Three stages of Israelite return from exile:
Zerubbabel (538 B.C.)
Ezra (458 B.C.)
Nehemiah (444 B.C.)
Ezra
Begins where 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings end.
Content:
Return of exiles to
Themes: The
good hand of God (7:6,9,28; 8:18,22)
God’s promises are still valid and will be fulfilled.
Renewal demands humility and a return to God’s law
Major characters: Jeshua/Joshua (Priest)
Zerubbabel
(Prince/leader)
Haggai and Zechariah (Prophets)
Tattenai
(Governor)
Ezra (Priest and scribe)
set his heart to 1) study the Law of the Lord, 2) to do
it, and 3) to teach it (7:10)
Dates related to book of Ezra:
Chapter 1:1 Edict of Cyrus
king of
3 rebuilding of altar and temple (536 B.C.)
5
rebuilding begins again (520 B.C.) (Haggai and Zechariah)
6
temple finished and dedicated (516/515 B.C.)
7
Ezra sent to teach the people (457/8 B.C.)
Nehemiah
Content:
Rebuilding and dedicating the walls of
Themes: The
good hand of God (2:8,18)
Remember me O God (5:19; 13:22,31)
God’s promises are still valid and will be fulfilled.
Renewal demands humility and a return to God’s law
Major Characters: Nehemiah (cupbearer to the king and governor of
Ezra (Priest and scribe)
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (enemies of
Pattern for restoration or renewal (Neh. 8-10)
1. They read from the Law (8:2-3,8,13,18)
and decided to live according to it (8:14-18; 10:29).
2. They confessed their sins (9:2-3,33ff.)
3. They separated themselves from evil influences
(9:2; 13:3)
4. They worshiped God (9:3,5-6ff.)
Warning: There will be opposition
(2:19-20; 3:33-4:17)
But God will help accomplish the work
(6:15-16)
Esther (Persian
word for Star)
Part of the Megilloth
(5 scrolls). Book never mentions God’s name, but it is obvious that God
is acting throughout the book.
Content:
Tells the story of a Jewess who finds herself in a position of power, and
thereby has the opportunity to save her people.
Themes Often
God works in the “background” and through unlikely individuals to save his
people.
Major Characters: Mordecai (Jew, Esther’s kinsman)
Esther (Jewess who becomes Queen)
Haman (Persian official, enemy of Jews)
Ahasuerus/Xerxes? (Persian king)
Dating is difficult. Not sure
if Esther lived before or after Ezra and Nehemiah returned to