Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

Question 1

Under the Persian rule, there were three specific returns of Jews to the land of Judah.

Answer 1

1. led by Zerubbabel and involved an initial rebuilding of Jerusalem.
2. led by Ezra who oversaw the reinstitution of the sacrifices.
3. led by Nehemiah and involved the rebuilding of the defensive walls of Jerusalem.

Question 2

Ezra

Answer 2

was a scribe and priest

Question 3

The doctrine of God’s sovereignty

Answer 3

is crucial to the book of Ezra as is shows that God can use a polytheistic king of Persia to make possible His will

Question 4

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are, even now, a reminder for God’s people;

Answer 4

• to highlight worship as their top priority.
• to emphasize the need for and use of God’s Word as the only authoritative rule for living.
• to be concerned about God’s people being seen as holy before the world.

Question 5

Ezra wrote about

Answer 5

the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel.

Question 6

Nehemiah wrote concerning

Answer 6

the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls

Question 7

Leadership in Ezra

Answer 7

• The political leadership of Zerubbabel
• The priestly leadership of Ezra
• The prophetic leadership of Haggai and Zechariah.

Question 8

The spiritual application of the book of Ezra

Answer 8

More than the story of a nations return to God, Ezra is a book about returning and rebuilding and restoring one’s personal relationship with the Lord. As in the time of Ezra, such a journey is not necessarily an easy one and can be filled with backslidings and temptations. But the journey home is worth the effort.

Question 9

Zerubbabel

Answer 9

a direct descendent of David

Question 10

This adventure in building the wall of Jerusalem

Answer 10

can be seen as part of our spiritual walk of balancing being in the world yet not of the world

Question 11

Nehemiah theology demonstrated

Answer 11

Balanced theology between dependence on God and personal discipline: prayer and planning and both sacred and necessary.

Question 12

Opposition quickly arises from several sources

Answer 12

Mockery
Military threat
Conspiracy
Intimidation through false prophets

Question 13

Length to finish God’s wall

Answer 13

The wall is finished in 52 days showing God’s hand in it

Question 14

Esther explains

Answer 14

the origin of the annual festival of Purim

Question 15

Questioning the inclusion of Ester in the Bible

Answer 15

• Purim has never been seen as connecting with Christian truths.
• Some didn’t like the fact that it deals with the Jews who preferred the comforts of Persia rather than returning to Jerusalem.
• God’s covenant name (Yahweh) is not mentioned.
• There is no mention of worship, prayer, or sacrifice (fasting is mentioned).
• Esther receives no mention outside of Scripture in any secular record so far discovered.
• It is not even quoted in the New Testament.

Question 16

last historical book.

Answer 16

Esther

Question 17

Esther is the only book that speaks about

Answer 17

the Jews who were exiled that decided to remain in the lands to which they were exiled.

Question 18

Author of Esther

Answer 18

thought to be Mordecai.

Question 19

Where did the word “Jew” come from?

Answer 19

derived from “Judah” because of the predominance of this tribe.

Question 20

Esther - Salvation History

Answer 20

• God’s unfailing promise to be with and deliver His people, whatever the historical details is evident.
• The gates of hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18).
• This is a documented example of Romans 8:28 being worked out in history.
• Covenantal faithfulness is shown in that God continued to be faithful to his covenant people even when His people refuse to return from their exile.

Question 21

The reader sees

Answer 21

the unusual number of “coincidences”:

Question 22

It’s better to see Esther as

Answer 22

an inspired record of God’s interaction with His people in both judgment and grace toward His overall redemptive plan

Question 23

Esther records

Answer 23

the Amalekite’s final effort in the Old Testament to completely destroy the Jews.

Question 24

How does God act in Esther

Answer 24

not in an overt way, but hidden “in, with, and under” the fumbles and foibles of mankind.