Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

Question 1

Under the Persian rule, what were the three specific returns of Jews to the land of Judah?

Answer 1

1. The first was led by Zerubbabel and involved an initial rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple.
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

What was Ezra?

Answer 2

Ezra was a scribe and priest

Question 3

Of what was Doctrine and what did it show in the book of Ezra?

Answer 3

The doctrine of God’s sovereignty is crucial to the book of Ezra as is shows that God can use a polytheistic king of Persia to make his will possible.

Question 4

What are the books of Ezra and Nehemiah a reminder of 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

What did Ezra write about?

Answer 5

Ezra wrote about the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel.

Question 6

What did Nehemiah write about?

Answer 6

Nehemiah wrote concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.

Question 7

What does the book of Ezra deal with the spiritual, moral, and social restoration of the returned remnant in Jerusalem under?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is the spiritual application of the book of Ezra?

Answer 8

More than the story of a nation’s return to God, Ezra is a book about returning and rebuilding and restoring one’s personal relationship with the Lord.

Question 9

Who is Zerubbabel a direct descendant of?

Answer 9

Zerubbabel, a direct descendant of David

Question 10

What can the adventure in building the wall of Jerusalem be seen as?

Answer 10

This adventure in building the wall of Jerusalem can be seen as part of our spiritual walk of balancing being in the world yet not of the world.

Question 11

What does Nehemiah Demonstrate?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Where does opposition arise from in the reconstruction of the wall?

Answer 12

• Mockery
• Military threat
• Conspiracy
• Intimidation through false prophets

Question 13

How long did it take to build the wall?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What does the book of Esther explain?

Answer 14

This book explains the origin of the annual festival of Purim.

Question 15

What is Questioning the inclusion of Esther 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 (however the spiritual discipline fasting is mentioned).
• Esther receives no mention outside of Scripture in any secular record so far discovered.
• It is not quoted in the New Testament.

Question 16

What book is the last historical book?

Answer 16

Esther is the last historical book.

Question 17

What book is the only book that speaks about the Jews who were exiled that decided to remain in the lands to which they were exiled?

Answer 17

Esther is the only book that speaks about the Jews who were exiled that decided to remain in the lands to which they were exiled.

Question 18

Who is the author of Esther?

Answer 18

The author is thought to be Mordecai.

Question 19

What was the word Jew Derived from and why?

Answer 19

The word “Jew” was derived from “Judah” because of the predominance of this tribe.

Question 20

What is Esther not just being about God’s Providence but a real 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.
• God’s covenantal faithfulness is shown in that God continued to be faithful to his people even when His people refuse to return from their exile.
• The reader sees the unusual number of “coincidences”:
• It’s better to see Ester as an inspired record of God’s interaction with His people as part of his overall redemptive plan.

Question 21

What does Esther record about the final effort in the Old Testament?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Does God act in the book of Esther?

Answer 22

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