The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations. Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer. Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.
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Compare All Versions: Ezra 4:12-16
7 Days
Picking up where 2 Chronicles ends, Ezra describes the return of exiles to Jerusalem and the eventual rebuilding of the temple. Using the influence of pagan kings and unbelieving rulers, God was faithful to bring his people back to the land and reestablish worship at the temple.
10 Days
Nehemiah was a visionary leader, innovator, and statesman. I believe that the Book of Nehemiah is as good an entrepreneur’s case study as any I use in the classes I teach at Carnegie Mellon. It offers lessons in leadership on par with well-documented examples of exemplary leadership from modern CEOs. Over the course of this 10-day study, we are going to learn by studying the life of Nehemiah.
16 Days
Do you feel like you are in a season of loss and ruin? After decades of captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, only to find the city in ruins. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail God's faithfulness to his people as they rebuilt their homeland and offer encouragement to you when you need to rebuild too.
30 days
In the beginning was the Word … but what came next? This plan is for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Bible. It provides a chronological reading program that endeavors to place all biblical passages in their date order. Part Nine of this twelve-part one-year reading plan is titled ‘From Exile to Rebuilding Jerusalem: 587 BC–410 BC’.
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