Session # 10. Encountering the Exile

Covering the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

(& Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi )

1 2 3Fall of Samaria & 1st Return fromAssyrian captivity captivity: 538BC

ISRAEL 722BC

Jonah? Amos Hosea

Fall of Jerusalem & Babylonian captivity

586BC Zechariah Malachi JUDAH Haggai

Joel? Isaiah NahumMicah Zephaniah

Habakkuk DanielObadiah Jeremiah Ezekiel

Before the exile During exile After the exile

Temple rebuilt 516 BC

Ezra 458 BCEzra 458 BCNehemiah 444 BCNehemiah 444 BC

Nebuchadnezzar II comes to power (in Babylon)605 – 562 BCE (43 years)

1st deportation 605(Summer)Daniel (& other teenage Hebrew nobles) taken to Babylon.

2nd deportation 59710,000 more captives taken (cf. 2 Kings 24:14-16)

3rd deportation 586Jerusalem razed, remainder of people taken,

(apart from the “poor of the land” cf. 2 Kings 25:11-12)

Fall of Jerusalem July, 586

(Three other successive Babylonian kings, 562-556)

Nabonidus (Belshazzar, his son) 556 – 539

Neo Babylonian (Chaldean) Empire

16th century depiction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (by Martin Heemskerck). The Tower of Babel is visible in the background.

Fall of Babylon (to Cyrus II, the Great) Oct., 539 BCE

Cyrus II the Great, ruled 550–529 BCECambyses II, his son, ruled 530–522 (& Smerdis 522)Darius I the Great, son of Hystaspes, ruled 522–486Xerxes I, his son, ruled 486–465Artaxerxes I, his son, ruled 465–424

Following these rulers the Persian Empire gradually lost it’s power and influence, until Darius III is eventually defeated by Alexander (the Great) in 331 BCE.

Decree of Cyrus the Great. (2 Chr. 36; Ezra 1 & 6)

1st return 538 BCE (during 2nd year of Cyrus’ reign - led by Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel & Joshua)

Work on temple stops (for 17 years/till Darius’ reign)

Messages of Haggai & Zechariah

Story of Esther (during 3rd year of Xerxes’ reign)

2nd return 458 BCE (during the 7th year of Artaxerxes’ reign - led by Ezra the priest & teacher, cf. Ez. 7:11)

3rd return 445 BCE (during the 20th year of Artaxerxes’ reign - led by Nehemiah the governor)

Zerubbabel (grandson of Jehoiachin/ descendant of David – Matthew 1:12)

Ezra (a priest, scribe & teacher/ descendant of Aaron the first high priest)

Nehemiah (a politician, administrator & governor)Joshua/ Jeshua (a high priest)Esther (a Jewish orphan who marries Xerxes)Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi/ Hebrew prophets

Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes/ Persian kings

Politically

Socially

Morally

Spiritually

Re-establish it…

Restore it…

Reform it…

Revive it…

Return & rebuilding of the Temple (Chaps. 1-6)

Decree of Cyrus

List of returning exiles Rebuilding of the altar Rebuilding of the temple Opposition & delay Completion & dedication Celebration of Passover

Ezra’s return & reforms of the people(Chaps.7-10)

Letter of Artaxerxes

Ezra’s mission (458 BCE)…58 yrs after temple built

List of leaders Ezra’s prayer (holiness) Confession of sins

Restore a place of sacrifice (to God) – 3:1-6Restore a place of worship (of God) – 3:7-13

Expect opposition!Listen to the voice of God (Haggai & Zechariah)

Restore a place of service (for God) – 6:13-18Restore a place of relationship (with God) –

6:19-22

“This Ezra” Chs. 7-10…devoted himself to study/ observance of Law

…a teacher well-versed in Law of Moses

…the hand of the LORD his God was upon himLetter of Artaxerxes (458 BCE)

List of (1500) heads of families who returnedActual account of the return (Ch. 8)Ezra’s prayer of intercession (repentance)Corporate confession of sin by the people

The confession

The covenant

The commitment

** God-ordained divorce **

Chapters 1-2:10 Nehemiah the cupbearer

Chapters 2:11-7:3 Nehemiah the builder

Chapters 7:4-13:31 Nehemiah the governor

Rebuilding of the wallChs. 1-6

1. Preparation

2. Reconstruction

Builders Opposition Problems Completion

Restoration of the people Chs. 7-13

1. Renewal of the covenant Reading of the law Confession of the people Pledges of the people

2. Reformation of the people Resettlement Registration of priests Dedication of wall Further reforms

King of Persia (465-425 BCE)3rd son of Xerxes 1 (husband to Esther) & AmestrisFather murdered (465). He then has 2 brothers murdered.Major revolts: Egypt & Athenians (460) & Syria (448)Surnamed “longimanus” (right hand longer than left)

Jewish letters:Request for him to order work on the city to cease – granted

(Ezra 4:7ff.) - sometime between 465-458.Letter granting Ezra permission to return & offer worship to

Yahweh (Ezra 7 – cf. v23) – 458.Permission granting Nehemiah to return & rebuild walls of

Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1-9) – 445.Further permission for Nehemiah to return (13:6) 433.

Nehemiah had a clear understanding of the need

was personally concerned with the need

took the need to God (in prayer)

was available to help meet the need

PRAYER (“For some days I mourned, fasted & prayed”)

…makes me wait

…stills my heart

…clears my vision

…activates my faith

Preparation for building

Inspection of the city (at night) investigationExhorted the people (“come”) motivationRecognized the opposition determinationOrganized the workforce cooperation

Criticism:Ridicule (v.1-2)Sarcasm (v. 3)Frustrate (v.7-9)Discouragement (v.10-12)

How to deal with it!Turn to God in prayerKeep your hand to the taskStay united & focused Take care of your workers & celebrate

successes

Reading the law of GodHaving a broken heartReflection on the goodness of GodRecognition of our inherent sinfulnessRenewal of our obedience (covenant)

in our relationships/ at homein our workplacein our place of worship

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Nehemiah 2:8

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.. Nehemiah 2:18

Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. Ezra 7:6

He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. Ezra 7:9

Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7:28

Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man… Ezra 8:18

We had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” Ezra 8:22

God always initiates prayer (through word & deed)

We approach God in humility (& worship)We acknowledge our sins & the sins of our forbears

(to remove the obstacles)We appeal to the grace & mercy of GodWe are specific in our requestsWe commit to faith, trust & obedience

…& at times we just keep “shooting arrows”

cf. Ezra 5:1; 6:14

1. Rebuild my house

“At this time…I am with you” (1:13)

2. Messiah will come to my house“In this place…I will grant peace to you”

(2:9)

3. Reform your hearts“From this day on…I will bless you” (2:19)

4. Messiah will be king“On that day…I have chosen you” (2:23)

Visions 520 BCE

1.Man on a red horse (1:7-17)

2.Four craftsmen/ four horns (1:18-21)

3.Man with measuring line (2:1-13)

4.Joshua/ “the branch” (clean garments) 3:1-10

5.Gold lampstand/ two olive trees (4:1-14)

6.Flying scroll (5:1-4)

7.Woman in a basket (5:5-11)

8.Four chariots (6:1-8)

9.Joshua/ “the branch” (crown) 6:9-15

Words 518 BCE

Why you went into exile (chs. 7-8) Exile will soon be over! (cf. Ezra 6:13-18)

The LORD has spoken (chs. 9-10) The LORD is coming The LORD will appear The LORD will save

The Shepherd-King (chs. 11-13) He will come He will judge He will die (to save) He will reign

The key characters:

Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) the kingVashti the queenMordecai the good guyHaman the bad guyEsther the heroine

& God?& God?

** The only book in Hebrew scriptures not found in the Dead Sea Scrolls!

4:12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

The person of God covenantsalvation-history

The people of God faithobediencecourage

The experience of Godthrough worship (Temple)through prayer (Wall)through scripture (Law)

“God’s unchanging love”

The significance of the book

The setting for the book

The style of the book

Insincere worship

Corrupt leadership

Compromising idolatry

Marital infidelity

Social injustice

Repent & return

“Descendants of Jacob, I am the LORD, the all-powerful one, and I never change.

That's why you haven't been wiped out, even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you.”

To look back & remember

(God’s promise of what he has done)

To look forward & prepare

(God’s promise of what he will do)

The Messenger (cf. Matt. 3):

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

"So I will come near to you for judgment.“ (3:1-5)

The Messiah"Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All

the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of right-eousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty. (4:1-3)

The Messenger"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that

great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (4:5-6)