Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

Question 1

What were the three specific returns of Jews to the land of Judah under Persian rule? (ezra)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Who was Ezra?

Answer 2

A scribe and priest

Question 3

Doctrine of God’s Sovereignty (Ezra)

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, even now, a reminder of to God’s people?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Book of Ezra deals with three different leadership

Answer 5

Political Leadership- Zerubbabel
Priestly leader ezra
Prophetic leadership- Haggai and Zechariah

Question 6

Spiritual application of the book of Ezra?

Answer 6

More than a story of a nations return to God. Ezra is a book about the returning, 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 backsliding and temptations. But the journey home is worth the effort.

Question 7

Zerubbabel (Ezra)

Answer 7

A direct descendant of David

Question 8

What did Ezra write about?

Nehemiah?

Answer 8

rebuilding the temple under Zerubbabel

concerning rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls

Question 9

Building the wall of Jerusalem can be seen as? (neh)

Answer 9

part of our spiritual walk, of balancing being in the world but not of the world.

Question 10

What does Nehemiah demonstrates ?

Answer 10

a balanced theology between dependence on God and personal discipline: prayer and planning and both sacred and necessary

Question 11

What problems may arise when we try and grow closer to God? (neh)

Answer 11

Mockery
Military Threat
Conspiracy
Intimidation through false prophets

Question 12

Significance about the wall? (neh)

Answer 12

It was finished in 52 days, showing God’s hand in it

Question 13

What does the book of Esther explain?

Answer 13

explains the origin of the annual festival of Purim

Question 14

Why Esther was included in the Bible?

Answer 14

~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 15

What is Esther the last of?

Answer 15

Historical book

Question 16

Esther is the only book that speaks about?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Who is the author of Eshter thought to be?

Answer 17

Mordecai

Question 18

The word “Jew” was derived from?

Answer 18

“Judah” because of the predominance of this tribe

Question 19

Esther is not just about God’s prominence, but about (in relation to Salvation History?

Answer 19

~God’s unfailing promise to be with and deliver His people, whatever the historical details is evedent.
~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 20

In Ester how does God act?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

It’s better to see Ester as an inspired record of God’s interaction with His people in both …

Answer 21

judgment and grace toward His overall redemptive plan.

Question 22

In Esther there are an unusually number of ?

Answer 22

“coincidences”

Question 23

What does Esther record about the Amalekites?

Answer 23

Their final effort in the Old Testament to completely destroy the Jews