[1] 1:1 Kislev . 20th year This was about December, 444 b.c.

[2] 1:4 fast To live without food for a time of prayer or mourning.

[3] 1:11 wine servant A very important job. This official was always close to the king and tasted the king's wine to make sure no one was trying to poison the king.

[4] 2:1 Nisan . 20th year That is, mid-March-mid-April, 443 b.c.

[5] 2:3 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[6] 2:8 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[7] 3:8 goldsmith A person who makes things from gold.

[8] 3:13 500 yards Literally, "1000 cubits" (444 m).

[9] 3:15 City of David Jerusalem, especially the southeastern and oldest part of the city.

[10] 3:22 that area Or possibly, "the Jordan Valley."

[11] 3:26 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[12] 3:31 merchant A person who earns a living by buying and selling things.

[13] 4:2 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[14] 4:16 armor The special clothes soldiers wore to protect themselves in war.

[15] 5:3 famine A time when there is not enough rain for crops to grow, causing people and animals to die without enough food or water.

[16] 5:3 vineyard A garden or farm where grapes are grown.

[17] 5:14 the 20th year . king This was from 444-432 b.c.

[18] 5:15 1 pound Literally, "40 shekels" (460g).

[19] 6:10 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[20] 6:10 Holy Place Literally, "palace." Only priests were allowed to go into this part of the Temple.

[21] 6:15 Elul That is, August-September, 443 b.c.

[22] 7:1 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[23] 7:5 family lists See Ezra 2.

[24] 7:7 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.

[25] 7:43 Hodeiah Or, "Hodaviah."

[26] 7:46 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[27] 7:64 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[28] 7:65 Urim The Urim and Thummim were probably small stone, metal, or wooden pieces that the high priest kept in the judgment pouch he wore. They were used, perhaps like dice, to get answers from God. See Ex. 28:30.

[29] 7:65 Thummim See "Urim."

[30] 7:70 19 pounds Literally, "1000 drachmas" (8.63 kg).

[31] 7:71 375 pounds Literally, "20,000 drachmas" (172.5 kg).

[32] 7:71 2750 pounds Literally, "2200 minas" (1265 kg).

[33] 7:72 2500 pounds Literally, "2000 minas" (1150 kg).

[34] 7:73 seventh month That is, September-October. Also in 8:1, 14-15.

[35] 8:2 first day of the month This was a special day of worship. The people met together and shared a fellowship meal.

[36] 8:9 special day The first and second days of each month were special days of worship. The people met together and shared a fellowship meal.

[37] 8:13 second day of the month The first and second days of each month were special days of worship. The people met together and shared a fellowship meal.

[38] 8:16 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[39] 8:17 Festival of Shelters A special week each year when the Israelites, and later the Jews, lived in tents to remember that their people wandered in the desert for 40 years during the time of Moses.

[40] 9:1 fast To live without food for a time of prayer or mourning.

[41] 9:2 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[42] 9:25 vineyard A garden or farm where grapes are grown.

[43] 9:38 seal A small stone or ring with a picture carved in it that was pressed into wet clay or hot wax to hold down the loose end of a scroll. It left a special mark, also called a seal, that was like a signature to keep anyone from opening the scroll except the right person.

[44] 10:28-29 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[45] 10:31 Sabbath Saturday, the seventh day of the week and a special day for Israelites or Jews. By God's command it was set aside as a time for the people to rest and honor God.

[46] 10:31 seventh year See Ex. 23:10, 11.

[47] 10:32 1/3 shekel This was probably a coin at this time, but 1 shekel is 2/5 of an ounce (11.5g).

[48] 10:33 burnt offering A gift to God. Usually these were animals that were killed and completely burned on the altar.

[49] 10:33 New Moon The first day of the month for Israelites or Jews, which they celebrated as a special day of rest and worship. The people met together and shared in the fellowship offerings like those described in Lev. 7:16-21.

[50] 10:33 sin offering Or "purification offering," a sacrifice that was offered to God to remove impurities from sin and make a person fit to worship God.

[51] 10:33 make . pure Or, "make atonement." The Hebrew word means "to cover or erase a person's sins."

[52] 10:34 lots Stones, sticks, or bones used like dice for making decisions. See Prov. 16:33.

[53] 10:36 firstborn The first child born into a family. The first son was very important in ancient times and became the head of the family at the father's death. It can also mean a person of special importance.

[54] 11:1 lots Stones, sticks, or bones used like dice for making decisions. See Prov. 16:33.

[55] 11:3 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[56] 11:20 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[57] 12:1 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.

[58] 12:27 dedicate To set apart something for God or for a special purpose, which means it can then be used only for that purpose.

[59] 12:27 cymbals A pair of circular metal plates that are hit against each other to make a loud sound.

[60] 12:27 lyre A musical instrument with strings, like a harp.

[61] 12:37 City of David Jerusalem, especially the southeastern and oldest part of the city.

[62] 12:40 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[63] 12:43 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[64] 12:47 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.

[65] 13:2 curse To ask for bad things to happen to a person or thing. As a noun it is a request for or warning about bad things to come.

[66] 13:4-5 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[67] 13:6 the 32nd year . Babylon That is, 432 b.c.

[68] 13:15 Sabbath Saturday, the seventh day of the week and a special day for Israelites or Jews. By God's command it was set aside as a time for the people to rest and honor God.

[69] 13:18 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[70] 13:20 merchant A person who earns a living by buying and selling things.

© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.