Ezra and Nehemiah

Timeline

Background Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book. The text joins his coming to Jerusalem with the reign of Artaxerxes Nehemiah and Ezra could have been contemporaries 3 different Artaxerxes could have been in power In 722 BCE Israel in the north (i.e., Samaria) had finally given way to Assyrian aggression. Assyria herself was eventually overrun by the Babylonians in 612 BCE The Babylonians repeatedly attacked Judah’s capital, Jerusalem, finally laying siege to it and exiling many people in 586 BCE. Persia became new super-power in 539 BCE of the Near East. The Persians, however, maintained a different policy toward conquered peoples, permitting them to return to their homelands.

Ezra Ch. 1-6 (First Group)  In Chapters 1-6, a relatively small number of Jews return to the city of Jerusalem and immediately prepare to construct the new temple. They began the planning, the gathering of materials, and the beginning of construction. The building drags on because the surrounding enemies begin oppressing and frightening them through mostly letters back and forth Twenty years later, it is completed thanks to King Darius’ help

Ezra Ch. 7-10 (Second Group) From chapters 7-10, the second group of Jews returns to Israel. Ezra is included in this return. Ezra enters the scene, armed with a letter from King Artaxerxes that gave him the authority to lead Israel in its religious observances. Begins by teaching Law but specifically problems with intermarriage and addresses the pagan women who brought their religious practices with them. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (7:10), what a great example to follow!

Nehemiah (Ch. 1-13) The book of Nehemiah begins with King Artaxerxes sending Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. Nehemiah 3 gives a detailed description of the various gates of the walls Helping them to understand something of the topography of Jerusalem at the time. Opposition to rebuilding the wall, as surrounding nations nervous of the power that could come. Nehemiah also includes a number of lists that are of interest to historians: those who returned from Babylon, those who agreed to the religious reforms initiated by Ezra reading the Torah in the presence of all the people, the new residents of Jerusalem the priests and Levites.