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One-sentence summary: King Cyrus of Persia orders that the Jews rebuild the house of God and furnishes their supply; the Lord brings back his people from captivity to Jerusalem, and the foundation of the temple is laid.
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia- so that what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah might be fulfilled- the Lord stirs up the spirit of King Cyrus so that he makes a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and puts it in writing. He says that the Lord has given him all the kingdoms of the earth and has commanded him to build Him a house in Jerusalem. He tells the dispersed Jews to go to Jerusalem to build His house and commands everyone nearby to help them by giving gold, silver, goods, livestock, and precious things for the building of the house. The heads of the fathers' houses of Joseph and Benjamin and all the priests and the Levites- "all whose spirits God had moved-" go to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and those around them encourage them by giving them gold, silver, goods, livestock, and precious things. King Cyrus also brings out the articles of the house of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods.
So the people return to Jerusalem and Judah from captivity, "everyone to his own city," and Zerubbabel and Nehemiah are among them. The numbers of the families are recorded. There is one family who cannot be traced, so they are excluded from the priesthood as being defiled, and the governor says they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest can consult the Urim and Thummim. 43, 360 is the total number of the assembly, including about 7,000 servants and 200 singers and livestock. Some of the heads of the fathers' houses, when they come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, freely offer to the treasury what is needed for the work, "according to their ability." So Israel dwells in their cities.
In the seventh month, the people gather "as one man" to Jerusalem. Jeshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel (the grandson of King Jehoiakin of Judah) arise and build the altar of God in order to offer offerings as Moses commanded, day and night, along with the regular and special offerings and offerings for the feasts, and also freewill offerings. They keep the Feast of the Tabernacles as well. However, the foundation of the temple of the Lord is not yet laid. Money is given to masons and carpenters and trade is made with Tryre to bring cedar for the work, with permission from Cyrus. In the second month of the second year of their coming to the Lord's house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and their brethren- the priests and the Levites- and all who were brought back from captivity to Jerusalem, begin their work. They appoint the Levites twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the Lord. Then, Jeshua, with his sons and brethren, "[arise] as one" to oversee those working. When the builders lay the foundation, the priests stand in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites with cymbals to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of King David. They sing and give thanks to the Lord, "For He is good! For His mercy endures forever toward Israel!" And the people shout with a great shout, because the foundation is laid. But many of the priests and Levites, who had seen the first temple, weep with a loud voice when it is laid, and all of the shouting- shouts of joy and weeping- mingles together, and it can be heard afar off.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
What God commands, He supplies. He is the God of "more than enough!"