The Sunday School Lesson for July 14, 2013 is shared from Ezra 6:13-22 (Devotional Reading Ezra 5:1-5 & Background Scripture Ezra 6).
Ezra 6 ... Darius decree for advancing the building. The temple finished. Feasts of the dedication, and of the Passover. ... The decree of Cyrus being found, Darius maketh a new decree for the completion of the temple. The work is finished. The feast of the dedication is kept, and the Passover. ... Darius, findeth the decree for the advancement of the building.
Tatnai (present), & Sheth-boznai, hinder the building of the temple.
Shethar-boznai, and Tatnai oppose rebuilding of temple
Haggai (born on a festival), prophet
Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, stoned in the court of the Lord's house
Iddo (timely)
Artaxerxes, king of Persia, prevents the building of the walls of Jerusalem, Ezra 4:7. Supposed to be the king known as "the false Smerdis."
Feast of the Passover, covenant feast of Israel, kept on the 14th Abib or Nisan (March-April), followed by the feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted 7 days (Leviticus 23:6). Preparation for the Passover (John 10:14). Women, boys, and little children and men, was permitted to attend (Luke 2:41; I Samuel 1:24).
Passover instituted (Exodus 12:13) ... laws relating to (Numbers 9; 28:16) ... observed under Moses (Exodus 12:28; Numbers 9:5) ... under Joshua (Joshua 5:10) ... by Ezra (Ezra 6:10) ... a type of Christ's death (I Corinthians 5:7) ... kept by Christ (Matthew 26:19; John 13).
Song of Solomon (Song of Song) is in the Hebrew canon of the 5 Megilloth or rolls and is read annually by the Jews in their synagogues at the Feast of Passover.
Unleavened Bread, Feast (Leviticus 23:6) ... typical (I Corinthians 5:7)
Aramaic portions in the Old Testament are: Ezra 4:8-6; 18:7; 18:12-26; Jeremiah 10:11; Daniel 2:4-7 ... Aramaic was the colloquial language of Israel from the time of the return from exile. Aramaic language of Assyrians (II Kings 18:26; Isaiah 36:11) ... A Semitic language closely related to Hebrew which developed various dialects and spread to all of SW Asia.
Ezra 6:13-15 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine (Then)/Holy Land(Now); The Course Pursued by the Persian Government, The Governor of Course Obeys
(Ezra 5:3-17; Jeremiah 29:10; Ezra 6:1-5; Ezra 6:7-12; Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 6:1-12 .... Reference in Sunday School Book)
Ezra 6:16-18 ... Sacred Places; Zerubbabel's Temple; It Is Completed & Dedicated ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); The Temple Dedicated
(I Kings 8:63; II Chronicles 7:5)
Ezra 6:19-22
Verses 19,20,21 ... Sacred Seasons; Historical Sacred Seasons; Instances of Keeping the Passover, Under Ezra
Verses 19,20,21,22 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); The Temple Dedicated
Verse 22 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Men the Instruments of God's Purposes
(II Kings 23:21-23; II Chronicles 35:1-19; Exodus 12:6; II Chronicles 29:34; 30:15; Ezra 9:11; Exodus 12:14-20; Exodus 12:39)
Ezra 5:1-5
Verse 1 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); The People Reproved
Reprove (rebuke, disapprove, reprimand)
Verse 2 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); The Work Resumed
Verses 3,4,5 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); The Course Pursued by the Persian Government, The Governor of Syria Makes Sharp Inquiry, but Does Not Stop the Work
Monday - July 8, 2013 - Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple - Ezra 4:1-5
The building hindered. The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple, endeavor to hinder it.
Tuesday - July 9, 2013 - Accusations of Sedition - Ezra 4:11-16
Their letter to Artaxerxes.
Sedition (instigation, uprising, rebellion, disloyal, unfaithful, factious)
Wednesday - July 10, 2013 - Temple Construction Halted - Ezra 4:17-24
His decree. The work ceaseth. His decree to stop the work.
Thursday - July 11, 2013 - The Eye of God upon Them - Ezra 5:1-5
Friday - July 12, 2013 - Who Gave You a Decree? - Ezra 5:6-17
Their letter to Darius against the Jews. Zerubbabel & Jeshua, incited by Haggai & Zechariah, set forward the building of the temple: Ezra 5 ... Zerubbabel & Jeshua set forward the building of the temple in the reign of Darius: Ezra 5.
Saturday - July 13, 2013 - The Temple's Official Endorsement - Ezra 6:1-12
Sunday - July 14, 2013 - The Temple's Dedication - Ezra 6:13-22
Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, the Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, KJV Topical Reference Edition Bible, KJV (Thwe SouthWestern Co.) & Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder
