LAYING THE TEMPLE FOUNDATIONS
Key verse: 3
NIV
The List of the Exiles Who Returned(A)
2 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(B) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(C) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(D) 2 in company with Zerubbabel,(E) Joshua,(F) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(G) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Exiles Return
2 (A)Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles (B)whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, (C)Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Read full chapterCross references
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Survival in a hard land (2:1-2,68-7
)
The land had become a wilderness, so life was hard. But the returned exiles first gave a free-will offering for the rebuilding of the temple. Then they began the hard task of surviving.
2. Rebuilding the altar (3:1-6)
Spiritual survival was most urgent. The people of the land were godless and materialistic, so it was not easy for the returned exiles to have a clear identity as God's people. They overcame fear, rebuilt the altar and began worshiping God in the way prescribed in the Bible.
3. Laying the temple foundations (7-13)
Laying foundations is hard. It requires a decision of faith, much work and sacrifice, and co-working. When the foundations were laid, all the people shouted praise to the Lord. Some shouted for joy, some wept in sorrow, but all praised the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, help us to lay spiritual foundations through 1:1 Bible study.
One Word: Overcome fear; lay foundations
