Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Ezra's what are presented, including what?
credentials; including a letter of authorization from Artaxerxes
This kind of set up is called what?
Chiastic A B C D C1 B1 A1
Who was the the Persian King who released the Jewish people to return the Judah?
Cyrus II
Who is not mentioned in the book of Esther?
God
Message of Esther:
God anonymously used a Persian queen to preserve His people on Purim
Esther records what?
God's protection of those exiled Jews who did not return to the Promised Land
The temple construction is completed under the prophetic exhortations of who?
Haggai and Zechariah
While the king steps outside to fume, what happens?
Haman throws himself at Esther in a plea for his life
this reversal leads to what?
Haman's advisers and family members to predict his imminent doom
the second decree is the result of what?
Haman's hatred of the Jews
Esther reveal what?
Haman's plot against the Jews
next who is hung?
Haman's sons
Chapters 4 & 5 chronicle the clashes between who?
Hamon and Mordecai, as Mordecai fights to save the Jews and Hamon works to destroy them
Modern Scholars state that the compiling of Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles as no different that the compilation of what New Testament book?
Luke
How long did this opposition last?
Many years
Ezra and Nehemiah are logically arranged according to the author's what?
Theological purposes
True or False: Ezra AND Nehemiah have been confirmed as historically accurate through archaeological discoveries AND extra biblical evidences
True
True or False: One of the key theological themes of Ezra-theological themes of Ezra-Nehemiah was that God was and is willing to return to those who return to him
True
the first decree is a replacement of what?
Vashti
The opposition continues through the reign of who and who?
Xerxes and Artaxerxes
what is the Apocrypha?
a collection of interstatmental Jewish literature, recognized, as deutero- canon in some Christian traditions
this act by Mordecai provides what?
a prelude to his letter exaltion
at the end of the banquet, Esther invites the king and Haman to what?
a second banquet
Concludes with what?
a summary statement of the greatness of Mordecai
when Ezra and these families arrived in Jerusalem, the do what?
account for the treasures, offer sacrifice, and deliver the orders of Arterex to the region's officials
Esther is added to what and then what happens?
added to the harem and then chosen from among the women for the harm as queen
Nehemiah is known for being highly skilled at what?
administrative
He reveals Haman's plot to Esther and convinces her to do what?
appeal to the king
On the plea of Esther, the new decree is what?
approved by the king and published to the land just as had been done with previous decree
He works how
behind the scenes ex. through obedient servants such as Esther and Mordecia
the king then commands Haman to do what?
bestow the honor to Mordecai
Ezra is instrumental in what?
bringing spiritual revival to Israel
Nehemiah traces the rebuilding of the what?
broken walls of Jerusalem and the instituting of social reforms
How does Haman plan tot execute Mordecai?
by inplanting him on a gallows and he has gallows built for that purpose
this plea attempt is misinterpreted as what?
by the the king as a sexual advance
Yahweh provides for his people, even turning what into support from him?
challenge of Taltenai
The wall is not the only what?
concern in Israel
even the internal threat of oppressive usury is effectively what?
confronted and corrected
He then does what
excludes foreign pagans from the city, expels Tobiah and purifies the temple rooms he had lived in reconstitutes tuthing, restores proper Sabbath practices, rebukes mixed marriages, and makes provision for the priesthood
Haman then plans to do what?
execute Mordecai
Ezra records what?
family heads of the returnees and their settlement in the land
so Israel again celebrates the what?
feast of booth
the next section parallels the what
first kingly decree section
it also includes specific stipulations of what?
for avoidance of mixed marriages and for honoring the Sabbath
Haman is then impalled on the very what?
gallows he had constructed for Mordecai
the letter also invest Ezra with what?
governmental authority
Ezra's response is deep what, which leads to what?
personal mourning and public prayer recognizing the sinful past of Israel, the Lord's present grace in allowing them to return, and the present sin of the Jews
Ezra and Nehemiah were reformers during which era?
postexile period
What do the priest do?
praise the Lord for His gracious work in Israel's rebellious history and plead for forgiveness for the people's current failures
Ezra then does what?
praises the Lord for His gracious provision
though the external opposition intensifies, it is met with what?
prayers, preparation and continuation
Ezra is known for having what two occupations?
priest & scribe
Haman arrogantly concluding that the king must be talking about him, says...
public parade of honor
Mrdecai is devastated by the what?
published decree of Haman
the names of the returning residents are then what?
recorded
the section closes with what?
registry of the returning citizens of Israel
What three area of Hebrew life were Ezra and Nehemiah trying to reform?
religious, social, & economic life
Nehemiah closes the book with a plea for God to do what?
remember him favorably for his labor in the Lord's name
After Ezra publicly confronts the guilty people the do what?
repent
Nehemiah records key events in what era?
return
The major portion of this section concerns what?
reverses the previous evil decree against them
the leaders encourage them because the occasion is intended to be a what?
sacred festival
The registered families prepared to return by doing what?
securing levitcal ministries by fasting and praying to the Lord, and by assigning the temple treasures to lead Levitical priest
the combination of Ezra-Nehemiah covers roughly how many years?
some hundred years
Therefore, Nehemiah initiates reform to restore the people's what?
spiritual condition
The book of Nehemiah second records the what?
spiritual reformation required and experienced among the returners t oJerusalem
this agreement has general what?
stipulations for covenant obedience and temple provision
With the approval of the king, the Jews do what?
strike the enemies in the provinces and in Suas
his discovers what?
that Mordecai was not rewarded for preventing the king's assassination
Esther is a beautifully written story of the providence of what?
the Lord preserving and exalting His people
Ezra provides a personal account of what?
the Spiritual revival of the Jews; especially their separation from the Pagan people of the land
this prologue provides the background for what?
the choosing of the Jewish girl Esther as queen
Nehemiah receives word of what?
the disgraceful conditions in Jerusalem
this news troubles who?
the enemies of Israel
The people weep as their condition becomes clear in the light of what?
the law
the book concludes with what?
the list of the intermarriage offenderes
After inspecting the collapsed walls, Nehemiah calls of who?
the nation to join together to reconstruct the wall
Ezra next recounts what?
the opposition against the Jews
The renewal of the covenant is put in motion by what?
the public reading of the law
Ezra provides a historical account of what?
the reconstruction of the temple
The rebuilding of the temple begins with the what?
the restoration of the altar of burnt offerings
However, the king is unable to sleep one night a request what?
the royal record be read to him
The prologue sets the background of what?
the story by giving the prelude to Esther's choice as queen in Persia; the parallel epilogue explains the implications of the story for the Jews
After the priest and the people are ceremonially cleansed what happens>
two choirs are organized to march along the top of the wall and meet at the temple to praise and sacrifice to the Lord
the next section of the book is structured around what?
two key decrees by the king
the confession of the Israelites is is voiced how?
voiced to God through the priest
The older returnees, who recalled the former and great Solomonic temple, react how?
weep
when the foundation of the temple is completed, most people respond how?
with joy and celebration
This fury of Hanah motivates him to do what?
deception in order to get the king to sign a decrees to destroy Mordecai and the Jews
after the completion of the work, the temple what?
dedicated and prescribed feast are celebrated once again
Up to this point, Mordecai and the Jews seem what?
destined to face death at the hands of their enemies, primarily Hamon
The people's faithfulness to God had also what?
deteriorated
the people then sign a written agreement of what?
of loyalty to the Lord
the priest rebuild the altar and then do what?
offer sacrifices on tit fore the feast of Tabernacles
Ministers are appointed for what?
ongoing temple worship
In the oldest Hebrew Bibles, Ezra and Nehemiah are what?
only one book
she is then what>
present as the queen
In order to stabilize the institutions of the Hebrew community, who replaced the state and king?
the temple and priest
therefore, the Jews receive vengeance on who?
their enemies throughout Persia
the book demonstrates that God is able to work in who?
those He has chosen
Haman is delighted by what?
to be treated with such honor by Esther
the deceit of Haman is revealed in his refusal to do what?
to name the people group as Jews and in his claim that they are lawbreakers
God's faithfulness to His Word as a keeper of covenant oath meant what?
"There is still hope for Israel"
What placed a legal hedge or fence around the Mosaic Law to prevent Israelite fall-away?
Oral Law***
What are the three parts of the historical purpose and message of Ezra-Nehemiah?
1. The Hebrew return to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, including the rebuilding of the altar & temple 2. The arrival & ministry of Ezra including the religious reform of community based on the law of Moses 3. The arrival & ministry of Nehemiah, including the repair of the Jerusalem wall & continued social & economic reform in the restoration community
List out the two other theological truths found in Ezra-Nehemiah?
1. The people may have hope in the present because the world of the God on behalf of Israel in the past stands as the model for Yahweh's participation in the future of the community 2. The ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah in restoring Jerusalem attested God' ability to continue to raise up his servants to accomplish his purpose & fulfill his promised to Israel
The book of Ezra can be broken down into what two parts
1. first return & rebuilding of the temple 2. second return & revival of the people
What were the two primary concerns that shaped the reform of the Israelite community?
1. the prevention of another Hebrew exile 2. preservation of the ethnic identity of the Israelites
the book opens with a lavish what?
180 day feast hosted by Xerxes
Ezra and Nehemiah comprise the second part of a two-part volume. What was part one?
1st and 2nd Chronicles
when is the temple completed?
515 BC
Ezra records the rebuilding of the temple which ended when? and then records Ezra's return to the land in? Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem in what?
516BC 457BC 444BC
the wall is finished in how many days?
52 days
Work resumes during Darius' reign, which is when?
522-486 BC
how many years after rebuilding of the temple did Ezra return to Jerusalem?
57 years
how tall were the gallows
75 feet high
who were Ezra and Nehemiah's predecessors?
Haggai & Zechariah
ERZA
****
MOrdecia's disdain infuriates Haman
****
NEHEMIAH
*****
ESTHER
******
the book of Nehemiah can be divided up into two parts:
1. Nehemiah's return & rebuilding of Jerusalem 2. Restoration of the people
The book can be divided into 7 parts
1. Prologue 2. Xerxes' first pair of decrees 3. Haman's Clashes with MOrdecai 4. Turing point: the king sleepless night 5. Mordecai's triumph over Haman 6. Xerxes' second pair of decrees 7. Epilogue
Ezra-Nehemiah was one the two Old Testament books containing large amounts of what?
Aramaic language
The gives Nehemiah grace is the eyes of who?
Artaxerxes, who permits and supports Nehemiah's effort to restore Jerusalem's wall
Haman's plot further unravels at what?
Esther's second banquet
Who does tradition point to as the author/editor of 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah?
Ezra
The second temple stood as a reminder of what?
Mesianic expectations
his mood is soured by what?
Mordecai refusing to pay him obeisance
Sandwiched between the two decrees is the brief description of what?
Mordecai's exposure of a murderous conspiracy against Xerxes
The book closes with a survey of what?
Nehemiah's reforms in Jerusalem
Message of Ezra:
Rebuilding of the temple & revival of the people
Message of Nehemiah
Rebuilding of the wall & reform of the people
At Ezra and Nehemiah's return, who made up a coalition of local alien enemies?
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, Arabs, Ammonites, & citizens of Asdad
After the work of the wall begins what come?
opposition
where did Ezra and Nehemiah come from?
Susa in Persia
what ancient artifact details the Persian King Cyrus II as victor over Babylon and the effects of this overturn being detailed in Ezra 1?
The Cyrus Cylinder
What is the dominant theological idea within Ezra-Nehemiah?
The covenant renewal in the postexile community
the book of Nehemiah first records the what?
grace of the Lord in providing for the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem
Haman promoted by the king and what happens?
he is honored by all in Susa expect MOrdecai
His broken heart cries out to the Lord for what?
help in restoring the city
She refuses and is subsequently removed from what?
her throne
he wants to parade who before his officials?
his queen, Vashti
The kings ask Haman how best to do what?
honor a man
first the explanation of what?
how the two day feast of Purim came to one of the regularly observed Jewish feasts
Upon his arrival in Jerusalem?
in Jerusalem with a devastating spiritual failure in Israel
The pagan people of the land attempt what?
infiltrate the temple workers
Returning Jews had been doing what?
intermarrying with the pagan people of the land
Esther plans her appeal by first doing what?
inviting the king and Haman to a banquet
What does the book of Ezra record?
key events of the return era, including the spiritual reforms and the rebuilding of the temple
chapter 6 is the what
literary center and the critical turning point of the book
Ezra's mourning draws large crowd of what?
mourners
Ezra then calls a mandatory what to address the sin?
national assembly
When the Jews receive the edict of Cyrus, allowing for their temple, the begin collecting what?
needed materials
the letter does what?
not only allows a return but also provides authorization to collect offering and to receive official aid
What was the mandatory prerequisite for Yahweh's blessing and restoration of Israel?
obedience to covenant stipulations