Page 56 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

worship of Jehovah centered around the temple and the word of God. The temple and city walls were
rebuilt and the people were renewed and reformed. Esther on the other hand depicts the providential
care of God for those Jews in Persia who did not return to the land. The believing remnant that returned
to Jerusalem was saved through the intervention of God as shown in Esther.

The post-exilic history books demonstrate the faithfulness of God to keep his promises. Just as God had
fulfilled his promise of judgment in the Babylonian captivity (Jer. 25:11-12), He also fulfilled his promise
to restore the Jews to the land (Jer. 29:10-14).
The overall theme of these books may be stated as follows:-
The Jews returning from Exile to Jerusalem---
a. Re-establish worship of God
b. Rebuild the temple
c. Repair the city walls
d. Renew the people
In accordance with the unconditional promise of God
While the Jews had been cured of idolatry in Babylon, they were still not totally obedient to the lord as
these books point out so graphically.

DATES IN THE RESTORATION

538 BC Edict of Cyrus
537 BC Return under Zerubbabel
536 BC Alter and temple foundation built
520 BC Temple work resumed
515-516 BC Temple completed
457-458 BC Ezra’s return
444 BC Nehemiah’s first return
After 432 BC Nehemiah’s second return

EZRA-NEHEMIAH

Both Ezra and Nehemiah are post- exilic books. They focus on the return
of the exiled people of Judah and the other remnants. The author and
date are unknown, but possibly around ca. 400 BCE. Themes include:
Return, Rebuild, Reform Message: To fulfill His covenant promises and
reflect His past saving deeds (exodus), YHWH uses the Persian kings to
return His people to Canaan and rebuild His place (temple and city, but
no visible presence). The repeated need for external reform (religious
and social) points to the need for internal change!

Ezra chapter’s 1-2 focuses on the first return of the exiles. In accord with Scripture- Jer. 29:11, Isa. 45:13,
and consistent with Persian foreign policy Cyrus Cylinder, God raises up Cyrus to allow Judah to return to
their land, rebuild temple. With offerings of others, Cyrus promises to help build the temple, giving back
the vessels taken by Babylonians! In the first return in 538 B.C. ( Exodus, 1:11), about 50,000 people
return under leadership of Joshua- priest and Zerubbabel governor!

Ezra chapter’s 3-6 focuses on rebuilding the temple. As a remnant returns to Zion, they rebuild altar,
resume sacrifice as written in God’s Law. In laying the temple foundation, joy is mixed w/ tears, as its

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