Ezra & Nehemiah: Quick Summary
Jun. 6th, 2011 11:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
csberryThese two books used to be a single work. They tell essentially one story in three parts (two make up Ezra, while the third is Nehemiah). The story is the return of the Israelites from Babylon to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the city and the people as a nation.
The first part involves a decree from King Cyrus of the Persian Empire directing that a group of Israelites return to Jerusalem and rebuilt a temple to God there.
The second part tells the story of Ezra, a priest, who was sent to rebuild the Jewish community in Jerusalem and to re-establish the laws of Moses there. Some of the primary actions that took place were the purging of foreign/pagan-worshiping people and spouses from the city. This portion of Ezra is told in the first person.
The third part is about Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem, how he directed the Israelites to rebuild the walls and gates around the city. They did this despite the threat of other local groups to invade and tear down their work. The end of Nehemiah tells of how the work was completed, but soon thereafter, the people start slipping away from the Law.
These two books not only contain the narrative story but also supposed decrees of the Persian rulers and numerous lists. Oh, my...the author of these books loved listing families and census numbers along with lots of details about the new temple and how the rebuilding of the walls were divided up. There were periods where I was cruising along the story and then rolled my eyes upon hitting a chapter or two of inventory/lists.
The first part involves a decree from King Cyrus of the Persian Empire directing that a group of Israelites return to Jerusalem and rebuilt a temple to God there.
The second part tells the story of Ezra, a priest, who was sent to rebuild the Jewish community in Jerusalem and to re-establish the laws of Moses there. Some of the primary actions that took place were the purging of foreign/pagan-worshiping people and spouses from the city. This portion of Ezra is told in the first person.
The third part is about Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem, how he directed the Israelites to rebuild the walls and gates around the city. They did this despite the threat of other local groups to invade and tear down their work. The end of Nehemiah tells of how the work was completed, but soon thereafter, the people start slipping away from the Law.
These two books not only contain the narrative story but also supposed decrees of the Persian rulers and numerous lists. Oh, my...the author of these books loved listing families and census numbers along with lots of details about the new temple and how the rebuilding of the walls were divided up. There were periods where I was cruising along the story and then rolled my eyes upon hitting a chapter or two of inventory/lists.
