Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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2nd and 3rd Return
1st under Zerubbabel
2nd under Ezra
3rd under Nehemiah
Post-exilic prophets written in this time
Timeline of Persian Kings (from www.thecollector.com)
Cyrus the Great (r.
550-530 BC); Cambyses II (r.
530-522 BC); Darius I The Great (r.
522-486 BC): Xerxes I (r.
485-465 BC); Darius II (r.
424-404 BC); Artaxerxes II (r.
404-358 BC); Darius III (r.
336-330 BC)
Name Games
Ahasuerus = Xerxes, reigned 486-465 BC
Noted in E. 4:6 as something of a flashback during the 1st return, at the edict of Cyrus
…sets up the saga of a second episode of harassment
Father of Artaxerxes, reigned from 465-424 BC
One Book or Two?
Josephus & Jerome as well as the Talmud considered it one work
However, there is some duplication, which argues against that
Both books are quite selective about what they choose to ell us
We’ll discuss them separately
Ezra
Most often credited to Ezra himself
Ezra becomes the dominant figure in the 2nd half of the book, shows up in Nehemiah as well
Ezra is one of the least scholastically argued books since it was translated to Greek within 200 years of so of having been written
He returned with the purpose of rebuilding the temple
He had a commission from the king E. 7:25
He was the 1st reformer
Four Main Themes
The theology of their history—overwhelming evidence of God’s love for them and Providence
Continuity—the returning exiles continued the faith and practice of their heritage going back to Abraham…and beyond
Progress of restoration—we can note the three separate edits for their return (must note that Cyrus started it, based upon a prophecy from many years before his time
Relationships—though in subjection to Persian kings, the Jews did as good subjects of the king; and were rewarded for it with God’s faithfulness
Along the way, Ezra has to deal with opposition and fights some tough battles: 9:1-2 is the tough one
Nehemiah
Most scholars agree that he wrote it
Cup-bearer to the king: a position of privilege, some power, and likely wealth
Came under conviction: the wall needed to be repaired N. 1:1-3
(if you don’t want to know, don’t ask the question; if you ask, what are you going to do? )
Prayed, made a 1st plan; we don’t see much more praying…but we see further planning
…cannot deny divine guidance
He got the wall built, Then worked on the people
Chapters 1-6 deal with rebuilding the wall; 7-13 deal with restoring the people
His only request, the last line of the book
Remember me, O my God, for good.
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