Page 55 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

Study Section 8: Post-exilic Historical Books

8.1 Connect

Does God restore that which was lost or broken? Does he fulfill his promises? Does he provide
for his people? These are three important questions that are answered in the Post-exilic
historical books. God brought back the Jews that were taken to Babylon for 70 years. Some of
them chose to not return but God still provided for them. God restored their hope in his
promises….. Let’s begin our survey

8.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to discuss what the Post-exilic historical books are.

2. The student should be able to answer the important questions such as: what, when, where,
how.

3. The student should be able to l discuss the main message and main divisions of each individual Post-
exilic historical book.

4. The student should be able to describe the applications from the Post-exilic historical books.

8.3 Post-exilic Historical Books

Introduction
Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther comprise a unit of three historical books of the Bible depicting
spiritual, social, political and physical condition during the period immediately following the
end of the Babylonian captivity (i.e. the post-exilic period of Israel’s historical). They cover
the period of approximately 108 years form 538 BC to 430BC.

Haggai and Zachariah ministered as Prophets during the time covered by Ezra, and Malachi ministered
as Prophets during the time covered by Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah are contemporaries (see Neh. 8).
With Nehemiah and Malachi ends the Old Testament period and what follows is 400+ years of silence
broken when john the Baptist appears on the scene as the Old Testament prophet to announce the
coming of messiah.

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Note that the book of Esther fits historically in the 57-year gap between the 6 and 7 chapters of
Ezra.
Just as there were three deportations from Jerusalem to Babylon (605BC [Daniel];597 and 586 BC), there
were three returns from exile.

A. 538BC first return under Zerubbabel [ restoring the temple ] (Ezra 1-6)
B. 458 BC second return under Ezra [reforming the people ] (Ezra 7-10)
C. 444BC third return under Nehemiah [ rebuilding the city walls ] ( Nehemiah )

Both Ezra and Nehemiah (which formed one book with 1 and 2 Chronicles) deal with the Jews who
return to Jerusalem, while the book of Esther deals with Jews who disobediently stayed in Persia rather
than return to Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah emphasize the re-establishing in the life of Judah of the
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