Ezra 4-6, Chuck Smith teaching (C3000, 1985 to 1999)

Read as you listen: Chuck Smith on Ezra 4

Read the opening of his teaching

In our last study, at the end of chapter three, they had just laid the foundation for the new temple with the mixed emotions. The young people shouting for joy and excitement over the fact that they were rebuilding now the temple. The older people who remembered the glory of Solomon’s temple, they were weeping. So much noise was going up, you couldn’t tell the difference between the noise of those that were rejoicing and shouting for joy and those that were weeping over the contrast of the pitiful beginnings compared with the tremendous glory that was Solomon’s temple. The noise was heard afar off.

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, (4:1-2).