The Exiles Return- Ezra 1-10, Nehemiah 1-13

Notes

  • Restoration & Rebuilding
Jeremiah prophesied that the exile in Babylon would last 70 years (see Jeremiah 25:12;29:10). It actually lasted a little more than half that long. In 538 B.C. Babylon was defeated by the Persians, led by King Cyrus.
Cyrus issued an edict to let God’s people return to Jerusalem and even helped fund the rebuilding of the Temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzer (see Ezra 1:2-4; 6:3-5; Isaiah 44:24,28; 45:1-3,13).
The remnant that returned to Jerusalem was not necessarily the most pious and God-fearing people. The prophet Malachi gives us a unique window on the spiritual state of the returning exiles - decrying the corruption of the priesthood and the moral laxity of the ordinary people.
The full story of the return of Judah and the restoration of Jerusalem is told in the books ofEzra and Nehemiah. If you want to reconstruct the history of this period, read the books in this order: Ezra 1-6; Nehemiah 1-7, 11-13; Ezra 7-10; Nehemiah 8-10.


Summary


  • Restoration & Rebuilding


Questions


  1. Who allowed God's people, after seventy in exile, to return to Jerusalem to rebuils the temple?
  2. Who oversaw the beginning of the construction of the temple?
  3. How is it that God reveals himself even to Cyrus, king of Persia?
  4. How did Ezra deal with the people's transgression?
  5. How did the people themselves deal with their transgression?
  6. Why did Nehemiah leave his job to go to Jerusalem?
  7. What two aspects of Christian prayer are evident in Ezra's prayer? 



Bibligraphy
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