Please note that two prophets ( Haggai and Zechariah) spoke to the people in the “name of the God of Israel” who was over them. What does that phrase “who was over them mean?”

Note that the prophets of God supported the workers in the rebuilding of the temple. Exactly how do you think they supported them?

Discuss the opposition that the workers received as they sought to rebuild the temple. Please describe what you know about how this opposition took place.

Obviously God stepped in and helped so that the work could progress. But how is it that He helped in these verses in the first part of chapter 5? Would you consider what He did here to truly be helpful?

Identify Darius. From history, what do we know about him? This will take some research on your part.

Read through the letter written by the “critics” to Darius. Are there any factual inaccuracies in their charges? What do you feel they were hoping to accomplish by writing this letter?
When search was made of the king’s records, a scroll was found which verified the story of Zerubbabel. The scroll outlined not only the authority granted to the Jews to rebuild their temple, but also showed the largeness of Cyrus in returning the items taken from it by the Babylonians. Also spelled out in the scroll was description of how the temple was to be rebuilt. How does its size compare to its dimensions when first constructed by Solomon? Why is this significant?

What was the “law of the Medes and the Persians”?
How does Darius’ response go beyond what you would have expected? Please discuss the working of God in this. It is noted in chapter 6 verse 22 that God had “turned the heart” of the king toward His people in this matter. Does God still work on the hearts of people today to accomplish His will? If so, please give some examples of how you think you have seen this happen.

How long did it take the people to complete this task? Please describe the celebration that took place upon its completion.

The first thing done after the temple was restored was a restoration of the practice of Passover. If the people had only restored the building of the temple, but had not restored the practices associated with it, do you think God would have been pleased with them? How careful do you feel they were in restoring these practices exactly as God had initially ordained them? What lessons can we learn from this?