EzraNehemiah.student
EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
Theme:
Structure: The rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 1-6)
The ministry of Ezra the scribe (Ezra 7-10)
The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1-6)
Spiritual reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 7-13)
Historical setting (chronology of events in the postexilic period)
Babylonian Captivity begins: 605
The decree of Cyrus (exiles released from Babylon Captivity): 538
First return under Zerubbabel (with the goal to rebuild the Temple): 537/36
Prophecy of Haggai (rebuilding of Temple resumes): 520
Prophecy of Zechariah: 520-518
Rebuilding of Temple completed: 516/515
Events of Esther 1-9: 482-473
Second return under Ezra (Ezra 7-10): 458
The rebuilding of the wall under Nehemiah: 445
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah unveil the ongoing work of God in restoring the postexilic covenant community. One of God’s purposes in such a work of restoration is to maintain His stated faithfulness to the covenants of the nation of Israel. But another key purpose involves His plan of Messianic redemption. The continuing existence of the nation of Israel, including its cult and its other religious aspects, was essential for the future coming of the Messiah. This work of restoration includes six aspects.
I.
A. Cyrus’ decree centered on the command to rebuild the Temple of Yahweh (Ezra 1:1-4; 5:13-6:5)
B. Following Cyrus’ orders, Zerubbabel returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:5-4:24)
1. List of those who returned (2:1-70)
2. Bronze altar of the Temple rebuilt, sacrifices offered, and Feast of Tabernacles kept (3:1-7)
3. Foundation of Temple laid (3:8-13)
4. Opposition comes to those rebuilding the Temple (4:1-5; 24): Construction ceases until 520
Note: 4:6-23 records opposition against those in the days of Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes.
C. God raises up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the exiles to resume the rebuilding of the Temple (5:1-6:22). God does not desert His people but sends His Word to His prophets.
1. Opposition resumes but is negated by the decree of Darius (5:3-6:13)
2. The work prospers by means of the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah and the Temple is completed in 516 B.C.
II.
A. The return of Ezra the scribe, a man ready (lit. skilled) in the Law of His God (Ezra 7:1-8:36)
1. A focus on the Law of Moses or Law of God (Ezra 7:6, 10, 14, 25-26; 10:3; Neh. 9:13; 12:44; 13:1)
2. The people make a covenant to obey God (Ezra 10:3; Neh. 9:38-10:39): 458 and 445 B.C.
3. Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the people (Neh. 8:1-8, 13-18; 9:3)
III.
A. Necessary in 458 when Ezra first returned (9:1-10:44)
B. Necessary in Nehemiah’s day (10:28-30; 13:1-9, 23-30)
IV.
A. Nehemiah burdened about conditions in his city of Jerusalem (1:1-10)
B. Nehemiah is sent by the king to rebuild the walls (2:1-10)
C. Nehemiah inspects the walls and prepares for the work (2:11-20)
D. The rebuilding begins; distribution of labor (3:1-32)
E. Opposition to the work (chs. 4, 6)
V.
A. Includes care for the house of God
“We will not neglect the house of our God”: Neh. 10:39
Wood for the altar of God: Neh. 10:34
B. Includes the genealogical preservation and purity of the Levites
1. The Levites were not separate from the nations (9:1-2; 10:18-23), even leading the way in this unfaithfulness
2. The preservation of the genealogical purity of the Levites (Ezra 2:61-63; Neh. 7:63-65)
3. Celebration of the Feast of Booths (Neh. 8:11-17)
4. Purification and separation of the priests and Levites from the people of the land (Neh. 9:38; 10:28; 13:30)
5. Provision of the material needs for the Levites through sacrifices and offerings (Neh. 10:35-39; 12:44-47)
VI.
A. Although the city had walls, it had few inhabitants: 7:4
B. Nehemiah encourages the resettling of the people in Jerusalem: 11:1-19
The restoration as preparation for the Messiah
The importance of these several aspects of the restoration is important from a Jewish standpoint, but it is also important from a Christological standpoint. Everyone of these aspects of the restoration contributes to the necessary conditions that had to be true of the Israelite nation in the day of the Messiah, for the Messiah was born under the Law and completely kept the law in order that His active obedience might be imputed to us (Gal. 4:4-5; Matt. 3:15; 5:17). [See Robert Bell, “The Theology of Nehemiah,” Biblical Viewpoint 20, no. 2 (1986): 56-61.]
(1) The Messiah must be born into a Jewish community that adhered to the Law (Lk. 2:21-22, 27).
(2) Messiah’s life had to be intimately connected with the system of temple worship.
(3) The above two can only be true if there is a strict separation from the Gentiles in the Jewish community.
(4) This separation can only exist if there is a “strong Jewish capital with an ability to exclude Gentile influence in religion and morals” (Bell, 57).
(5) This city can only be realized if there is a sizable Jewish population who lives there (thus the list of those who were willing to live there).
Practical applications from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in our work for God
Effective work for God:
(1) Requires having proper priorities about the house of God and the worship of the true God.
(2) Requires a careful observance of and obedience to the commands of the Word of God.
(3) Requires constant prayer (Ezra 8:21-23; 9:5-10:1; Neh. 1:4-11; 2:4; 4:4-5, 9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 8:6; 9:4-37; 13:14, 22, 29, 31).
· 46 of the 406 verses in Nehemiah deal with prayer.
(4) Requires the gracious hand of the Lord to be upon someone (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; Neh. 2:8, 18).
· The hand of the Lord is upon those who have devoted themselves to the study and observance of the Word of God (Ezra 7:10).
(5) Requires the willingness to assume the mantle of leadership, regardless of the opposition or cost.
(6) Requires separation from the people of the land.
(7) Requires a thorough confession of sin (Ezra 9:7; 10:1, 6, 10-11; Neh. 1:7; 9:3, 33).
(8) Requires the providential working of God on our behalf (Ezra 1:1-2; 5:1-2, 5; 6:22; 7:27; Neh. 2:8; 6:16; 7:5).
