Ezra Nehemiah - Cornerstone Bible Church

Ezra & Nehemiah
The return from the exile
Historical Books – An Introduction to the OT
Arturo Pérez
[email protected]
Chronological View of the OT
1451
4004? BC
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1st
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562
414 BC
536
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1&2 Chronicles
Job
Leviticus
Ruth
Sal.
Deuteronomy
Legend
Pentateuch
Historical Books
Poetical
Prophets
Proverbs
Songs
Babylonian
Captivity
Ecclesiastes
(70 years)
605 - 536
Before
During
Jonah Micah
Hosea Nahum
Amos Habakkuk
Isaiah Zephaniah
Joel *
Obadiah*
Ezekiel
Daniel
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Esther
After
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
NT
Contents

Historical Context of Jewish Exile

Introduction to Ezra & Nehemiah
Name, Author, Time and Date
 Main Topic
 Outline
 Summary of the book


Lessons to Learn
Chronology of Jewish Captivity
Northern Israel
falls under
Assyrian Emp.
721 BC
975 B.C.
721 B.C.
1st
Deportation in
Judah: Daniel
and friends
605B.C
671 B.C.
Fall of
Assyria by
Babylon
975 B.C.
Israel after
Solomon
Kingdom’s split:
North– Israel
South- Judah
610B.C. 605 B.C.
2nd
Deportation
in Judah:
Jehoiachin &
10,000 more.
599 B.C.
3rd Deportation:
complete
destruction of
Jerusalem and the
Temple 588 BC
588 B.C
610: Josiah’s death
Jehoahaz (3 months)
Jehoiakim (610-599)
Jehoiachin (3 months)
Zedekiah (599-588)
70 years CAPTIVITY
Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan.9:2
538 B.C.
Fall of Babylon
under Darius
and Cyrus
Medo-Persian
Kingdom
538 B.C.
Chronology from Cyrus until Rome
1st Group:
Zerubbabel led 42
thousand Jews
back to Jerusalem
by Cyrus decree
(Ezr.1:3, 5)
536 B.C.
520
2nd Group:
Ezra
led 1,500 men
467 B.C.
(Ezr.7:7)
Inter-testamental Period
(400 years of silence: Malachi to John the Baptist)
467
520 B.C. Prophecies of
Haggai and Zechariah
515 B.C.
Temple is ready
Esther is queen
456
416 BC
Malachi’s prophesy
3rd Group:
Nehemiah travels
to rebuild walls in
Jerusalem by
Artaxerxes 454B.C
6 B.C.
Jesus’ Birth
The 3 Groups who returned
Returning
First Group
Second Group
Third Group
Reference
Ezra 1 – 6
Ezra 7 – 10
Nehemiah 1 – 13
Date
536 B.C.
467 B.C.
454 B.C.
Leaders
Sheshbazzar; Zerubbabel;
Jeshua
Ezra
Nehemiah
Persian king
Cyrus
Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes
Elements of
the Decree
Everyone willing to go back was
free to go. The temple could be rebuilt, partially financed by the
royal treasury. Temple’s utensils
were returned.
Everyone willing to go back
was free to go. Funding
provided by royal treasury.
Having their own civil
magistrates was allowed.
It was allowed to
rebuild the walls.
Number of
people
returning
42,360
+ 7,337 (slaves)
49,697
1,500 men
+ 38 Levites
+ 220 helpers
1,758
Unknown
Events,
Achievements
and
Challenges
Temple re-opened; sacrifices started
and the Feast of the Tabernacles was
celebrated. The Samaritans caused
some trouble and the work ceased
from 534 BC until 520 BC (14 years).
The temple was completed by 515
BC.
Problems regarding mixed
marriages.
The walls of Jerusalem
were re-built in 52 days
despite the opposition of
Sanballat, , Tobiah and
Geshem. The walls were
dedicated and the Law
was read.
Chronology in EZRA (James Usher)
Cambyses
CYRUS Ahasuerus
DARIUS son of Hystaspes
XERXES
538
529 (Ahasuerus-Esther) 521 - 485 485 - 474
529
522
Starting
Temple
536
540
Temple is
finished
515
Magus
Smerdes
Artaxerxes
522 (7 mo)
530
ARTAXERXES
474 - 425
520
510
500
490
480
470
460
450
ESTHER
Work put
on hold
534
Continuation of Temple’s construction by Zerubbabel & Jeshua
Encouraged by Haggai & Zechariah
520
Haggai and Zechariah
Ezra
1–4
Ezr.4:4-5
Ezra
4–6
Ezr.6:1-14
467
454
Ezra Nehemiah
Ezra
7 - 10
444
Name, Author, Dates
Name
Author
Date
EZRA
NEHEMIAH
Hebrew Canon considers it as ONE BOOK.
Split in half in the XV century (1448).
The Talmud credits
The Talmud mentions
“Nehemiah’s memories”
Ezra
450 B.C.
Time
Around 80 years:
covered Cyrus’ decree 537
B.C. until Ezra’s
reformation in 456
B.C.
430 B.C.
Around 10 years:
Name as governor by
Artaxerxes in 456
B.C. to 433 B.C.
Main Topic in EZRA & NEHEMIAH
EZRA:
“Restoration,
Reorganization and
Reformation of Judah
and Jerusalem after the
Captivity in Babylon”.


Text: Ezr. 2:1-2; 6:21-22.
Word: “Jerusalem” (47 times).
NEHEMIAH:
e
“Rebuilding of the
Walls in Jerusalem
and the revival
among the Jews.


Text: Neh.4:6 y 6:15-16.
Words:


Walls (32); to build (23)
Importance of Ezra and Nehemiah:
o They show how God fulfilled His promise of
judgment and mercy (Jer. 25:11; 29:10)
Outlines: Ezra & Nehemiah
EZRA
 1st group: Zerubbabel (1 – 2)
 Temple’s Re-building (3 – 6)
536 B.C.
515 B.C.
(515 – 485): Esther & Ahasuerus / (485-474) Xerxes / (474-425) Artaxerxes

2nd group: Ezra (7 – 10)
NEHEMIAH
 3rd group: Nehemiah was sent by Artaxerxes
as a Governor over Jerusalem
(1 – 2)
 Re-building of the walls of Jerusalem
(3 – 6)
 Spiritual reformation and revival under the
leadership of Ezra & Nehemiah (7 – 13)
467 B.C.
454 B.C.
442 B.C.
Summary of the book: EZRA
The return of the 1st Group (1 – 6)

Return from Babylon to Jerusalem (1 – 2)







536 B.C.
The new policy of Cyrus: Conquered peoples would be released to return to
their places of origin to serve their gods in their own temples.
Outstanding leaders in 1st group: Zerubbabel; Jeshua the high priest.
Settlement in Jerusalem (3 – 4)
Initial activities: Raising the altar; establishing the public worship;
celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles; They laid the foundations of
the temple.
Opposition: Samaritan officers were not allowed by the Jews to work in
this activity, so they hindered the work for about 20 years.
515 B.C.
The new temple (5 – 6)
Encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, the people finally finished the
temple; religious services started with a fervent opening ceremony in
515 B.C.
There is a gap of 48 years between chapters 6 & 7 of the book of Ezra.
Gap is from 515 B.C. on the temple’s dedication, to 467 B.C. when Ezra arrives.
During that time Darius (Ahasuerus) & Esther reigned until 485 B.C.
Artaxerxes starts ruling in 474 B.C. and he sent Ezra in 467 B.C.
Summary of the book: EZRA
Ezra the reformer (7 – 10)



Ezra arrived to Jerusalem. He was a godly Levite, a scribe
student of the Lay, which he used to teach to the people (7:10).
He asked Artaxerxes to be commissioned to come back to
Judah, with the government’s resources, to continue the religious
reformation.
Ezra’s mission was:



467 B.C.
To teach the Law
To restore the Temple and the worship service
When he knew that civil and religious leaders married pagan
women, Ezra prayed and cried in public while calling for a
meeting to discuss the seriousness of this sin.



He received support from the congregation.
For 3 months he checked a list of people guilty of having mixed
marriages among which there were priests, Levites, and laymen. .
They were told to give an offering for their sin and a formal oath to
nullify their marriages.
Summary of the book: NEHEMIAH
He quits the Court for this work 454 B.C.


Nehemiah was commissioned by Artaxerxes as a governor
in Jerusalem (1 – 2)
 He quit the Persian court to re-build Jerusalem
 He prayed, he fasted, and he confessed the sins of his people to
seek the Lord’s forgiveness.
 Ezra had been 13 years in Jerusalem when Nehemiah arrived.
Jerusalem’s walls rebuilding (3 – 6)
 Nehemiah organized the people.
 Because of Arabian and Ammonite’s opposition they continued
rebuilding the walls taking turns at guarding to watch over the
builders and protect them in case of any threat.
 In 52 days they finished the walls.
 Their enemies were put to shame and the nations around them
acknowledged how God helped them in this project.
Summary of the book: NEHEMIAH
Ezra & Nehemiah’s reformation (7-13)






They assigned guards to watch over the walls
They made a record of the people who came back with
Zerubbabel.
They read and explained the Law of God in public and there
was a spiritual revival and a covenant renewal (8 – 10)
There was an emphasis in the public reading of the law and
keeping the Feasts. Also these two laws were re-enforced:
 To remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
 Mixed marriages were forbidden.
Dedication of the walls with 2 processions on the walls to meet
both groups in the Temple to have a great thanksgiving service
to the Lord.
Correction for those working lawlessness (13)
Lessons to Learn


God uses different instruments to do His work.
 Cyrus, Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes as pagan governors who served
God’s sovereign purposes.
 Zerubbabel, a prince of David’s house, was used for the political
organization of the first group.
 Haggai & Zechariah to awaken consciences of the people
regarding the offerings for the house of God.
 Jeshua, a High Priest, helped in the religious area in the
beginning.
 Ezra, as a spiritual leader, for the social and religious reformation
and to prepare the Jewish thinking that lasted until the times of
Jesus Christ, in despite of Hellenism and the Roman empire.
 Nehemiah, as a social leader for the communitarian reformation.
In what group are you? In that group of those building the
church? Or in the group of those who hinder the work?
Appendix
Jewish Division of the OT (Luk. 24:27,44)
The Law
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The Prophets
The Writings
Former
A. Poetical
14. Job
15. Psalms
16. Proverbs
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Samuel (1&2)
9. Kings (1&2)
Latter
10. Isaiah
11. Jeremiah
12. Ezekiel
13. The TWELVE
Minor Prophets
B. Five Rolls (Megillot)
17. Songs
18. Ruth
19. Lamentations
20. Ecclesiastes
21. Esther
C. Historical
22. Daniel
23. Ezra-Nehemiah
24. Chronicles (1&2)
From Babylon to Persia
Babylonians
607 – 538 BC = 68 Years
Nebuchadnezzar
607 – 562 BC = 44 years
Evilmerodach
562 – 560 BC = 2 years
Neriglissors / Lab.
560 – 555 BC = 4 years
Belshazzar (Baltazar)
555 – 538 BC = 17 years
Persians / Medes
538 – 330 BC = 208 Years
Cyrus (the conquerer)
538 – 529 BC = 9 years
Cambyses Ahasuerus
529 – 522 BC = 7 years
Magus Smerdes Artaxerxes
522 BC (7 months)
Darius Ahsuerus
521 – 485 BC = 36 years
Xerxes
485 – 474 BC = 12 years
Xerxes II
425 – 424 BC = 1 year
Ochus Darius
424 – 404 BC = 19 years
Arsacus Artaxeres
404 – 361 BC = 43 years
Ochus Artaxeres
361 – 338 BC = 23 years
Arses
338 – 336 BC = 3 years
Darius
336 – 330 BC = 6 years
Chronology according to James Ussher: The Annals of the World
The Persian Empire
721 B.C.
Assyriah
612 605
Zerubbabel 536 BC
Babylon
Babylonian captivity
against Jerusalem
Ezra 467 B.C.
454 B.C.
322 B.C.
Persians / Medes
Nehemiah
Alexander

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