Announcements Make-up and re-take exams on Friday, 12
December, 3:00-5:00, in J 406 Study questions on Blackboard Final exam on Monday, 15 December,
10:30-12:30, in J 237 All questions from units 1-4 taken from previous
exams Review materials for prophets and post-exilic
history are on Blackboard
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art.
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Sources Biblical
Ezra and Nehemiah Narratives Letters Documents Lists
Haggai and Zechariah Esther Malachi
Extra-biblical Herodotus Josephus Persian inscriptions
Archaeological Papyri Official seals with
names
General History of the Period: The Rise of Medo-Persia Review
722 – fall of the north to Assyria (Nineveh) 612 – fall of Nineveh to Babylon 587/6 – fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
Cyrus the Great (559-530) – first return Cambyses (530-522) Darius I (522-486) – Temple completed Xerxes I/Ahasuerus (486-465) – Esther Artaxerxes I (464-425) – Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi
Jerusalem Re-established (539-516)[Ezra’s review of history – chs 1-6]
Cyrus’s edict in 539 Returnees Leadership (royal and priestly lines)
Sheshbazzar Zerubbabel Joshua
Opposition Enemies of Judah and Benjamin Samaritan opposition
Rebuilding and completing the Temple (516)
Esther in a Foreign Court (ca 483) A literary masterpiece built around…
Reversals A long “thread” of biblical allusions – deliverance
at Passover; Amalekites (Agag) A comic portrayal of the Persian court
Key themes Threat to Judaism in the diaspora Hiddenness / Sovereignty of God
Ezra’s Return to Jerusalem (ca. 460)
Ezra 7:1-11 Ezra’s identity
Priest - line of Aaron
Teacher who knew the Torah
His mission
The Reformation (Ezra 7-10; Nehemiah 8-10)
The Problem(s) Ezra’s prayer Punishment of the disobedient Reading the Torah and celebrating the Feast of
Tabernacles Fasting, confession, covenant to keep the Torah The intent of the reform
Prevent another exile from occurring Intermarriage with foreigners would lead to idolatry
Nehemiah the Governor (ca. 444) Identity and character
In the administration of Artaxerxes I A man of faith, prayer, and action
Strengthening Jerusalem’s defenses (chapters1-6)
The reformation with Ezra (chapters 8-10)