Old Testament Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
Ezra 1:3 Decree to Return Ezra 6: Temple Completed Ezra 7:10 Ezra's heart for God's Word
Key Chapters/verses of Ezra
Esther 4:14 for such a time as this
Key verse of Esther
no mention of God late acceptance into the canon originally thought to have no evidence from Qumran critical views is that the story is a concoction to justify/explain the feast of Purim (lots)
Misc. Notes of Esther
Nehemiah 1-7: rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem Nehemiah 8-13: rebuilding Israel's spiritual life
Ouline of nehemiah
Esther 1-4: the threat of the Jews Esther 5-10: the triumph of the Jews
Outline of esther
486-464
historical time of Esther?
444-410 BC
historical time of Nehemiah
narrative
literary aspect of Nehemiah
Sort story
literary aspect of esther
Esther, queen Vashti, King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, and Haman
main characters in Esther
1-6: return from exile to the promised land to rebuild the temple (return led by zerubable in 538, temple completed in 515, this temple is known as the second temple 7-10: ezra and the law (ezra set his heart to study the word of God, public reading of the word, problem of intermarriage with those who were living in the land prior to the return from exile
outline of Ezra
Nehemiah 3-6 opposition to the task Nehemiah 4:15-20 some work, some hold spears, some do both Nehemiah 6:15 completion of wall Nehemiah 9: covenant renewal
outline of Nehemiah
God sustains his people God has certain people in certain places for certain purposes "for such a time as this"
purpose/theme of Esther
once again, God's faithfulness and mercy is the key theme continue the task inspite of opposition
purpose/theme of Nehemiah
??? if nehemiah, after 444
time of writing of Nehemiah
Solomon's Temple Second Temple Herod's Temple
what are the three Temples of Judaism?
Hadassah, Myrtle
what does Esther mean in Hebrew?
star
what does Esther mean in persian?
help
what does Ezra mean in Hebrew?
Nahamyahu (comfort/consolation of Yahweh)
what does Nehemiah mean in Hebrew?
538-515 BC (1-6) 457-444 BC (7-10) [same time as Gautama Buddha in india 560-480, confucius in china 551-479, socrates in greece 470-399]
what is the historical time of Ezra?
Narrative Language: Hebrew and Aramaic
what is the literary aspects of Ezra?
God is faithful to his word! he brought his people back to the promised land from the babylonian exile (Jer. 29:10-14 a prophecy fulfilled)
what is the purpose of Ezra?
???
what is the time of writing for Esther?
if ezra, 457-444
what is the time of writing of Ezra?
anonymous
who wrote Esther?
anonymous, Ezra (Jewish)
who wrote Ezra?
anonymous
who wrote Nehemiah?