Writ ten by Sherry Worel Unpacking the Book #9 The Post Exilic Period I. An Overview of the Exiles & Returns from Babylon The book of Daniel records a deportation of Judaean nobility that occurred around 605 BC, in the reign of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1-6; cf. 2 Chronicles 36:6-7). The Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 52:28-30) notes three deportations: The first was in the time of Jehoiachin, in 597 BC, when the Temple of Jerusalem was partially despoiled and a number of the leading citizens were removed (2 Kings 24:10-16). After eleven years, in 586 BC, in the reign of Zedekiah, a fresh uprising of the Judaeans occurred. The city and temple of Jerusalem was razed and a further deportation ensued (2 Kings 25:1-21). Finally, five years thereafter, in 581 BC, Jeremiah records a third deportation (Jeremiah 52:30) Carried to captivity Date Captives Who King 606 Daniel Babylonians Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:1-6) 597 Ezekiel Babylonians Belshazzar (Jer. 52:28-30) 586 Zedekiah (last king of (2 Kings 25:1-21) Judah) 581 Jeremiah Plus last of the people (Jer. 52:30) Returned from captivity in 3 waves # of Persian Events/ Date Returnees Leader Scripture Ruler Focus Notes 538-537 49,897 Zerubbabel Ezra 1-6 Cyrus Rebuild the temple Burnt offerings Jeshua (559-530 BC) Sheshbazzar 1. Provided Funding Start Rebuilding 2. Returned gold and silver from the temple Darius 1. Stopped rebuilding (522-486) 2. Resumed Rebuilding 516 Temple Completed (58 year gap in book of Ezra) Esther 1-10 King Xerxes Esther is Queen 458 1,754 Ezra Ezra 7-10 Artaxerxes Spiritual Leadership 1. National repentance 2. Public Worship 444 Unknown Nehemiah Nehemiah Artaxerxes Rebuild Walls 1. Opposition Number 2. Completed-52 days II. The Players: A. C yrus Cyrus presented himself and the rule of Persia as a kind of liberation for the countries he conquered. He allowed idols to be returned and expatriates to go back to their homes. He encouraged the Jews to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple (See 2 Chron. 36: 22-23, Ezra 1:1-6). Isaiah calls Cyrus the “anointed one.” (See Isa. 44:27-28, 45:1-5) Edited and taught by Cathy Ulrich B. Zerrubbabel The grandson of King Jehoiachin. He was heir to the throne of Judah (1 Chron. 3:17-19). He is also listed in the genealogy of the Lord (Matt. 1:13, Luke 3:27). He was a civil leader, appointed the governor by Cyrus. C. Jeshua (aka Joshua in Haggai and Zechariah) The high priest and religious leader. He and Zerrubbabel were able to set up the altar for burnt offerings and lay the foundation of the temple until opposition caused the work to stop. There is a pause to the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:18-21). It is during this pause that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah appear on the scene. Haggai is particularly interested in stirring up the people to finish the job. They resume the building when the Persian King Darius goes through the files and discovers Cyrus’ decree. D. Ezra Ezra was a scribe, an expounder of the scriptures. His leadership is focused on the spiritual “rebirth” of Judah. He calls for national repentance, searches for Levites, seeks reforms and established public worship. Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra 1-6 covered about 23 years, then there was a 58 year gap, and the last 4 chapters take place during a single year. Before the exile 500,000-700,000, while after the exile there was somewhere between 20,000 to 150,000. The physical territory was also much smaller…about 25x32 miles (800 square miles— which is the size of Orange County) and about 1/3 of that was desert. 2 E. Nehem iah Nehemiah’s focus was on the rebuilding of the wall. “Nehemiah, a layman, was able to cooperate with this contemporary Ezra, in spite of the fact that these two leaders were of entirely different temperaments. In reaction to the problem of mixed marriages, Ezra plucked out this own hair (Ezra 9:3), whereas Nehemiah plucked out the hair of the offenders (Neh. 13:25)!” (EB Commentary) He served in Jerusalem for 12 years then returned to Babylon. Sometime later he came back to Jerusalem. F. Artaxerxes The king that Nehemiah served was Artaxerexes I, named Longimanus (the long-handed one, his right hand was longer than his left). Although known as a man with a gentle and noble spirit, Artaxerxes ruled at the center of discord and violence. • His father was assassinated in his bedroom • At 18, Artaxerxes avenged his father by killing his brother • He defeated his other brother, Hystaspes, in war • For 10 years he battled a major revolt in Egypt • This was a man of action, a powerful leaders…not someone to be trifled with III.Jerusalem of the returning exiles J eerussalem Nehemiah’s Walls 3 (The Bible Visual) Neh. 2:18 “So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.” 4 IV. The Benefits of the Babylonian Captivity (from www.bible-history.com) 1. Cured of Idolatry The Jews were almost completely cured of idolatry, no matter what their faults and downfalls were in later periods of history, they never returned to the idolatry of the nations around them as they had. The Babylonian Captivity had taught them to abhor the worship of idols. 2. The Scribes and Rabbinic Literature The situation caused them to be separated from Jerusalem and the Temple and thus there came a new order called the "Scribes." In their earliest stages they served the Jewish colonists in a very valuable way, especially in teaching, guarding and preserving the Scriptures. 3. The Synagogues Places for assembly or "synagogues" were instituted in order to conduct formal Jewish worship, and to provide schools for education while they were far from their homeland. It was the difficult circumstances of the Babylonian Captivity that allowed for the synagogues, without these unusual circumstances there might not have been synagogues which kept the national spirit of the Jewish people even after the fall of the Second Temple. 4. The Teaching of the Scriptures The Jewish people pursued the Scriptures. They compiled the Scriptures and studied them intensely, realizing the reason for the Captivity and teaching this to their children. Later Ezra, the Scribe, taught the Scriptures and gave light to its meaning. 5. Unification of the Jewish People Similar to the captivity in Egypt, the Babylonian Captivity brought a common hardship and isolation which brought a common sympathy and a closer relationship with each of individual of the nation. They returned united and purified, anyone who would not learn this lesson remained in Babylon only to become lost in history. V. Outline of Ezra 5 VI.A n outline for the book of Nehemiah I. Devotion to God’s Mission (1-6) A. Seeing the Need (1) B. Meeting the Challenge (2) C. Building with Obstacles (3-6) 1. Completion Gained by Unity (3) 2. Threats Overcome by Boldness (4) 3. Distress Solved by Sacrifice (5) 4. Rumors Silenced by Prayer (6) Chapters 1-6 focus on God’s work through Nehemiah and the people to rebuild Jerusalem walls. Enemies attacked the people at their many vulnerable places to hinder them from their work. Hopelessness, anger, doubts, intimidation and fears were all targeted to hold this people back. Nehemiah as a type of Christ led the people forward into completion of their task of building the kingdom of God. II. Dedication to Spiritual Renewal (7-12) A. Steps to Restoration (7-9) 1. Reorganization (7) 2. God’s Word (8) 3. Repentance (9) B. Importance of Commitment (10-12) 1. Covenant (10) 2. Appointments (11) 3. Leaders (12) C. Necessity of Purging (13) Chapters 7-13 focus on the work of God in the hearts of the people. Attention was given to proper leadership, purity of the people, commitment to God and His Word and Nehemiah’s cry for help. Nehemiah bravely led the people into a deeper walk with God and built a community around Him. 6 VII.The biblical books of Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi A. Esther Written after the death of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) around 400 BC, this historical book tells the story of a Jewish maiden who becomes the queen of Persia. Lessons from Esther 4:12-14 1) if you don’t speak up, God will get somebody else; 2) strategic placement by God! B. Haggai This post exilic prophet had the mission to both encourage and rebuke the Jews. His five short messages cover only three months and twenty-three days. C. Zechariah He is a contemporary of Haggai and the head of a priestly family. This prophecy has five separate messages. Some of the messages were to encourage the Jews to finish the temple, the later messages focused on the coming of the Lord. Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. D. Malachi Since the temple had been completed and sacrifices were occurring (1:7-10, 3:8), it is assumed that Malachi’s prophecies occurred after Haggai and Zechariah. He addresses the spiritual decline of the people (mixed marriages, failure to tithe, etc.) 7.