Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah

XX

EZRA AND NEHEMIAH – AN INTRODUCTION HELPS COMMENDED

(1) Hurlbut’s "Bible Atlas."

(2) The "Pulpit Commentary."

(3) Articles in the Popular and Critical Encyclopedia.

(4) "Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible" on "Ezra and Nehemiah."

The subject of this discussion is "The Restoration of Israel until the rebuilding of the Temple." The history of this period in the life of Israel is contained in the books known as Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

By comparing the last verses of 2 Chronicles with the first of the book of Ezra we observe that these books are simply a continuation of the history of the book of Chronicles. Since many of the same words are repeated in both it indicates that the latter is simply a continuation of the former history. Formerly Ezra and Nehemiah constituted one book. They were so regarded in all the earlier editions of the Hebrew Bible. The Massarites always appended them to Chronicles. The Talmud speaks of them as one book, called "The Book of Ezra." Jerome speaks of them as one book, called "The Book of Esdras."

Ezra was written by Ezra, the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles, in the fifth century B.C., about the middle of the century. Nehemiah was written by Nehemiah a few years later, perhaps 431-430 B.C. The Apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Esdras cover the same period of Israelitish history. 1 Esdras especially is a repetition of much of the material found in Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books, Ezra and Nehemiah, consist of historical accounts, written by the authors named and contain personal memoirs by both Ezra and Nehemiah as is shown by the use of the first personal pronoun and genealogical tables. They are simple, plain history and a striking thing about them is that there is no record of a miracle in them, though there seems to have been some occasion for miracles, since the Jews were so oppressed and depressed. A portion of the book of Ezra is still in Aramaic. The sections referred to are Ezra 4:6-8:18 and Ezra 7:12-26. This is accounted for in a most natural way, viz: The Hebrew had assumed the form of the Chaldee during the captivity.

Ezra was a thoroughly earnest, God-fearing, man-loving priest and scribe without a flaw, and with authority under the king. Nehemiah was a zealous, enterprising, pious cupbearer to Artaxerxes and governor of Judah. In the history of Ezra and Nehemiah we have an account of the Persian period of Jewish life. We have preceding this period the early Babylonian, the Assyrian, and the later Babylonian periods. Israel was in subjection to two of those great nations. Under each of them there was a great modification of national life. These nations were Semitic. Persia was of the Aryan race. Cyrus, the great Persian king, was of Aryan blood; he was generous, free, liberty loving and progressive. The Semitic world had no such king to this time.

The time covered by the book of Ezra was seventy-nine years, by Nehemiah, twelve years, and the time between them was twelve years. The whole time covered by the two books and the interval between was 103 years. During this time six Persian kings appeared, viz:

1. Cyrus, 537-529 B.C., or 8 yrs.

2. Cambyses (Ahasuerus) 529-522 B.C., or 7 yrs.

3. Smeirdis, 8 or 10 months

4. Darius Hystaspes, 522-487 B.C., or 35 yrs.

5. Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 486-466 B.C., or 20 yrs.

6. Artaxerxes Longimanus, 465-424 B.C., or 41 yrs.

This gives a total of 111 years of Persian rule. The purpose of these books is to give a history of re-establishment of God’s people in the land. The general contents of the book of Ezra are as follows:

1. Ezra 1:1-4:5: This portion tells of the decree of Cyrus, the first return, gives the lists of the heads of the families, the getting up of the altar for worship, the arrangements for sacrifice, the efforts to rebuild the Temple and the opposition on the part of the Samaritans.

2. Ezra 5-6: The people roused by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah begin the rebuilding of the Temple under leadership of Joshua, the Priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor; enemies try to stop them but Darius the King respects the decree of Cyrus, and the Temple is completed and dedicated about 516 B.C.

3. Ezra 7-10: These treat of a return of Ezra with a larger company, the decree of Artaxerxes, empowering him to perform his mission, and the divorcing of the foreign wives.. This occurred about 457 B.C., nearly sixty years after the first return.

4. Nehemiah 1:1-7:72: Nehemiah received permission from Artaxerxes to be governor of Judea and to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He inspects the city by night, organizes for the work and in spite of every opposition fortifies the city and completes the walls by 444 B.C.

5. Nehemiah 7:73-10:39: Ezra and Nehemiah promulgate the law. The people make a covenant and all the leaders are sealed. A great confession is made by the people, and Judaism is now finally established, and the people to a man pledge themselves to observe the law of Moses in all its details.

6. Nehemiah 11:1-12:26: This contains a list very similar to that found in Ezra 2, and in the Apocryphal book, First Esdras.

7. Nehemiah 12:27-13:3: Dedication of the walls of Jerusalem and the completion of the Temple service, probably occurring 444 B.C.

8. Nehemiah 13:4-31: Nehemiah’s second visit to Jerusalem about 432 B.C. and his reformatory measures.

The first return of the people from Babylon was to rebuild the Temple, a religious purpose solely. The second return, under Ezra, was to re-establish the law of Moses in all its details and rigor. The third expedition, under Nehemiah, was to rebuild the walls of the city. Thus the mission at first was purely religious, but the mission of Nehemiah was both religious and civil.

In all this revival of Judaism Ezra is the chief figure. It may be called the Pentecost of Judaism. The law of Moses seemed to be a new law, as at the great revival in the time of the Reformation, the Bible seemed to be a new book. The revival under Ezra established Judaism. It was brought about by the people seeking to do God’s will, by the keeping of the Law, and thus living in fellowship with God. There was a certain grandeur in it. They sought to live so that every act of life was regulated by and according to the will of God. The following are fine, brief outlines of Ezra and Nehemiah (not my own):

EZRA – RETURNING REMNANT

I. Zerubbabel, I-VI
1. Return, Ezra 1-2

2. Reorganization, Ezra 3-6

II. Ezra, VII-X
1. Return, Ezra 7-8

2. Reformation, Ezra 9-10

NEHEMIAH – REORGANIZATION

I. Rebuilding the Walls, I-VII
1. Initiation, Nehemiah 1-2

2. Operation, Nehemiah 3-5

3. Consummation. Nehemiah 6-7

II. Reading the Law, VIII-X
1. Information, Nehemiah 8

2. Invocation, Nehemiah 9

3. Consecration, Nehemiah 10

III. Resettlement of the Cities, XI-XIII
1. Population, Nehemiah 11:1-12:26

2. Dedication, Nehemiah 12:27-13:3

3. Reformation, Nehemiah 13:4-31

QUESTIONS

1. What is the name of this period of Jewish history?

2. What books contain the history of this period?

3. What was their relation to the book of Chronicles and what the proof?

4. What relation of Ezra and Nehemiah and how regarded by the earlier Hebrews as indicated in their Bible?

5. What testimony of the Talmud and Jerome?

6. Who was the author of each, respectively, and when was each written?

7. What was the general character of these and what one striking thing about their history?

8. What Apocryphal books cover the same period of Israelitish history?

9. In what languages were these books written and how may we account for the fact?

10. What was the position and character of the author of each of these books, respectively?

11. During the Old Testament History from Abraham to Ezra what four great Oriental empires arose and how does the one in power during this period compare with the preceding ones?

12. What time was covered by each book and what Persian king reigned during this time?

13. What was the purpose of these books?

14. What general contents of these books and what brief outline of each?