Historical
background and purpose of the book
The
book is about the time when the first Jews returned to Jerusalem when Cyrus of
Persia made a decree that people could go back to their own Land. Only the most
surrendered by the Israelites entered the relatively comfortable life in
Babylon to travel the 1,500 km trip back to Jerusalem. They then begin the hard
work of rebuilding the temple and the city.
The
book of Ezra and Nehemiah were linked together in the Hebrew Bible, and many
think it has the same author. Some even think that this person also wrote
Chronicles.
The
newest event in book of Nehemiah was in 440BC.
The
first 6 chapters in the book describes the first group of Jews that came
together with Zerubbable and in ch.7 Ezra enters.
He
was a scribe well known in the Law of Moses. He had a letter from the King
Artaxerxes who encouraged him to teach the people the law, and rebuild the
Temple. 7.12-28. The people that lived in Jerusalem and the surroundings were
not happy about the rising of the Temple. And they made the people not finish
it, as read more about in Haggai. Ezra was angry on behalf of the peoples sins,
intermarriage and forgetting about God. His intercession on behalf of the
people touched the people. But not much changes happened.
While Ezra was crying in
front of the house of God and praying, and confessing their sin, gathered
around him a large amount of Israelites, men, women and children, and the
people wept bitterly. 10.1
The
teacher the week mentioned that some think that Ezra was the one who put the
First Bible (OT) together. Before Exile they would only read the Pentateuch.
Theme
tracing:
What does the book show
about the character and nature of God?
God
stirred the heart of King Cyrus and the Jews 1.1, 1,5 – Isa 44.26-5.7 also
prophesied this.
His
faithful love for Israel endures forever 3.11
God
has a gracious hand 7.6, 8.18
Gives
security 9.8
Unfailing
love 9.9
Causes
the Persian King to treat His people favorably 9.9
Gave
them wall of protection 9.9
He
is just 9.15
What does this book show
about God´s redemptive plan for mankind?
I
found it hard to find something in this book about God’s redemptive plan – but
the whole idea of the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem, that never became
as good as before- it leaves a longing for a “New temple and new Jerusalem “ – trough Jesus. 1st and 2ndcoming.
Source : SVB, NB, www.biblesiden.no, lecture in class
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