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The Books of Ezra-Nehemiah and Esther
Ezra-Nehemiah
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INTRODUCTION
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1. Background to Ezra-Nehemiah
a. One book in the Hebrew
b. Main Historical Source for Post-Exilic Period
i. Other books include:
ii. Ezra-Nehemiah cover events from 538 (decree of Cyrus to return) to 444 (rebuilding of the walls under Nehemiah)
iii. Transition from Babylon to Persia
1. Babylon reigned from to B.C.
2. Persia reigned from to B.C.
c. Difficult to follow
2. Historical and Chronological Overview
a. 538 – Cyrus’s decree (first return)
Main Figures:
· Sheshbazzar
· Zerubabaal
· Joshua/Jeshua
Scripture
· Ezra 1-4
· 2 Chron 36:22-23
Summary
· Persia lets Israel return
· laid the foundation for the temple
· rebuilt the alter; sacrifices resumed
· worked was halted in light of conflict
b. 520 – Work on the temple renewed
Main Figures:
· Haggai
· Zechariah
· Zerubabaal
· Joshua/Jeshua
Scripture
· Ezra 5-6
· Haggai
Summary
· Work of temple resumed
· Darius (new king of Persia) finds Cyrus’ original decree
c. 515 – Completion of the temple
Main Figures:
· Same as above
Scripture
· Ezra 6:13-15
483 – The Book of Esther Takes Place
d. 458 – Ezra’s return to Jerusalem (second return)
Main Figures:
· Ezra
· Nehemiah
Scripture
· Ezra 7-10
Summary
· Institutes moral reforms
· What was the main sin?
e. 445 – Nehemiah’s journey to Jerusalem
Main Figures:
· Ezra
· Nehemiah
Scripture
· Nehemiah (whole book)
Summary
· Rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem
· Institutes moral reforms
· What was the main sin?
3. Highlights from Ezra and Nehemiah
A. Character profile: Ezra and Nehemiah
a. Ezra
i. Biography: Ezra 7:1-10
ii. Reaction to “human help” (Ezra 8:21-23)
iii. Reaction to sinful behavior
1. Ezra 9:1-5
2. Ezra 10:3
b. Nehemiah
i. Biography: Neh 1:1, 11; 5:14-19
ii. Reaction to “human help” (Neh 2:9)
iii. Reaction to sinful behavior
1. Neh 5:14-19
2. Neh 13:23-27
c. Practical point
B. Centrality of the word of God in the life of Ezra
a. Ezra 7:10
b. Neh 8
C. Centrality of prayer in the life of Nehemiah
a. 10 chapters; 10 prayers
b. long prayers, short prayers, thought-out prayers, spontaneous prayers.
c. Quiet time vs. praying without ceasing…
D. Ambiguous Restoration in Israel
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· God is restoring his people as He has promised.
o back in the land
o rebuilding the walls
o rebuilding the temple
o restoring worship and moral order
o A NEW ISRAEL IS EMERGING!
· however, this cannot be the final restoration.
· Also, there are widespread ethical problems in Israel
o Syncretism and apathy
Excurses: Haggai and Zechariah on the “post-exilic” period
The Book of Haggai
Introduction
A. Date of writing
a. Hag 1:1, 15 = ______B.C.
B. Historical situation
C. Confronts apathy
a. 1:4-11
b. Gives us a window into the hearts of the “returnees” from Babylon.
D. New temple
c. How did the new temple compare to the old?
d. But “the final glory of this house will be greater than the first” (2:9). When? How?
e. The point: God has not left his people but desires to dwell with them…and the best is yet to come.
The Book of Zechariah
Introduction
A. Date of Writing
a. Zech 1:1 = 520 B.C.
b. Zech 1:7 = 519 B.C.
c. Zech 7:1 = 518 B.C.
d. Also, reference to Joshua the high priest (Zech 3:1) and Zerubbabaal the governor (4:7-10).
e. Also, reference to the temple “in-between” its building state (4:9)
B. Audience: Has not fully “returned” to God.
a. “Return to Me, and I will return to you” (Zech 1:3)
b. There’s loads of stuff going on in Zecheriah (which we’ll get to later), but it is clear that the people of his day (520 B.C. ish) have not fully returned to God.
The Book of Esther
INTRODUCTION
Historical Setting
A. Date 483 B.C.
- Ahasuarus (Xerxes) 486 – 465 B.C.
- 1:3 = 3rd year of his reign = ______B.C.
B. Entire story takes place in
C. Occurs between Ezra chapters and
Interpretive Issues
A. Historicity
a. Has a “fairy-tale like” feel to it
b. Some points in story have raised historical questions
c. Points of historical accuracy
B. Place in the Canon
- “I am so hostile to the book [2 Maccabees] and to Esther that I wish they simply did not exist, for they Judaize too much and reveal much bad pagan behavior” (Luther quoted in Hamilton, 529-30).
- Both Christian and Jewish scholars have understood Esther in negative terms, since it celebrates a “vindictive, even ferociously vengeful spirit” (Sandmel).
- The themes that dominate are “envy, hatred, fear, anger, vindictiveness, pride, all of which are fused into intense nationalism” (Anderson) (both quoted in Hamilton, 530).
- DSS didn’t contain it
- Tough time getting canonized early on
C. Name of God is not mentioned
a. Why? Two suggestions:
i.
ii.
D. The Character’s of Esther and Mordecai
a. major question concerns the characters of Esther and Mordecai: are they portrayed as noble Israelites, worthy of emulation (like Joseph of Gen 37-50), or as wayward Israelites who have succumbed to the Persian culture and way of life (more like Judah of Gen 38)?
b. Reasons for them being not worthy to emulate (Esther and Mordecai have succumbed to the Persian culture)
- LXX of Esther
17Thou knowest my necessity: for I abhor the sign of my high estate, which is upon mine head in the days wherein I shew myself, and that I abhor it as a menstruous rag, and that I wear it not when I am private by myself. 17And that thine handmaid hath not eaten at Aman's table, and that I have not greatly esteemed the king's feast, nor drunk the wine of the drink offerings. 17 Neither had thine handmaid any joy since the day that I was brought hither to this present, but in thee, O Lord God of Abraham.
the point: the LXX translator took issue with the very same things we are noticing and tried to smooth out the difficulty.
SUM: Barry Webb: “Esther and Mordecai do not have the same transparent goodness as a Daniel or a Joseph. Heroes they may be, but they are at best heroes of questionable morality and orthodoxy” (Webb, 120)
The Story
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10