Free group study handout
Ezra 4: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Ezra 4 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Adversaries of Judah and Benjamin learn of the temple construction. They approach Zerubbabel and the leaders, saying, 'Let us build with you' (v. 2).
Key verse
“Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.”
Ezra 4:4 (WEB)
Outline
- Ezra 4:1–3 Adversaries Offer Help
- Ezra 4:4–5 Opposition Arises
- Ezra 4:6–10 Accusations to Artaxerxes
- Ezra 4:11–16 Warning of Rebellion
- Ezra 4:17–22 Artaxerxes' Response
- Ezra 4:23–24 Cease Work by Force
Discussion questions
- In v1, who hears about the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem?
- What do Zerubbabel and Jeshua say in v3 to the adversaries?
- In v12, what reasons do the adversaries give for calling Jerusalem a 'rebellious and bad city'?
- In v19, why does King Artaxerxes mention the past insurrections of the city?
- When have you faced opposition that made you hesitate in a task, as the Jews did in v24?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Ezra 4: Ezra 5, Ezra 6, Ezra 7.
Before next time: read Ezra 5.