EZRA, NEHEMIAH, ESTHER

EZRA

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Ezra.

INTRODUCTION

Ezra, together with Nehemiah, is treated as only one by the Hebrew scribes. There is no gap in
the Masoretic Texts between the end of Ezra 10 and the commencement of Nehemiah 1, and
the verse statistics are given for both at the end of Nehemiah. 1 The Talmud and Jewish
historian Josephus considered Ezra and Nehemiah as one.

There is evidence, however, that two books were originally separate. The list in Ezra 2 and
Nehemiah 7 are basically the same. This would militate against the idea that the two books
were originally one, for it would seem strange to repeat the same list in one volume.2

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Ezra himself is the accepted author of the book. He was a priest and a scribe of the Law (7:21).
There are references in the first person in the book (7:27-9:15). Jewish tradition also attributes
authorship to him.

The events recorded in 10:17-44 approximately took place around 450 B.C. Nehemiah arrived
in Jerusalem around 444 B.C. It could be between 450-444 B.C. that Ezra was written.

Purpose: To encourage the remnant to be involved in true temple worship and to remind them
to fulfill their covenantal obligations because of God’s mercy

Theme: Temple restoration and remnant reformation

OVERVIEW OF EZRA3

I. Restoration of the Temple (1-6)

On the proclamation of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return to their homeland (1:1-4), the first
return of the remnant totaling to 49, 897 {whole assembly, servants and singers} (2:64-65) came

1 ?
Gleason L. Archer Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago: Moody Press 1985 rev.), p.
418-419.
2
John A. Martin, Ezra, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, John F. Walvoord and Roy B.
?

Zuck, eds. (USA: SP Publications, Inc. 1985), p. 651.

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to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel and Jeshuah led the people to restore the altar and hold the Feast of
Booths prior to rebuilding the temple.

After the foundation was completed (536 B.C.), the building was interrupted and halted for
fourteen years (534-520 B.C.). Prophets Haggai and Zechariah rallied the people continue
building after the ban had been lifted. The temple was finished on 515 B.C.

II. Reformation of the People (7-10)

A second return of exiles from Babylon led by Ezra came to Jerusalem around 458 B.C. God
caused them to have favor from Artaxerxes who supplied generously for their temple worship.
Ezra led the remnant to a spiritual reformation where God’s Law was central and had removed
intermarriages.

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 NEHEMIAH

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Nehemiah.

INTRODUCTION

After fourteen years (444 B.C.), Nehemiah leads the third and last return to Jerusalem after the
Babylonian exile. He was a contemporary of Ezra and cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes
(464-424 B.C.), an important position in the king’s court. While Ezra had rebuild the temple,
Nehemiah was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, as well as the people of Israel.

Malachi lives and ministers during Nehemiah’s time. A comparison of the books shows that
Malachi specifically denounces many evils encountered by Nehemiah.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Most Bible expositors agree that Nehemiah wrote the book that bears his name. Much of the
book is a first person account of the circumstances surrounding his return to Jerusalem (1-7;
12:31-13:31). He was governor of Jerusalem from 444-432 B.C. He could probably have
written after this date around 430 B.C.

Purpose: To show God’s faithfulness in establishing His people in their homeland after exile

Theme: Rebuilding Walls and People

OVERVIEW OF NEHEMIAH

I. Rebuilding of the Walls (1-7)

Nehemiah’s concern for the welfare of Jerusalem and its people led him to ask permission from
the king of Persia to allow him to go there. With God’s favor upon him, he was provided for by
everything he needs for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. His great concern for the
rebuilding of the walls is opposed though he overcomes them. The task was accomplished in
an incredible fifty-two days that even their enemies recognize that God helped them.

II. Rebuilding of the People (8-13)

Nehemiah was not only concerned in rebuilding the walls but as well in rebuilding people’s lives.
Ezra led the spiritual revival (8-10), as he did 14 years ago (Ezra 9-10). The Law of God was
read and the people were touched. They renewed their covenant with God as they recalled
God’s faithfulness to them through the years. While Nehemiah had returned to Persia (432
B.C.) the people returned to their old ways. Upon His return, he cleanses the temple, enforces
the Sabbath, and requires the people to get rid of all foreign wives.

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 ESTHER

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Esther.

INTRODUCTION

The name Esther is derived from the Persian word for “star” (stara) but her Hebrew name is
Hadassah, “myrtle” (2:7). The story fits between chapter 6 and 7 of Ezra.

An outstanding feature of this book and has given considerable discussion is the complete
absence of any explicit reference to God. Many detractors have judges the book of little
religious value. It appears, however, that the author deliberately refrained from mentioning God
or any religious activity as a literary device to heighten the fact that it is God who controls and
directs all the seemingly insignificant coincidences (see chap. 6) that make up the plot and issue
in deliverance for the Jews. God’s sovereign rule is assumed at every point (4:12-16), an
assumption made all the more effective by the total absence of reference to Him.4

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

The author is unknown but it is evident that one who has knowledge of Persian and Jewish
customs. Xerxes (Ahasuerus) was king of Persia (484-464 B.C.) and the feasts (1:3) took place
on the third year of his reign (483 B.C.) and the events of the rest of the book took place in 473
B.C. (3:7-12). A probable dating would be after Xerxes’ rule and that would be around 460 B.C.
but not later than 400 B.C.

Purpose

A. To encourage the returned Jewish exiles of the faithfulness of their covenant-keeping

Theme: The overruling providence of God who delivers and preserves His people from those
who would plot their destruction

OVERVIEW OF ESTHER5

I. The Feast of Xerxes (1-2)

While Xerxes was in his winter palace at Susa, he provided a lavish banquet. When he was
high in wine spirits, he attempted to display the beauty of Queen Vashti among his guests but
4 ?
Contributed by Raymond Dillard and Edwin Yamauchi, Esther, The NIV Study Bible, Kenneth Barker,
gen. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House 1985), p. 719.
5 ?
Adapted from The NIV Study Bible

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the latter refused. He was angered and deposed her which later pave the way for finding
another queen. Esther found favor and became queen.

Sometime Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, uncovered a plot to assassinate the king. He reported it
and the king was spared.

II. The Feast of Esther (3-7)

Haman, higher than other noble officials of Xerxes, was honored and everyone knelt down or
pay him honor, except Mordecai. He was so furious so he plotted the annihilation of all the
Jews where Xerxes issued an irrevocable Persian edict. Upon learning the situation, Esther
was informed and presented herself before the king, even it was not yet time for her to appear in
his presence. She found favor and had asked the king to prepare a banquet where the king and
Haman are her guest.

That night the king read from the chronicles that Mordecai helped him in the past and have not
yet rewarded him. The king asked Haman, who was about to inform the king the gallows
prepared for Mordecai, how he should honor a man who helped him. Thinking it was him, he
suggested that this man be given the royal robe and ride on the royal horse and be paraded in
city streets by the king’s most noble prince who’ll proclaim “This is what is done for the man the
king delights to honor” (6:9).

Reversals took place. Haman paraded Mordecai before the people. Later on the gallows
prepared for Mordecai was assigned to Haman.

III. The Feast of Purim (8-10)

Since the king’s earlier edict of the Jews annihilation cannot be repelled, he signed another
edict that they can protect themselves from any aggressor. The Jews defeated their foes and
they celebrated the Feast of Purim, the time where their sorrow was turned into joy and their
mourning into a day of celebration.