The Post-Exilic Bible Books
The Context of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
Jul 25, 2009
The final part of Old Testament history covers the post-exilic period after the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon and, later, Persia. There are six books which deal with this period, three are historical: Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, and three are prophetic: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
There were three main stages of the return from captivity. Robert Boyd, in World's Bible Handbook (1983) lists the dates as follows: in around 534 BC, 49,897 people returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2), then, in 457 BC, another group returned led by Ezra (Ezra 7). Finally, circa 445 BC, Nehemiah returned.
The Post-Exilic Kingdoms
The story of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah seemed as if it had reached its conclusion at the end of the books of Chronicles, the tide of the mighty empire of Babylon had finally washed these two small, weak kingdoms away, the people uprooted from their land and integrated into the vast mix of the Babylonians.
The ascension of the empire of the Medes and Persians, under Darius, could only make the situation more complicated, with even less possibility of the survival of what had been called God's special people.
Cyrus Changes the Policy
Then, around 536 BC, the Persian emperor, Cyrus, changed the policy of the empire. He decided that the best way to keep the many nationalities in his empire happy was to give them the option of returning to their own land.
His decree, recorded in Ezra 1:1-4, demonstrates that he was particularly thinking of the Jews, maybe through his contact with Daniel, who held an important position in his court.
Return Under Zerubbabel
The first part of the book of Ezra records the initial return of a group of people under the leadership of Zerubbabel, who was a direct descendant of the kings of Judah.
This group of people arrived in Jerusalem and began to rebuild the temple, the centre of Jewish religion and the representation of the presence of God with his people.
Unfortunately the people who had lived in the land during the captivity, opposed the building project, and the work soon stopped, while the people worked on establishing themselves in the land with houses and livelihoods.
Haggai and Zechariah
It is at this point that the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah come in. These men spoke to the people about the importance of rebuilding the temple.
Their message was that if the Lord was returned to a central position in their lives, then he would bless them. They also looked forward to a glorious new era when the Messiah would come and restore the people of God. These preachers were effective, work was resumed and the temple was finished.
Ezra the Preacher
As a whole generation passed, however, there was no sign of the glorious new era and the people began to return to their old ways and forget the Lord. This is where Ezra came in.
Ezra led another group of exiles back to Jerusalem while Artaxerxes was the Persian ruler. He had a teaching role, proclaiming to the people the laws of God and persuading them to be faithful to these laws.
Nehemiah the Builder
Nehemiah's return had a different focus, he wanted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to protect the city from the enemies all around. His leadership skills inspired the people and the project was completed in a remarkable time. Malachi is the final voice in the Old Testament. His message demonstrated that all was not well among the Jews, but pointed forward to the coming Messiah in the future.
Esther the Saviour
The book of Esther also comes within this period. Focused on the way the entire Jewish nation was saved through a family who had decided not to return to Jerusalem, it is a study of the unusual ways that God works his plans.
A Time of Hopes
The period after the return of the Jews from exile was a time when there were huge hopes of a return to the glorious days of the kingdoms of David and Solomon. Unfortunately these hopes were never fulfilled, and Jerusalem remained an insignificant tributary state. The prophecies of Haggai, Zechriah and MAlachi, however, point to a glorious future still to come - as revealed in the New Testament.
References:
Robert Boyd, World's Bible Handbook (1983)
 |
