Summary: These six books walk through the repopulation of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple and the wall of the city, but the journey of rebuilding a city fades in comparison to the difficulty in restoring a people. The struggle in these final books reflects a compromise at the highest level of spiritual leadership that then influences the masses. Ezra Author Uncertain. Hebrew tradition says Ezra is the strongest candidate, although internal evidence points to the usage of memoirs by both Ezra and Nehemiah. Date Likely approx. 450-440 B.C., after Ezra’s time in Jerusalem and during the time of Nehemiah. Theme Israel’s Return This is Israel's return from Babylon to rebuild the temple, and their return to social and spiritual reform. Additional Info Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in both the Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) Old Testament. Ezra is written as a historical record and picks up where Chronicles leaves off. It makes no prophetic claims at all. Chapters 1-6 relate the efforts of the Israelites, under the direction of Zerubbabel, along with the prophets Zechariah and Haggai, to rebuild the temple. Chapters 7-10 relate the return of Ezra the priest with the Levites and the spiritual reformations that take place under Ezra’s leadership. © Dr. Rick Taylor Esther Author Unknown. Ezra, Nehemiah and Mordecai are good candidates. Date 484-473 B.C. between when the first and second remnants returned to Jerusalem. Theme Israel’s Deliverance Israel was delivered from zealous bigots and from a strong-willed king, through a faithful woman who became queen of Babylon. Additional Info The book of Esther takes place between chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra. The Jewish people are in exile, scattered throughout the great Media-Persian Empire. The purpose of the book was to encourage and comfort the scattered Jews and to explain and trace the origin of the Feast of Purim. © Dr. Rick Taylor Nehemiah Author Uncertain. Hebrew tradition suggests Ezra as the strongest candidate as the author and compiler, possibly including memoirs originally written by Nehemiah. Date Likely approx. 416-400 B.C. Theme Israel’s Rebuilding This is a rebuilding in Nehemiah’s heart, with Nehemiah’s plan, of the wall, and of city and national infrastructure, in spite of much opposition. Additional Info Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in both the Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) Old Testament. Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem in 445 B.C., taking the third wave of exiles with him. He stayed in Jerusalem for 12 years, rebuilding the wall, leading the people, igniting a spiritual fervor in the people and creating a unified community. When Nehemiah went back to Persia, the people quickly fell back into their sin and he was grieved by the extent of their sin that had developed in such a short time. He returned to Jerusalem in 420 B.C. and worked to clean up the mess they had made. © Rick Taylor Haggai Author Haggai, the prophet. Date 520 B.C. during the second year of the reign of Darius, the Mede. The Dead Sea Scrolls verify this dating. Theme God’s Returning Promises These are God's promises to those who have returned from captivity to rebuild the temple, that He will bless their obedience. Additional Info Haggai’s name means “festive” and he was a contemporary of Zechariah. Their message was a reminder to the people of the main reason they had been sent back to Jerusalem. They challenged and warned the people to refocus and finish God’s temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in 586 B.C. The new, much smaller temple was finished in 516 B.C. © Dr. Rick Taylor Zechariah Author Zechariah, the prophet, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the priest. Date 520 B.C. during the second year of the reign of Darius, the Mede. The Dead Sea Scrolls verify this dating. Theme God’s Promised Messiah The promised Messiah is coming to build His Kingdom and restore unity; He will be
