Following the exile Solomon's ruined temple was rebuilt and became the focus of the Jewish faith worldwide.
Preparations for rebuilding the temple
Ezra 1:1–4 parallel 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 Cyrus gave permission for the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (538 B.C.); Ezra 1:7 He sent back the temple treasures.
Rebuilding the temple under the leadership of Jeshua and Zerubbabel
Ezra 3:3–6, Ezra 3:8–13, Ezra 4:1–3
Interruptions to the rebuilding
The Jews' enemies persuaded Artaxerxes to order the work to cease
Ezra 4:8, Ezra 4:12–15, Ezra 4:17, Ezra 4:20–21, Ezra 4:24
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah called Zerubbabel and the people to restart work
Haggai 1:4 See also Ezra 5:1–12; Haggai 1:5–7, Haggai 1:14–15
“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
The rebuilding authorised by King Darius
Ezra 5:3, Ezra 5:11, Ezra 5:13, Ezra 6:3–5, Ezra 6:7–8
The dedication and worship of the rebuilt temple
The post-exilic temple and its worship was regarded as the spiritual centre for Jews worldwide
The temple is the place where God is to be praised
Psalm 100:4, Psalm 134:1–2 See also Psalm 135:19–20, Psalm 138:2
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD!
Prophecies of restoration of the temple
Zechariah 1:16 See also Jeremiah 31:6, Jeremiah 31:23, Jeremiah 33:18; Ezekiel 40:1–43:27
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt, declares the LORD of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.