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Ezra and Nehemiah
Ezra and Nehemiah by Daniel J. Lewis ©Copyright 1998 by Diakonos Troy, Michigan USA 2 Ezra-Nehemiah...........................................................................................................3 One Book or Two ..................................................................................................3 Languages ..............................................................................................................4 The Ezra-Nehemiah Chronology...........................................................................5 Authorship .............................................................................................................6 The Exile and the Promise of Restoration.............................................................6 Purpose...................................................................................................................7 Structure.................................................................................................................7 The Book of Ezra...............................................................................................7 The Book of Nehemiah......................................................................................7 The Book of Ezra.......................................................................................................8 The Return of Exiles with Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel (1-2).............................9 The Restoration of Worship and the Building of the Second Temple (3-6)...... 12 Building the Great Altar and -
Ezra 5-6 Study Guide
Small Group Study Lakeview Community Church (Ezra 1–6) (Week of: 2/12/12) Study Guide: Ezra 1–6 Start Talking… 1. Quick—don’t think about this too long—Chinese food, Mexican food, Italian food, or American cuisine (burgers, fries, apple pies, American flags, etc.)? Be ready to defend your answer against a hostile crowd who disagrees with you! Reflect Back… 2. What was “the takeaway” (the most important point) from Sunday’s sermon and/or the sermon text, in your opinion? 3. What insight from Sunday’s sermon (or the study guide) did you find most helpful, or eye- opening, or troubling (pick any or all of the above)? [Note: also use this space to record your questions from the sermon or the remainder of the study guide] The Take Away(s)… 4. Have you ever gone through a time in your life when God seemed distant or silent? [Or, are you going through it now?] What was it like, and what was it like when God “showed up” again? 5. Think of one key concept, idea, or lesson, that stood out to you, either from the sermon or the study guide. How is God speaking to you through this passage? Write out one S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-specific) goal that will put you in a better position to align your life with that lesson. Share this lesson and your S.M.A.R.T. goal with your small group and end with prayer for each other directed along these lines. -
What Is Biblical Prophecy?
What is Biblical Prophecy? What Biblical Prophecy is NOT, and What It Really IS: Contrary to what many fundamentalist preachers or late-night radio hosts would have you believe, biblical prophecy is not primarily about “predicting the future” or finding clues in the Bible that correspond to people or events in our own day and age! The prophets of Ancient Israel did not look into some kind of crystal ball and see events happening thousands of years after their own lifetimes. The books they wrote do not contain hidden coded messages for people living in the 20th or 21st centuries! Rather, biblical prophets were mainly speaking to and writing for the people of their own time. They were challenging people of their own world, especially their political rulers, to remain faithful to God’s commandments and/or to repent and turn back to God if they had strayed. They were conveying messages from God, who had called or commissioned them, rather than speaking on their own initiative or authority. However, because the biblical prophets were transmitting messages on behalf of God (as Jews and Christians believe), much of what they wrote for their own time is clearly also relevant for people living in the modern world. The overall message of faith and repentance is timeless and applicable in all ages and cultures. To understand what biblical prophecy really is, let’s look more closely at the origins, definitions, and uses of some key biblical words. In the Hebrew Bible, the word for “prophet” is usually nabi’ (lit. “spokesperson”; used over 300 times!), while the related feminine noun nebi’ah (“prophetess”) occurs only rarely. -
Ezra & Nehemiah- Week of August 27 Day 1- Ezra 5-6 Pray That God
Ezra & Nehemiah- Week of August 27 Day 1- Ezra 5-6 Pray that God would open your mind and heart to understand and be transformed by His Word. Read Ezra 5:1-6:12 two times. As you read, circle God’s name. Remember at the end of Ezra 4, because of the opposition the people were facing, the work on the house of the Lord stopped. Ezra 4 ends in despair and defeat—it seems that God and His people have lost. In Ezra 5, what do Zerubbabel and Jeshua do? Verse 1 makes a connection to 2 prophets of that time. What did Haggai and Zechariah prophesy? See Haggai 1:1,7-8 and Zechariah 1:1-3. The people of God meet some opposition again from Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai, two local leaders. This opposition does not seem to be as harsh, but they are questioned about what they are doing in Jerusalem in Ezra 5:3-4. This time the work on the temple does not stop. According to the passage, why does the work continue? (vs. 5) The questioners, Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai write a letter to King Daruis to inform him of what is going on. They tell him that they have questioned the people, and they tell him the people’s response. What was the people’s response to their questioning (Ezra 5:11-17)? King Darius receives this letter and launches an investigation of his own. What is his response (Ezra 6:6-12)? What significance in there in King Darius’s words, especially in Ezra 6:12? Why would Darius, a king who probably did not know God, respond this way (think back to King Cyrus in Chapter 1)? We noticed in Ezra 1 (and in Exodus 12:31) that God freed His people for a specific purpose. -
Deuteronomy- Kings As Emerging Authoritative Books, a Conversation
DEUTERONOMY–KinGS as EMERGING AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS A Conversation Edited by Diana V. Edelman Ancient Near East Monographs – Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) DEUTERONOMY–KINGS AS EMERGING AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS Ancient Near East Monographs General Editors Ehud Ben Zvi Roxana Flammini Editorial Board Reinhard Achenbach Esther J. Hamori Steven W. Holloway René Krüger Alan Lenzi Steven L. McKenzie Martti Nissinen Graciela Gestoso Singer Juan Manuel Tebes Number 6 DEUTERONOMY–KINGS AS EMERGING AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS A CONVERSATION Edited by Diana V. Edelman Society of Biblical Literature Atlanta Copyright © 2014 by the Society of Biblical Literature All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permit- ted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Offi ce, Society of Biblical Literature, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA. Library of Congress Control Number: 2014931428 Th e Ancient Near East Monographs/Monografi as Sobre El Antiguo Cercano Oriente series is published jointly by the Society of Biblical Literature and the Universidad Católica Argentina Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Políticas y de la Comunicación, Centro de Estu- dios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente. For further information, see: http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/Books_ANEmonographs.aspx http://www.uca.edu.ar/cehao Printed on acid-free, recycled paper conforming to ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997) and ISO 9706:1994 standards for paper permanence. -
The Chapters of Ezra
Scholars Crossing An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible A Guide to the Systematic Study of the Bible 5-2018 The Chapters of Ezra Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/outline_chapters_bible Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "The Chapters of Ezra" (2018). An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible. 36. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/outline_chapters_bible/36 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the A Guide to the Systematic Study of the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ezra SECTION OUTLINE ONE (EZRA 1-3) King Cyrus of Persia decrees that the Jews may return and rebuild the Temple. The return of the first group of the exiles is recorded. The offering of sacrifices is resumed, and the rebuilding of the Temple is begun. I. THE DECREE (1:1-4) A. The prophecy (1:1): King Cyrus of Persia issues a decree that fulfills a prophecy made by Jeremiah many years earlier. B. The proclamation (1:2-4): Cyrus's decree allows all the Jews in the Persian Empire to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. II. THE DONATIONS (1:6-11; 2:68-70) A. Gifts from neighbors (1:6): Many people, probably Jews choosing to stay in Babylon, give the returning Jews gold, silver, and supplies for the journey. -
Ezra 4 Sermon Notes January 24, 2016 Spiritual Setbacks I
Ezra 4 Sermon Notes January 24, 2016 Spiritual Setbacks I. Introduction with Observations A. How do you handle spiritual setbacks in your life? B. If we were reading the events of Ezra 4 in chronological order, we would read verses 1-5, then verse 24, and finally verses 6-23 would need to be in parentheses, since they project us forward in time to a future period of opposition on the part of the people of the land. C. Big idea – Spiritual setbacks are an opportunity to worship God alone, and though the enemy is relentless in his pursuits, God’s plans will not ultimately fail. II. Principles A. God alone is worthy of worship. 1. Not every help is good help. Ecumenical organizations, interfaith ministries, and coalitions between different religions are harmful to Christianity. 2. The approach taken by the Samaritans wreaks of “coexisting” and tolerance in the name of good works. 3. As Christians, we are to worship God alone, even when we have spiritual setbacks. We are most vulnerable to try anything other than God when we have setbacks. 4. Syncretism (the mixing of different religious “faiths”) is dangerous. This is how the Samaritans became a people (2 Kings 17:29-41). Jesus plus anything equals nothing. a. These “enemies” were claiming to be Jews but they were not (Revelation 3:9). b. We are sent out as “sheep among wolves”. Be wise (Matthew 10:16). c. So-called Christians are the most dangerous syncretists just as the so-called “Jews” willing to help rebuild were a danger to Zerubbabel and the leaders. -
“Love in the Ruins” Ezra 5-6 June 21, 2020 INTRODUCTION: the Returning Exiles Made a Start in Rebuilding the Temple
“Love in the Ruins” Ezra 5-6 June 21, 2020 INTRODUCTION: The returning exiles made a start in rebuilding the temple and managed to complete its foundation. But there it sat, unfinished, for almost twenty years. There is something profoundly sad to me about a building lying unfinished for so long a time. It speaks of poor planning and wasted resources at the least, and perhaps more tragically of financial reversals and dashed hopes. And since this unfinished temple was right in the heart of the city, it spoke continually and loudly of these things. The unfinished temple was a symbol of failure, and the longer it sat in its unfinished condition, the deeper the sense of failure. Before long, failure would become part of their identity. Since the temple was the place where God met his people, this situation speaks of a ruined relationship with God. Where such ruin exists, we can grow accustomed to it so that it feels normal. Perhaps that had happened to these returned exiles. You may recognize the title of this sermon as the title of a Walker Percy novel. I’ve not read the novel, but I find the title interesting. It could even serve as a summary of Ezra and Nehemiah. The exiles return to a nation that is in ruins because of the sin of their ancestors. But there is love to be found there, and it is the faithful love of God. Could that title describe your life as well? Perhaps there is a symbol of failure in your life, much like this unfinished temple. -
Ezra Commentaries
Ezra Commentaries 2 CHRONICLES NEHEMIAH Ezra Reads the Law to the People by Gustave Doré Click charts to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Introduction and Chart of Ezra - Swindoll The Persian Empire at the Time of Ezra c. 458 B.C. During the time of Ezra the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 B.C. the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed their territory into the empire, including the lands of Israel and Judah (known as Beyond the River). The next year Cyrus allowed the people of Judah to return home under the leadership of Zerubbabel and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Later, around 458 B.C., another group of Judean exiles returned under Ezra’s leadership. (ESV.org) Kings of Persia Mentioned in Ezra–Nehemiah Cyrus 539–530 B.C. Darius I 522–486 Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 485–464 Artaxerxes I 464–423 EZRA RESOURCES Esther Commentary, Sermon, Illustration, Devotional CHRONOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH-ESTHER 538-515BC 483-473BC 457BC 444-425BC Ezra 1-6 Book of Esther Ezra 7-10 Book of Nehemiah 13 Year Second Return First Return Third Return 58 Year of Jews from Gap of Jews from of Jews from Gap Babylonian Babylonian Exile Babylonian Exile Exile EZRA: RESTORATION AND REFORM Restoration of the Temple Reform of the People Under Zerubbabel Under Ezra First Return Construction of Second Return Restoration To Jerusalem The Temple to Jerusalem of the People Ezra 1:1-Ezra 2:70 Ezra 3:1-Ezra 6:22 Ezra 7:1-8:36 Ezra 9:1-Ezra 10:44 First Return Second Return of 49, 897 of 1754 22 Years 1 Year (538-516BC) (458-457BC) Key Passages: Ezra 1:3, Ezra 2:2, Ezra 6:21, 22, Ezra 7:10 Key Words: Went up (Ezra 1:11, 7:1, 6, 7, 8:1), Jerusalem (48x), Decree (17x), House of the LORD (Ezra 1:3, 5, 7, 2:68, 3:8, 11, 7:27, 8:29), Law (...of the LORD, ...of Moses, ...of God) (Ezra 3:2, 7:6, 10, 12, 14, 21, 26, 10:3) CHRONOLOGY OF EZRA Cyrus king of Persia captures Babylon 539 B.C. -
Nehemiah at a Glance
Scholars Crossing The Owner's Manual File Theological Studies 11-2017 Article 16: Nehemiah at a Glance Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manual Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "Article 16: Nehemiah at a Glance" (2017). The Owner's Manual File. 30. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manual/30 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Owner's Manual File by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NEHEMIAH AT A GLANCE This book records the third and final freedom trips of some Jewish pilgrims from Persia to Jerusalem. Nehemiah, leader of the journey, upon arriving, shared with the Jews already there. His great burden, namely, to repair the breached walls around the holy city, which he did, the task being completed in just 52 days. BOTTOM LINE INTRODUCTION THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CALL TO A WALL THE TRUE STORY OF A MAN WITH A BURDEN TO BUILD Nehemiah marks the end of historical chronology in the Old Testament. It is also the only completely autobiographical book in the Bible. FACTS REGARDING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK 1. Who? Nehemiah. He led the final of three Jewish returns from Persia to Jerusalem (Neh. 2:5). His sole purpose was to rebuild the city walls destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (Neh. -
THE BIBLE from God to Us
THE BIBLE From God to Us JoLynn Gower Spring 2017 493-6151 [email protected] 1 WORD FOR THE JOURNEY 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Scripture: graphe: writing, especially the Holy Bible text Inspired by God: theopneustos: God-breathed: the concepts and wording came from God, via the Holy Spirit, to men who wrote it down 2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. GOD SPOKE, MEN WROTE 2 A REVELATION OF GOD IN THE BEGINNING, GOD…. The Bible never tries to prove the existence of God; He is everywhere in scripture assumed to exist Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Tetragrammaton: YHWH; Yahweh or Jehovah The name wasn’t spoken; other words such as Elohim or Adonai were frequently substituted or in English G-d In our Bible, when we see LORD, the word being transliterated is Yahweh 3 STARTING WITH MOSES? Exodus 24:3-4 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!" Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. -
Opposition to the Work of God Is Me Say a Word About a Chronological Also Apparent Today
Ezra 4-6 CLASSIFICATION: TEXT--------------------- --EXPOSITORY "OPPOSITION TO THE WORKOF --BIOGRAPHICAL --TEXTUAL --TOPICAL SCRIPTURE READING•---------------- --DEVOTIONAL DELIVERIES: Hour and F.B.C. 08-28-96 WEDS. San Angelo, TX (XXX+++ +); BIBLIOGRAPHY________________________________ _ Ezra 4-6 ert Kriegel has written a book Ezra 4:1-5 and Ezra 4:24 describe entitled Sacred Cows Make the Best the delay of the rebuilding of the Temple Burgers in which he describes the which occurred during the reign of Cyrus. jneyitable ta change in the The reconstruction was not completed business world and how it can be until the second year of Darius' rule which overcome. His term for this blanket was 520 BC. opposition to change is "firehosing." problem arises in Ezra 4:6-23 Firehosing is demonstrated in those where the biblical writer referred to people who react to any new idea with (sometimes known as Xerxes) five good reasons why it won' ork. He who ruled from 486-465 BC and in Ezra calls it firehosing " he referred to Artaxerxes who people's enthusi ruled from 465-425 BC. the creativity, and j biblical writer interposed some material at excitem the spot. this point describing opposition to the Resistance to change is not just rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem which found in the business world. It is also the happened at a later period. We've heard perpetual enemy of progress in God's of writers who do a "flash-back" to an work. Zerubbabel discovered that shortly earlier period as they tell their story. This after he and the other exiles returned to biblical writer did a indicate that the o osition to th e arrival in Jerusalem of the o was continuous.