)

• The people of Israel are experiencing famine, so the wealthy are lending money to the poor and even enslaving them. Nehemiah tells them they shouldn’t do this because they just got out of debt and slavery and other nations could call them hypocrites for doing this to themselves now. So, the people agree and cancel all their debts and to stop slavery. (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

• Nehemiah explains that, unlike former officials of Israel, he and his peers never levied taxes on the people or took land. (Nehemiah 5:14-19)

• Sanbalat of Syria, Tobias the Ammonite, and Geshon the Arab send Nehemiah a letter about his work to ask him to meet in a town outside Jerusalem where they plan to kill or arrest him. But Nehemiah always responds that he is doing important work and cannot come down. That happens four times. (Nehemiah 6:1-6) (CSB)

• Geshon the Arab then sends a letter explaining his concern in more detail, that he is afraid Israel will revolt after they finish the wall. Nehemiah tell him he is just making things up. (Nehemiah 6:7-8)

• Nehemiah writes that they were just trying to scare them and prays for strength. (Nehemiah 6:9)

• A man named Shemaiah warns Nehemiah that his enemies are coming to kill him that night and he should hide and lock himself in the temple. But Nehemiah refuses and perceives that the man was hired by Sanbalat and Tobias. (Nehemiah 6:10-14)

• The wall is finally completed, and Israel’s enemies are afraid. (Nehemiah 6:15-19)

• The wall is finished and the same people building the wall are set out as guards, but there were still not that many Israelites and no one was living in the city yet. (Nehemiah 7:1-4)

• There are still so few people that there is a complete list by family of all the people there. In the land, there were about 42,360 free people and 7,337 servants. (Nehemiah 7:5-74)

• That makes sense. Remember after the first big group to return, people were coming back in waves. The first big group was recorded in (Ezra 2:63-70) and the numbers are close already. About 1300 went back with Ezra when he went back. (Ezra 8:1-14). There were probably some deaths and births in between, and probably not everyone was present every time (sickness, travel, etc.)

• Nehemiah (whose title was governor) gets the people together and has Ezra (the scribe) to read aloud to the people from the law. (Nehemiah 8:1-9)

• The priests declare the Festival of the Booths should be celebrated. (Nehemiah 8:9-18)

• The people confess their sins publicly. Ezra recounts the history of the Exodus and Israel’s breaking of the covenant relationship with God. (Nehemiah 9)

QUESTIONS:

1. Who was Nehemiah and what troubling news does he get?

2. What did Artaxerxes do about Nehemiah?

3. How long does