Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
when would the jews be killed
13th day of the month of adar
how many years after failure to build the temple did the Spirit of God move the prophets to inspire the people
16
year that ezra led second group to Jerusalem
458BC
Esther begins in what year
483BC
when did the Jews finish the temple
516BC
how many days till Nehemiah finished walls
52
from what time till what does Ezra-Nehemiah take place
538-458BC
When did the first group of jews return to Jerusalem
538BC
how much time b/t rebuilding temple to Ezra's return
58 years
Nehemiah's master
Artaxerxes
What excuse did the Jews have for not accepting help from the Samarians
Cyrus's decree
towering figure of the restoration community
Ezra
which two are studied together and why(3)
Ezra and Nehemiah same author, same time period, combined in Jewish Canon
which two prophets provided spiritual leadership at start of ezra
Haggai and Zechariah
high priest who helped restore Jerusalem with Zerubbabel
Jeshua
esther explains the origins of what
Jewish feast of purim
Zerubbabel was in the direct line of who
King David
Esther's uncle
Mordechai
what is Nehemiah based on
Nehemiah's own memoirs
What did Haggai urge the people to do
Pay as much attention to God's house as to their own
why did King Ahasueres begin looking for a queen
Queen Vashti refused a whimsical and foolish request
What does Ezra open up with
Return of Cyrus's decree
who offered to help build the temple and why did the Jews decline
Samarians Ulterior motives
who opposed the Jews rebuilding of Jerusalem (in Nehemiah) (4)
Samaritans under Sanballat, Ammonites, Arabs, and Ashdodites
governor of Judah who is related to Zerubbabel
Sheshbazzar
where does Esther take place
Susa (capital of Persia)
Who led the first group of jews to jerusalem
Zerubbabel
Esther occurs between which two returns
Zerubbabel and ezra
who provided the political leadership at start of ezra
Zerubbabel grandson of King Jehoiachin
three people who led returns
Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah
who is ezra the descendant of
aaron
who was Nehemiah
an exiled Jew who had risen to high office in the Persian empire
how did the king determine how to reward Mordecai
asked haman
what did mordecai refuse to do
bow to Haman
scholars used to think the author of Ezra-Nehemiah also wrote
chronicles
Nehemiah called for ___among leaders
clemency
half of Nehemiahs crew ____ while the other half _____
constructed, defended
Nehemiah's title
cupbearer (personal advisor to emperor)
Under Nehemiah ____ were forgiven and _____was restored
debts, economic stability
what did esther instruct the jews to do
fast for 3 days
How did Zechariah encourage the people
future blessings if obey God's will
how did haman suggest the king honor a deserving man
give him a royal robe and horse and a prince to march him through the city
who was the prince who escorted mordecai
haman
what did the king make mordecai
hamans successor
what happened to the king after Hamans order (3)
he couldn't sleep, asked to have his journal read, and remembered Mordecai saved his life
What happened to Zerubbabel after the temple was built
he disappeared from record
what did Esther keep secret
her Jewish identity
all-consuming question during restoration
how to maintain a distinctive identity in a changing world
Why did the people cry when building the temple
it was plain in comparison to the temple built under Solomon
who was Haman
king's official prime minister
what had to end for the exile to truly be over
marriages to foreigners
How does opposition try to attack Nehemiah
mocking his plans and intimidating builders
what was not compatible with Persian pluralism
monotheism
how was hamans decree undone
mordecai made another decree allowing the jews to defend themselves
what did Artaxerxes do
permitted Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and provided the means and resources to rebuild Jerusalem's defense
Nehemiah's method of dealing with opposition (3)
prayer followed by suitable action, and giving God credit for successes
format of esther
problem-solution
When did the people learn of God's love and commitment to them
reading of the law of Moses
Nehemiah felt inspired to encourage the people by
registering them by genealogies
after king cyrus of Persia captured Babylon, what decree did he issue
release Jews and allow them to return to their homeland
theory of Zerubbabel and SHeshbazzar (2)
same person Zerubbabel replaces Sheshbazzar
what was ezra's job
scribe guardian of the torah of moses
principal theological ideal that their are multiple ways to heaven
syncretism
what did the people agree to
systematically dissolve mixed marriages over 3 month span
what did the king order when he found out haman wanted to kill Mordecai
that haman be hanged on the gallows he built for mordecai
what secret did mordecai tell esther
that there was a plot to kill King Ahasuerus
what did haman order
the construction of a 75ft gallows outside his home to hang mordecai
what did haman have the king order
the execution of all jews
Nehemiah refused to use
the governor's expense account (taxes)
these three books conclude which part of the OT
the historical books
what happened to hamans estate
the king gave it to esther, who gave it to mordecai
what did haman assume
the king wanted to honor him
what happened when esther told the king of the plot to assassinate him
the plotters were killed
during which period do these books take place
the postexilic/ Persian
what would the prince cry as the honorable man was marched through the city
this is what is done for the man the king delights to honor
Why were the Jews originally unable to finish the temple (3)
too hard, insufficient resources, opposition
4 effects Ezra's ministry had on the people
true worship revive ancient customs (feast of tabernacles) levites lead confession reestablish covenant of God
theme of Esther
who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this
