Reading for November 10th

Read Ezra 5.1-5. In 5.1-6.18: Overcoming opposition and rebuilding. Thhis section of the book highlights the continued commitment of the community to rebuilding the house of God, understood as both the physical Temple and the renewed Jerusalem. This section is in Aramaic and as in the earlier sections, carries the narrative forward by extensive quotation from various official documents. In 5.1: Haggai and Zechariah: This section opens at the end of the sixth century, where ch. 4 ended with a mention of two prophets who, along with Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, directed a new effort to rebuild the Temple. These are probably the prophets behind the canonical books bearing their names. In verse 3: Who gave you a decree: The officals who are inquiring about imperial permission may not be opposing the rebuilding of the Temple as much as showing concern that all is being done in accord with imperial sanction. Comments or Questions..