Books 15 and 16
The Book Of Ezra
Who wrote the book of Ezra: Ezra When was it written: 440 B.C.
Why was it written: The book of Ezra is a history of Judah’s return from Babylonian exile. The Persian Empire had become the dominant world power, but King Cyrus had no problem letting the Jewish people return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
It is during this time that Ezra reminds the Judean people (Israelites) of the law, brings religious reform to them, and reminds the Jewish people that they are God’s chosen people.
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After opening the book by telling us how God moved in the heart of the Persian king, King Cyrus, to allow the people to return to Jerusalem to live AND to rebuild their temple, we discover that Ezra is quite fond of lists.
In Ten Short Chapters, Ezra Includes Three Rather Lengthy Lists:
- A list of exiles who returned to Jerusalem
- A list of the heads of each family who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra
- A list of members of the priests who had sinned by marrying foreign women
These lists may seem irrelevant to most people, but they are proof of God’s promise to not completely wipe out those he called his children. It is also proof that at least some of the Levites were part of the kingdom of Judah and had survived the exile.
Other Historical Events Recorded In The Book Of Ezra Include:
- The delay in the rebuilding of The Temple was due to a decree by King Artaxerxes, followed by a decree by King Darius to allow the reconstruction to resume.
- The completion and rededication of The Temple
- The celebration of the Passover
- Ezra’s return to Jerusalem with all those who had not been part of the rebuilding process.
- Ezra’s ‘sermon’ to the people prompts them to confess their sins and turn back to God.
We also learn from reading the book of Ezra that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries of Ezra—part of the group of people that returned to Jerusalem following the 70-year exile of Judah.
The overall message or theme of the book of Ezra, however, is that as God’s chosen people, the Judean people were to worship only God and to keep themselves pure by living according to The Law.
The Book of Nehemiah
Who wrote the book of Nehemiah: Nehemiah When was it written: 430 B.C.
Why was it written: Regardless of who wrote the book of Nehemiah, the undeniable truth is that Nehemiah is conveying the message God gave him about the importance of prayer. The book also continues the history of the Judean people during and after the rebuilding of the temple.
Given Nehemiah’s devotion to the spiritual discipline of prayer, it is only fitting that the book opens with Nehemiah’s prayer on behalf of the exiles returning to Jerusalem. In his prayer, Nehemiah asks God to remember his promises to Moses.
Nehemiah went to Jerusalem in 445 BC to take charge of rebuilding the walls of the city. The primary message in the book of Nehemiah is to remind us of the importance of prayer.
Following Nehemiah’s prayer we find that Nehemiah, who was serving as King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer, asked the king if he could return to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of The Temple.
Nehemiah was allowed to go on the condition he provided a set time for his return. The king also provided Nehemiah with letters to other kings stating that he should be allowed to purchase materials to be used for the reconstruction.
Beginning in the second half of the second chapter of Nehemiah and continuing through the twelfth chapter we read about some of the events surrounding.
The Temple’s reconstruction. Many of the same events we read in Ezra are also recorded in Nehemiah, including Ezra’s reading of the Law, the people’s confession of their sins, and the lists of the people who returned to Jerusalem, a list of the Levites serving as priests, and a list of those who signed an agreement to follow the Law.
Things we see in this book that aren’t in the book of Ezra but are still part of the account of the people’s return to Jerusalem include:
- The people are now called Jews instead of Israelites
- Nehemiah’s going to the defense and assistance of the poor. He chastised those who had money for their practicing usury. He reminded them that they were a family—and that family should stick together and treat each other with love and respect.
The book of Nehemiah closes with his personal account of the reforms Nehemiah brought about in the lives of the Jewish people upon his second return to Jerusalem (he had returned to King Artaxerxes as promised after his first trip).
Nehemiah’s sense of responsibility in being a spiritual leader to his people is admirable and one we should seek to develop in our own selves today.