Ezra-Nehemiah

Purpose
Ezra and Nehemiah demonstrate Gods faithfulness in restoring the people to the Promised Land after the Babylonian captivity.

Authorship & Genre

In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah form a single book telling the united story of the peoples return to the land. The book consists primarily of first-hand narrative accounts written by Ezra and Nehemiah themselves. There are also a number of significant historiographical materials included, such as detailed records of the people who returned.

Key Verse

Ezra 1:2-3: Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. (NASB)

Structure
1 Zerubbabel Rebuilding of the Temple 6 7 Ezra Addressing Intermarriage 10 1 Nehemiah Rebuilding of the City Walls 7 8 Ezra Renewal of the Covenant Book of Nehemiah 10 11 Nehemiah Repopulation and Dedication 13

Book of Ezra

Theological Themes

Gods Providence: Throughout the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, it is God who receives credit for Israels return to the land. Scripture: 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 (Ezra 7:10). Commitment to the scriptures and to the Law of Moses is presented as the key to the peoples success in returning to the land. Separation: Intermarriage and association with their idolatrous neighbors was what led to Israels captivity in Babylon. In returning to the land, their demonstrated extreme, sometimes Pharisaical care to separate themselves from their neighbors to avoid making the same mistake.