By Sam E. Stone This is the concluding lesson in our studies about rebuilding the temple in the post-exilic period of Old Testament history. Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries. Together they challenged God’s people to complete the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. One final verse from Haggai begins today’s study. Zechariah was evidently […]
By Sam E. Stone Judah had been conquered, Jerusalem burned, the temple demolished, and the people taken captive to Babylon. After 70 years of captivity there, they were allowed to return to their homeland. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel (the governor) and Joshua (the priest), work was begun to rebuild the temple. Despite a […]
By Sam E. Stone Only 38 verses long, Haggai is the second shortest book of the Old Testament (after Obadiah). It is filled with important teaching, however. In last week’s lesson, the prophet Haggai called the people back to their task of rebuilding the temple. They had ignored their responsibility for 16 years! His […]
By Sam E. Stone After returning from Babylonian exile, the Jews laid the foundations for the temple but then did no other construction work. After encountering opposition, the people were discouraged from continuing. Sixteen years passed, and the work was still unfinished. Haggai and Zechariah were two of the prophets who served in this […]
By Sam E. Stone Today we study Jesus’ answer to a question about the greatest commandment. In reply, he cites the two Old Testament passages that we will consider first in our lesson. Moses had been given the assignment to pass along God’s commands to those Israelites who left Egyptian bondage. Leviticus explained they […]
