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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 10, Day 5: Ezra 6:13-22

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 6:13-22

 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The people celebrated with offerings and then with Passover.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 10, Day 5: Ezra 6:13-22

11) With joy. They offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. And they installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God.
12) The Passover celebration was profoundly significant as it symbolized a “second Exodus.” It was the first one celebrated in the newly completed Temple, marking not just a return from exile but a spiritual restoration. It unified the community, including all who purified themselves, re-establishing their identity as God’s redeemed people.
13a) The people remembered that God had changed the attitude of the king of Assyria and assisted them with the temple rebuilding. They also remembered how the Lord redeemed them from Egypt.
b) Honestly, every day is a kindness, and there are too many to pinpoint one. I try to celebrate Him every day of my life!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 10, Day 5: Ezra 6:13-22

I love how the people succeeded with God’s help in rebuilding the temple for worship to the One and Only God!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 10, Day 5: Ezra 6:13-22

Everyone was strengthened by God, and they prospered. Even though God blessed the people, the work was still hard, but they did it!

It took 4 years to complete the temple from the time the building was resumed. The year was 515 BC. The city walls will be restored during the reign of Artaxerxes in the time of Nehemiah.

For comparison, Solomon sacrificed 142,000 animals when the first temple was dedicated. Here, we see only 712 sacrificed. This was for financial reasons, not for lack of faith and love for the Lord.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated the purity of God’s people.

The people were full of joy for this!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 6:13-22 describes the triumphant completion and joyful dedication of the Second Temple, culminating in the unified celebration of Passover. It marks the successful fulfillment of the exiles’ mission, brought about by God’s intervention through foreign kings.

Interpretation

  • Swift Completion (vv. 13-15): Spurred on by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and now fully funded and protected by King Darius’s decree, the Jewish leaders finished building the Temple with great speed. The work was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of Darius’s reign. The text emphasizes that this success was due to the command of God and the decrees of the Persian kings Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.
  • Joyful Dedication (vv. 16-18): The entire community—the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites—dedicated the new Temple with great joy. They offered hundreds of animals as sacrifices, including a sin offering for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the reunification of the entire nation. They then organized the priests and Levites for service in the Temple according to the Law of Moses.
  • Purified Celebration (vv. 19-22): The returned exiles celebrated the Passover, a festival central to their identity as God’s redeemed people. They were joined by others who had separated themselves from the impurity of the surrounding peoples. The chapter concludes by noting their immense joy, attributing it to God, who had “changed the heart of the king of Assyria” (a term used for the Persian king) to support them.

Conclusion

This passage is the climax of the rebuilding narrative, showcasing a community restored and worship re-established. The dedication and Passover celebration signify more than just the completion of a building; they represent the spiritual rebirth of the nation. It powerfully demonstrates that God fulfilled His promise, turning political opposition into royal support and restoring His people to a state of joyful, purified worship in their own land.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 10, Day 5: 2 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 24-25

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 12

Joash reigned 40 years. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

Joash wanted the temple repaired, but it took 23 years because the priests did not repair the temple. Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it and only left after Joash gave them sacred objects from the temples.

His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla. Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 13

Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.

Jehoahaz died and Jehoash his son succeeded him as king. He reigned sixteen years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. 

Elisha died.

Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son succeeded him as king.

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 14

Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. He reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 

Amaziah challenged Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, to battle. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and gave them to Hazael king of Aram who finally withdrew.

Jehoash died and Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king. The people conspired against him and killed him, and Azariah his son who was 16 took the throne.

Jeroboam (II) son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jeroboam rested and Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

SUMMARY OF 2 CHRONICLES 24

The workers rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it. The rest of the money was used to make articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem.

The Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’”

Joash was killed for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest

SUMMARY OF 2 CHRONICLES 25

Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for

When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 10, Day 5: 2 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 24-25

12a) Jehoiada guided his nephew Joash. He helped with the temple’s repairs and helped Israel to be faithful.

b) After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem. Jehoash went to Jerusalem and took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and gave them to Hazael king of Aram who finally withdrew.

13) Jehoahaz King of Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Israel did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria. Jehoash King of Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He warred against against Amaziah king of Judah.

14) Elisha’s confidence in the fact that God always had his back.

15) Dear Lord, help me to live faithfully and give me the power to do so. Help me to be strong in the face of temptation and give me perseverance for you.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 10, Day 5: 2 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 24-25

Long readings. Lots of redundancy. Lots of similar names. Keep at it. You’re growing closer to God!

I’m surprised no one took Elisha’s bones after the first miracle for other miracles. I would have!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 10, Day 5: 2 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 24-25

The temple needed repairs because it was vandalized by Athaliah and her sons (2 Chronicles 24:7). The money coming into the temple was from the census, taxes, and offerings. The priest did get the repairs done. Remember building projects took a long time in ancient times.

The kingdom of Syria attacked Judah, and King Joash was wounded. 2 Chronicles 24:23-24 To get rid of Syria, he used the temple’s treasures rather than trusting God.

Joash began strong but strayed at the end, as did so many of Israel’s kings.

2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu became king over Israel according to God’s promise to Jehu 2 Kings 10:30.

God rescues his unbelieving people again when they cry out to Him.

We see a civil war between Israel and Judah.

Elisha dies.  Elisha said these words to Elijah at the end of his life.  2 Kings 2:12

The arrows represented victories and Joash did not use them properly as Elisha’s last gift to him before he dies. Shooting an arrow in the direction of the enemy was an ancient custom.

Anytime God tells us to have faith, we must be bold, not timid like Joash here. Small actions can add up to a lot.

Fun Fact: This is the only time in the Bible that a miracle was performed by the bones of a dead guy. Yet, the entire relic idea pushed by the Catholic church began here.

2 Kings 14

Amaziah executed the servants who killed his dad. This is wise to protect himself and Biblical Genesis 9:5-7 as murderers were punished by execution but not the children (Deuteronomy 24:16) as God’s law says (but custom demanded).

Amaziah destroyed the Edomites with God’s help  2 Chronicles 25:5-16 but then turned from God afterward (2 Chronicles 25:14) and decided to attack Israel. 2 Chronicles 25:5-16

Amaziah was captured and turned into a prisoner in Israel. He lost all his wealth, too. Then he was assassinated (2 Kings 12:20-21).

The reign of Azariah is about to begin, and he’s the greatest king of Judah after David. Finally!

God let Jeroboam II enjoy great prosperity in Israel. He also helped to neutralize Syria, Israel’s great enemy, with the rise of Assyria. He died in 752 BC. His sone, Zechariah reigned next. He is the fourth generation of Jehu (2 Kings 10:30).

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 10, Day 5: Matthew 9:27-34

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 9:27-34

Jesus continues on, and two men follow him, asking Jesus to have mercy on them, and they call him the Son of David. Jesus goes indoors, and the blind men come to him. He asked them if they believed he could heal them. They answered yes. Jesus touched their eyes, and they could see. He told them not to tell others, but they went out and spread the news instead.

Citizens brought a demon-possessed man to Jesus. He could not talk. Jesus drove the demon out, and the man could speak. The people were amazed by this miracle, saying this has never been seen before. But the Pharisees said it was the prince of demons who drives out demons.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 10, Day 5: Matthew 9:27-34

13a) They blind men called Jesus the Son of David. They asked him to have mercy on them.

b) Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Then he touched their eyes and healed them. He asked them to tell no one of this miracle. They disobeyed.

14) Jesus came to save his people. He opened the eyes of the blind and unstopped the ears of the deaf.

15a) The miracle amazed the crowd. They said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” The Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

b) People don’t like authority. They don’t like to submit or be told what to do. People don’t want to give up autonomy or control.

c) Honestly, I’m not around people all that much. I work from home and don’t really go anywhere so I haven’t really ever had this occur to me. But I usually ignor people and pray for them.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 10, Day 5: Matthew 9:27-34

It’s interesting to me how Jesus didn’t mind some of his miracles known, but that he asked others to be kept secret. It’s hard to fault the men for shouting their joy. Yet, this is a question of obedience. Jesus had compassion on others and healed them, but his primary mission was to bring forgiveness to sinners. He didn’t want his healings to overshadow his ministry. Plus, he knew the timeline he had for his ministry and did not want to draw undue attention to himself.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 10, Day 5: Matthew 9:27-34

There were more infirmaries in ancient times simply due to their lack of medical knowledge. No one know about germs or infections and nor did they have a cure for them.

For blind people to follow others, they have to be determined to listen. These men were.

Fun Fact: This is the first time in the Bible that Jesus is called the “Son of David.” These men knew Jesus was the messiah. They appealed to mercy.

Fun Fact: No blind person was ever healed in the Old Testament.

Again, faith healed these men, and Matthew emphasizes that point.

Jewish priests believed that they could not help the demon-possessed man becuase they believed you had to know the demon’s name in order to exorcise it. Thus, if a demon made you mute so you couldn’t say their name, you were lost. Thus, Jesus’s miracle both showed this belief was not true and showed the power of Jesus.

However, the Pharisees, so used to absolute power, dismiss and reject Jesus as having the power from Satan.

These miracles prove Jesus’s authority and his divinity as the Son of God.

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