Ezra Quiz

Downright Hard

BACKGROUND NOTE: Ezra continues the Old Testament narrative of Second Chronicles by showing how God fulfills his promise to return his people to the Land of Promise after seventy years of exile. Two returns from Babylon are related--the first led by Zerubbabel and the second under the leadership of Ezra.

1. Name the two canonical prophets active in Jerusalem during the work on the temple.

2. Tattenai was determined to stop the building of the temple, so he sends a letter to Darius requesting that a search be made to see whether a decree was really issued by Cyrus. Darius finds the record of the decree and sends a letter to Tattenai. Summarize its contents.

3. Into whose care did Cyrus deliver the gold and silver articles of the temple for transport back to Jerusalem?

4. Give the name of Zerubbabel's father.

5. Before Ezra and his contingent of Jews left for Jerusalem, they fasted and prayed for God's protection on the road. Why didn't Ezra request the king to provide an armed escort?

6. During the course of the work on the temple and the city walls, at least three letters requesting that the work be stopped were sent to the Persian king reigning at that time. Name the three kings who each received a letter.

7. An assembly of men came before Ezra confessing their sin. They determined to make a covenant with God and send away their pagan wives and the children born to them. Who was the spokesman for this assembly?

   DIRECTIONS FOR CHRONOLOGY QUESTIONS: For the questions to follow, first click "Activation" button. Then place the mouse on the event you want to move. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the event up or down to the position where you want it. Click the "Submit" button at any time. Items in the correct position are written in red.

8. Put the following five events in proper chronological order.

   • The temple is completed.
   • Ezra fasts and prays.
   • Haggai and Zechariah prophesy in Jerusalem.
   • Shechaniah approaches Ezra.
   • Sacrifices are once again offered in Jerusalem.

                    

9. Put the following five events in proper chronological order.

   • Tattenai sends a letter to Darius.
   • Work on the temple begins.
   • Artaxerxes issues a decree.
   • Those who took foreign wives stand for examination.
   • Xerxes (aka Ahasuerus) becomes king.

                    

10. Put the following five events in proper chronological order.

    • Sheshbazzar is entrusted with the temple articles.
    • Ezra returns to Jerusalem.
    • Cyrus issues a decree.
    • Zerubbabel returns to Jerusalem.
    • Darius issues a decree to search the archives.

                     

11. For a special challenge, combine questions 8-10 to put all fifteen events in chronological order.

    • The temple is completed.
    • Ezra fasts and prays.
    • Haggai and Zechariah prophesy in Jerusalem.
    • Shechaniah approaches Ezra.
    • Sacrifices are once again offered in Jerusalem.
    • Tattenai sends a letter to Darius.
    • Work on the temple begins.
    • Xerxes (aka Ahasuerus) becomes king.
    • Those who took foreign wives stand for examination.
    • Artaxerxes issues a decree.
    • Sheshbazzar is entrusted with the temple articles.
    • Cyrus issues a decree.
    • Zerubbabel returns to Jerusalem.
    • Darius issues a decree to search the archives.
    • Ezra returns to Jerusalem.