JUNE STUDY - EZRA and NEHEMIAH

Although the caption to Neh 1:1 indicates that Ezra and Nehemiah were originally two separate compositions, they were combined as one very early. Most scholars conclude that the author/compiler of Ezra and Nehemiah was also the author of 1,2 Chronicles. This viewpoint is based on certain characteristics common to both Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah. The Ezra memoirs may be dated c. 440 b.c. and the Nehemiah memoirs c. 430. These were then combined with other materials somewhat later. According to the traditional view, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the seventh year (Ezr 7:8) of Artaxerxes I (458 b.c.), followed by Nehemiah, who arrived in the king’s 20th year (444; Ne 2:1,11). The books of Ezra and Nehemiah relate how God’s covenant people were restored from Babylonian exile to the covenant land as a theocratic (kingdom of God) community even while continuing under Gentile rule. The major theological themes of this account are: 1. The restoration of Israel from exile was God’s doing. He moved the hearts of Persian emperors; he moved the hearts of the repatriates and those who supported them; he raised up prophets to prod and support the repatriates; he protected them on the way and delivered them from their opponents; he stirred up Ezra and Nehemiah to perform their separate ministries; he prospered the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem. 2. The restoration of the covenant community was complete—even though political independence was not attained. “ 3. Just as God used the world powers to judge his people, so he used them to restore his people to their land. 4. Israel’s restoration evoked fierce opposition, but that opposition was thwarted at every turn. 5. The restored community was a chastened people, yet they were also in need of frequent rebuke and reformation. Israel remained a wayward people. (From the KJV Study Bible. Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved.) ************************************************************************************** There are a total of 24 chapters in the 2 combined books. There are 30 days in June, and 22 weekdays. If we read one chapter per day, we will need to also read a chapter on two of the four weekends this month. Please visit the blog page frequently and share any insights or other information that might enrich the reading experience of the rest of us as we try and take in all the blessings that God holds for us in this month's Book!