Author : Keith Sharp
Bible Survey : Lesson Sixteen (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi)
536 B.C. – 400 B.C.
In 536 B.C. Israel was scattered throughout the Persian Empire, which covered the greatest land area of any Middle Eastern Empire up to this time, about two million square miles, roughly two thirds the size of the lower forty-eight States of America. But the time had come for a remnant to be restored to the Land of Promise, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses (Deuteronomy 30:1-5), Isaiah (Isaiah 44:21-45:7), and Jeremiah 25:11-12; 27:19-22; 29:10).
Zerubbabel
In 538 B.C. Cyrus, King of Persia, issued the decree for willing Jews to return and rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. A great contribution was made by the Jews and by Cyrus to accomplish this. Forty-two thousand three hundred sixty Jews returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel the governor. The Gentile populace of the land wanted to help, but Zerubbabel rejected them. They then opposed the work by discouraging the Jews and by hiring counselors to write the kings of Persia to try to get the work stopped. This opposition continued even after the time of Zerubbabel and into the reign of Artaxerxes I (465-425 B.C.). They succeeded in temporarily halting the building of the Temple, but Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the people, encouraging them to finish the Temple. Under Zerubbabel’s leadership the Jews resumed the work, overcame opposition, and completed the Temple in 515 B.C. The people joyfully worshiped God.
Esther
King Xerxes, known as “Ahasuerus” in Esther, ruled Persia from 485 to 464 B.C. He deposed his queen, Vashti, just before setting off in a great, spectacularly unsuccessful attempt to conquer Greece. Upon his return he conducted an empire wide beauty contest to select a new queen. The Jewish orphan girl Hadassah (Esther), raised by her cousin Mordecai, won, and became the Queen of Persia in 483 B.C.
Wicked Haman, the king’s next in command, not knowing the queen was Jewish, planned the destruction of all the Jews. This was the greatest threat the descendants of Israel ever faced. Esther bravely foiled wicked Haman’s scheme, the Jews were saved, many Gentiles were converted, the Jews’ enemies were killed, and Mordecai replaced Haman as the king’s adviser. God cares for His people, where ever they are, throughout the whole world.
Ezra
Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon with a large number of Jews in 458 B.C. He was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, an expert in the Law, and a priest. He had diligently prepared himself to keep and to teach God’s Law. He was commissioned by King Artaxerxes I of Persia in 458 B.C. to go from Babylon to Jerusalem to provide the finances to restore the worship of God in the Temple and to beautify the Temple, to set up rulers over Palestine, and to teach the people the Law of Moses.
Ezra was dismayed to find that the people, including many of the priests, had intermarried with the pagan inhabitants of the land, repeating the very mistake that began Israel’s downfall under Solomon five centuries earlier. Under Ezra’s leadership the people put away their foreign wives.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia, who appointed him governor of Judah for twelve years, from 445 to 433 B.C. and then allowed him to return as governor again. Nehemiah loved his people the Jews deeply and was a man of prayer, courage, tireless energy in working for the Lord, extraordinary zeal for the Law of God, and generosity. Above all, he was a man of deep faith.
Nehemiah was serving the king in Shushan (Susa) the capital of Persia in 445 BC when word came to him of the desperate conditions of the Jews in Judah. Nehemiah wept, mourned, and prayed to God about this problem. King Artaxerxes granted his request to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. He was immediately opposed by the Gentiles in Palestine, led by Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab. After secretly surveying the situation at night, Nehemiah revealed his plans to the leaders of the people. The people were willing to work and rebuilt the walls and gates of the city in an astonishing fifty-two days! In doing so they overcame the opposition of their enemies manifested in mockery, threats, offers of compromise, and lies. They also had to overcome the sins of their own nobles, some of whom did not join in the work. The people accomplished this great task because God was with them and because they worked willingly. The Jews were then able to dwell safely in Jerusalem and in their cities around Palestine.
When this great work was completed, Ezra read and expounded the Law to the people. A great holy day was proclaimed, and the festival of booths was celebrated in a manner unknown since the days of Joshua. Israel separated themselves from foreigners and confessed their sins to God. Ezra led the people in renewing the covenant with the Lord and in supporting the priests and Levites. The leaders of the people and another tenth of the people were selected to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city. The wall was dedicated with joy, and the Levites and priests received their portions.
Finally, Nehemiah, upon his return from Shushan, separated all Gentiles from the Temple, insured that the priests and Levites would be supported, restored the Sabbath, and forbade the people to marry the pagans of the land.
Around this time the prophet Malachi tried to revive the Jews from their lethargy by pleading with them to return to God..
Thus the Old Testament history comes to an end with the restoration of national Israel to the land. Zerubbabel rebuilt the Temple, Ezra restored the Law, and Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
