The Kethuvim:

Ezra – Nehemiah
 The Historical World
(Hauer, 180-181)

After the Jewish Exile

• 586 B.C. Judah falls to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
• 556 B.C. Nabonidus seizes power in Babylon
• 550 B.C. Cyrus the Great rules in Persia
• 539 B.C. Babylon falls to Cyrus/ Persia
– Cyrus was a tolerant overlord
– He allowed exiles to return to their homelands
– He allowed them to repossess religious objects
 The Historical World
(Hauer, 180-182)
The Return From Exile
• 538 B.C. Edict of Cyrus and Return to Judah
– Many exiles elected to remain in Babylon
– Jerusalem was a desolate city w/ no walls
• 536 B.C. The 1st Returnees Begin to Rebuild Temple
– This construction stalled for some time
• 522 B.C. Darius I assumes control of Persia
• 520 B.C. Zerubabel named as governor
– Temple reconstruction resumed in Jerusalem
 The Goal of the Chronicler
(Lasor, Hubbard, Bush, pg. 543)

• Historical Interpretation of Past Events

– Continuity - all historical events are related
– Selectivity - one cannot tell EVERY act/ detail
• Paradigmatic History
– Telling readers how to/ not to live based on both
positive and negative role models
 Chronology of the
Rebuilding of the Temple
Kings of Persia Important Events Prophets Work on Temple
Cyrus Entered Babylon (539) Temple Foundation
(550-530 BC) Cyrus’ Decree (538) Laid (536)
Gov. Zerubabel (538)

Cambyses
(530-521 BC)

Smerdis (521 BC)

Darius I Joshua Priest (519) Haggai (520) Work Resumed
(522-486 BC) Zechariah (520) (520 & 516)

Xerxes Deposed Vashti (483)

(486-464 BC) Married Esther (478)

Artaxerxes Ezra Returns (458)

(464-423 BC) Nehemiah Returns
To Jerusalem (444)
Return From Exile & Temple Rebuilding
• Many Exiled Jews returned home from Babylon at
the decree of Cyrus of Persia.
– These exiles were allowed to repossess religious artifacts
– These exiles immediately begin to rebuild the Temple.
– Zerubabel and Joshua (the priest) were key returnees
• When the Temple foundation was laid, there was a
great celebration and time of mourning. (3:11—12)
• Locals offered to help, but Zerubabel refused.
– They decided to work against the Jews
– They wrote a letter to Artaxerxes against the Jewish people
accusing them of disloyalty.
Return From Exile & Temple Rebuilding
• The King returns a letter back to the locals stating:
– Jerusalem does have a history of rebelliousness
– The men must STOP their work in restoring the Temple
• Work on the Temple stopped and did not resume
until the second year of King Darius.
• Temple Work resumed when the prophets Haggai
and Zechariah traveled to Jerusalem.
– The locals AGAIN decide to write the King
– King Darius responds saying that Temple work will continue
with his full support.
 Ezra
Structure and Outline

• Return From Babylon Chapters 1—6

– The Decree of Cyrus Chap. 1
– The Exiles Return Chap. 2
– Rebuilding the Temple Chap. 3—6
• Ezra Comes to Jerusalem Chapters 7—10
– Ezra’s Journey and Arrival Chap. 7—8
– The Problem of Intermarriage Chap. 9—10
 Ezra
• What Is Ezra?
Ezra is named after the key figure of chapters 7-10,
though the first six chapters of the book describe events
that took place long before Ezra’s time. The book picks up
where 2 Chronicles ends, with the decree by Cyrus, the king
of Persia, that Jewish exiles were allowed to return home.
This decree was issued in 538 B.C., and the rebuilding of the
temple was completed in 516 B.C. This is all covered in
chapters 1-6. The rest of the book recounts Ezra’s return to
Jerusalem, which took place in 458 B.C.
 Ezra
• Who Wrote Ezra?
Many scholars believe that 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and
Nehemiah were all written by the same person, but no one
knows who that is. Some think it was Ezra, others Nehemiah,
and others still simply call the final compiler of the
information “the Chronicler.” All of the books were probably
put in their final form in the late 5th century B.C. Regardless,
however, at least part of Ezra was written by Ezra himself, as
7:27-9:15 (commonly called the Ezra Memoir) appear in first
person.
 Ezra
• Why Was Ezra Written?
Ezra was written to give an account of the events
leading to and surrounding the return of the exiles to
Jerusalem. More than simple historical information,
however, it is a record of God’s grace and faithfulness. Even
though God’s people had rebelled against Him repeatedly,
He “punished us less than our iniquities deserved” and
preserved a remnant as He promised (9:13). Because of
God’s mercy, then, the Jews were to respond in grateful
obedience to His commands.
 Key Themes and Theology in
Ezra
• The Sovereignty of God Over the Affairs of Men
• The Faithfulness of God even in Times of Tragedy
• Obedience As a Response to Grace
• The Importance of God’s Word to Community
• Marriage Is a “Glory of God” Issue
 Nehemiah
Structure and Outline
• Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem Chapters 1—2
– Report of Jerusalem’s Condition Chap. 1
– Nehemiah’s Request and Return Chap. 2
• Rebuilding the Wall Chapters 3—7
– Work and Opposition Chap. 3—4
– Issues of Injustice Chap. 5
– The Wall Completed Chap. 6
– List of Returned Exiles Chap. 7
• Covenant Renewal Chapters 8—10
– The Law Is Read Chap. 8
– Covenant Ratification Chap. 9—10
• People and Leaders Chapters 11—12
• Problems Chapters 12—13
 Nehemiah
• What Is Nehemiah?
Nehemiah is the name of the central figure in the
book. The Jews had begun their return from exile to
Jerusalem in 548 B.C., and the rebuilding of the temple was
completed in 516 B.C. In 458 B.C., Ezra the scribe returned
to Jerusalem, and in 445 B.C., Nehemiah returned for the
purpose of rebuilding the wall around the city. The book
tells of his return, the rebuilding of the wall, the covenant
renewal, and some of the problems faced in the
community.
 Nehemiah
• Who Wrote Nehemiah?
Many believe that 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and
Nehemiah were all written by the same person, but no one
knows who that is. Some think it was Ezra, others
Nehemiah, and others still simply call the final compiler of
the information “the Chronicler.” All of the books were
probably put in their final form in the late 5th century B.C.
 Nehemiah
• Why Was Nehemiah Written?
Nehemiah was written to further bolster
confidence in the faithfulness of God. Through the
prophet Jeremiah, God had spoken of the exile, and He
had promised the return of the remnant. The book of
Ezra begins the account of the fulfillment of the
promise, and Nehemiah tells of the completion. The
temple was restored, and Jerusalem was once again
safe.
 The Work of Ezra and Nehemiah
• The Priest, Ezra, returned to Jerusalem in 458 BC
– Ezra was skilled in the Law of Moses.
– He was sent by Artaxerxes to make inquiries concerning the
“law of God” with the people of Jerusalem.
– He was to appoint magistrates who knew the Law to govern
by the Law and to teach the Law.
• The Problem of Intermarriage
– Ezra finds that all the people are intermarrying with the
people of the land and he is grief-stricken.
– The people pledge to separate from their wives to maintain
Israel’s Purity in the land.
 The Work of Ezra and Nehemiah
• Nehemiah Learns of Jerusalem’s Situation
– He was a cupbearer to the Persian King in Susa
– He is grief-stricken and immediately prays and fasts
• Nehemiah Requests to Return and Rebuild the Wall
– He intentionally appears sad before the King
– When the king notices, Nehemiah reveals the reason for his
sadness and the King allows him to return and rebuild the
wall, even giving him full support and supplies.
• Nehemiah surveys the work. And, amid ridicule and
persecution, the wall is completed in 52 days’ work.
 The Work of Ezra and Nehemiah
• Nehemiah Gives Commands for the City’s Safety
– He explains when to and not to open the gates (7:1—3)
– He then takes a census, but he found a genealogical record
that had previously been taken.
• Ezra Publicly reads the Law
– He read from dawn until midday, standing on a wooden
pulpit facing the square.
– At the same time, the Levites also read the law and
explained it so the people would understand.
– At first the people grieved, but Ezra and the leaders
encouraged them to celebrate joyously.
– The next day they celebrated the Feast of Booths
 The Work of Ezra and Nehemiah
• Ezra Offers a Prayer of Confession
– The people agree to make a firm renewal of their covenant
with the LORD. These are the terms:
• To keep the Law
• To Observe Strict Rules of Marriage
• To Keep the Sabbath
• To pay tithes and temple dues regularly
• Repopulation of Jerusalem
– The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem.
– The people cast lost, selecting 1/10 of the others to also live
in Jerusalem, while 9/10 of the people lived in other cities.
 Key Themes and Theology in
Nehemiah
• The Necessity of Prayer
• Guidelines for Godly Leadership
• The Role of Faith in Community
• The Sovereignty of God
• Continuing Through Adversity/ Persecution
• God’s Word Is Holy