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Return from Exile and the Decree of Cyrus

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The decree of Cyrus was a fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by which prophet?

a)

Isaiah

b)

Jeremiah

c)

Daniel

d)

Ezekiel

2.

Which Persian king issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple?

a)

Xerxes

b)

Artaxerxes

c)

Cyrus

d)

Darius

3.

Who did Cyrus entrust with the sacred vessels of the Lord's house that had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar?

a)

Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah

b)

Ezra, the scribe

c)

Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah

d)

Jeshua, the high priest

4.

Approximately how many people returned to Jerusalem in the first wave of exiles?

a)

10,0000

b)

42,360

c)

7,000

d)

120,000

5.

How long did the work on the temple stop after the people of the land discouraged them?

a)

1 year

b)

Approximately 10 years

c)

70 years

d)

3 years

6.

What was the reaction of the older people who had seen the first temple when the foundation of the second temple was laid?

a)

They celebrated with great joy.

b)

They wept loudly.

c)

They were indifferent.

d)

They began to rebuild the city walls instead.

7.

To whom did the enemies of Judah and Benjamin write a letter in an attempt to stop the temple construction?

a)

King Cyrus

b)

King Darius

c)

King Xerxes

d)

King Artaxerxes

8.

In which chapter of Ezra is the opposition to the rebuilding most prominently detailed?

a)

Chapter 1

b)

Chapter 4

c)

Chapter 6

d)

Chapter 8

9.

When was the Second Temple completed and dedicated?

a)

During the reign of King Cyrus

b)

During the reign of King Darius

c)

After Ezra's arrival

d)

After Nehemiah's arrival

10.

What Jewish festival was celebrated after the completion and dedication of the new temple?

a)

The Feast of Tabernacles

b)

The Day of Atonement

c)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

d)

Purim

11.

About how much time elapsed between the dedication of the temple (Ezra 6) and Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem (Ezra 7)?

a)

10 years

b)

20 years

c)

More than 60 years

d)

70 years

12.

What was Ezra's profession and title?

a)

High Priest

b)

Governor

c)

Scribe skilled in the Law of Moses

d)

Temple Builder

13.

What was the first thing the returning exiles did upon their arrival in Jerusalem?

a)

Laid the foundation of the new temple

b)

Built the city walls

c)

Appointed a new king

d)

Held a festival

14.

Which two prophets encouraged after the work had stopped?

a)

Isaiah and Jeremiah

b)

Haggai and Zechariah

c)

Elijah and Elisha

d)

Amos and Hosea

15.

Which king gave Ezra a letter granting him authority and provision for his mission to Jerusalem?

a)

Artaxerxes

b)

Cyrus

c)

Darius

d)

Xerxes

16.

What did Ezra not find among the people gathered at the Ahava Canal?

a)

Priests

b)

Levites

c)

Singing men and women

d)

Temple servants

17.

What did Ezra and the leaders do when they found that the people had intermarried with foreign women?

a)

He rebuked the foreign wives

b)

He sent the people away.

c)

He tore his garment and cloak, and pulled out his hair and beard.

d)

He called a celebration to mark the union of two peoples.

18.

How did the people react to Ezra's weeping and prayer over their sins?

a)

They also wept and assembled to him.

b)

They ignored him and continued their practices.

c)

They threatened Ezra with exile.

d)

They built an altar and sacrificed to their foreign gods.

19.

How did the assembly solve the issue of foreign marriages?

a)

They elected new leaders to deal with the problem.

b)

They had a great public debate.

20.

Who is listed at the very end of the book of Ezra, after the priests and Levites?

a)

The kings of Persia

b)

The heads of families

c)

Those who had married foreign women

d)

The singers and gatekeepers

21.

What was the reaction of the people who were compelled to separate from their foreign wives?

a)

They rebelled and left Jerusalem.

b)

They were angry and accused Ezra of injustice.

c)

They agreed to do as commanded.

d)

They did nothing and ignored the command.

22.

The final chapters of Ezra emphasize the importance of what aspect of the covenant with God?

a)

Keeping the Law of Moses

b)

Honoring the temple

c)

Honoring the King of Persia

d)

Expanding the borders of Israel

23.

The book of Ezra ends with a list of those who had married foreign women, showing that the resolution to the problem was what?

a)

A temporary fix

b)

A partial success

c)

Fully implemented

d)

A failure

24.

The final chapters of Ezra focus primarily on which issue?

a)

Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem

b)

Spiritual reformation among the people

c)

Expanding the city's borders

d)

Preparing for the coming of the Messiah

25.

Who was Shecaniah, and what did he propose to the assembly regarding their unfaithfulness?

a)

A prophet who condemned Ezra.

b)

A leader who suggested divorcing the foreign wives.

c)

A governor who supported the foreign wives.

d)

A priest who led the prayers.

26.

What did the people promise to do in response to Ezra's message?

a)

To rebuild the temple faster.

b)

To divorce their foreign wives and offer sacrifices.

c)

To leave Jerusalem and return to Babylon.

d)

To gather offerings for the poor.

27.

What was the reason the assembled people gave for not being able to stand outside to deal with the problem of foreign wives?

a)

It was too cold and rainy.

b)

There were too many people.

c)

They were afraid of their enemies.

d)

They were tired from the journey.

28.

Who was the king during the rebuilding of the temple?

a)

Tattenai

b)

During the reign of King Darius

c)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

d)

More than 60 years

29.

What did Ezra do as a sign of mourning and distress?

a)

He also wept and assembled to him.

b)

He tore his garment and cloak, and pulled out his hair and beard.

c)

Spiritual reformation among the people

d)

They wept loudly.

30.

What was the solution to the problem of foreign wives?

a)

They appointed a commission of leaders to investigate and resolve each case.

b)

They wept loudly.

c)

They left Jerusalem.

d)

They rebuilt the altar.