A Study in Ezra and Nehemiah

Background History:

The Exiled Jews Begin to Return to Jerusalem

Ezra leads Exiles to Jerusalem

Return from Exile:

Cyrus makes a proclamation - Ezr 1:1-4

Persia conquers Babylon - Ezr 1:1-11

Persia reigns over the Jews - Ezr 1:11

Some exiles are allowed to return - Ezr 1:1-11

Return from Exile - Ezr 1:1-10:44

Exiles return and begin rebuilding - Ezr 2:1-3:13

Returned exiles rebuild the temple - Ezr 2:1-4:5, 24-6:22

Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary, Volumes I–VII Outlines

OUTLINES

OUTLINE OF EZRA

RETURN AND RECONSTRUCTION

I. THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL, 1–6.

1. The Proclamation and Provision of Cyrus, 1.

2. The Census of the Return, 2:1–67.

3. The Offerings of the People, 2:68–3:7.

4. The Building of the Temple, 3:8–6:22.

II. THE RETURN UNDER EZRA, 7–10.

1. The Commission and Gifts of Artaxerxes, 7.

2. The Census of the Return, 8:1–20.

3. The Journey, and the Delivery of the Treasure, 8:21–36.

4. Ezra Annuls Strange Marriages, 9, 10.

OUTLINE OF NEHEMIAH

RECONSTRUCTION AND REFORM

I. THE BUILDING OF THE WALL, 1:7–7:73.

1. The Expedition of Nehemiah to Jerusalem, 1, 2.

2. The Assigning of the Workers and Their Tasks, 3.

3. The Opposition of Tobiah, Sanballat, and Geshem, 4, 6.

4. Nehemiah’s Reform of Unjust Usury among the Jews, 5.

5. The Completion of the Wall and Census of the City, 7.

II. RENEWING THE RELIGIOUS LIFE; REFORM, 8–13.

1. The Public Reading of the Law; Feast of Tabernacles, 8.

2. The Renewing of the Covenant, 9–10.

a. The National Fast, 9:1–3.

b. The Prayer of the Levites, 9:4–37.

c. The Sealing of the Covenant, 9:38–10:39.

3. Distribution of Population; Census of the Priests, 11:1–12:26.

4. The Dedication of the Wall, 12:27–47.

5. The Cleansing of the Temple; Sabbath and Marriage Reforms, 13.