Esther, Ezra And Nehemiah Series

May 15, 2021

Today we are discussing 3 more books of the Bible - Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah.

My Favorite Thing About each book is the revelation that God chooses to use ordinary people to accomplish extra ordinary things and they, in turn, choose to cooperate: Zerubbabel and Joshua were just ordinary men, Esther was a young queen hiding a secret. Ezra was a simple scribe/priest. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king of Persia.

All 3 books fit within the reigns of the following Persian Kings:

• Cyrus the Great – 553/550-530 BC {he did not conquer Babylon until 539 BC}

o 537 BC - Cyrus decrees that the Jews were free to return to their homeland and a group led by “Sheshbazzar” {Zerubbabel} and “Jeshua” {Joshua} return to Judea. {2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-4}

• Cambyses – 530-522 BC

• Darius I – 522-486 BC

• Ahasuerus {Xerxes I} – 486-465 BC

o The story of Esther occurs during this time.

• Artaxerxes I – 465-425 BC

o 457 BC – Ezra is a part of the 2nd wave {Ezra 7:6-9}

o 444 BC – Nehemiah is a part of the 3rd wave {Nehemiah 2:1-10}

Zerubbabel and Joshua

These 2 leaders were called upon to be the political and religious leaders of the first wave of returning exiles in 537 BC.

Zerubbabel was appointed governor of Judea - perhaps because he was the grandson of King Jehoiachin.

Joshua, as a descendent of Aaron, was appointed High Priest.

Together, they were tasked with the monumental responsibility of rebuilding the Temple and restoring the sacrificial system – a Temple they had never seen in a place they had never been.

Ezra 3:8-12 - In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, Joshua, son of Jozadak and the rest of the people began the work…. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple, the priests and Levites led the congregation in praise and thanksgiving: “The LORD is good; his love to Israel endures forever."

There was a lot of drama surrounding the construction of the Temple. The locals did everything in their power to discourage, harass and otherwise prevent the Jews from rebuilding and for a period of 14 years construction on the Temple stopped. Haggai and Zechariah arrived and with their help and encouragement, construction began again and the Temple was completed in 515 BC.

Ezra 5:2 - Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel and Joshua, son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

Haggai 2:4 - But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.

2 ordinary men…. An extra ordinary task…. “For such a time as this”

Esther

Hadassah’s family, like many Jewish families, chose not to return to Judea. She was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, a prominent lawyer in Susa and was among the many young women taken to the king’s palace after Vashti’s banishment {Esther 2:8}. Before being taken away, Mordecai instructed her to tell no one she was a Jew.

Hadassah, now Esther, was chosen queen. Around that same time trouble began to stir and his name was Haman, the Agagite. His hatred for Mordecai festered until it became hatred for all Jews. So, Haman hatched a plan, “The Final Solution” of 473 BC.

Ahasuerus, didn’t ask questions when Haman brought a report of potential rebellion from “a group of people who don’t keep your laws.” And when he offered to pay the bounty from his own pocket, {10,000 talents of silver}, the king agreed, “…do with them as you see fit.” {Esther 3:11-13}

The decree, ordering the destruction of the Jews, was sent to all corners of the empire, from Egypt to India, but Esther didn’t know anything about it.

A request accompanied the copy Mordecai sent her ---- “go before the king and plead for your people.”

What a horrible moment. Esther had not seen the king for a month AND no one was allowed, by law, to go into his presence without being summoned. To do so might result in her death, but silence would mean the absolute annihilation of her people. She was just a woman, one of many. What could she possibly do? The law was the law and it couldn’t be undone AND no one knew who she really was!!! If she just kept quiet… “There is nothing I can do.” She replied.

Mordecai persisted --- “Don’t think for a moment that living in the king’s palace is going to protect you. If you remain silent, deliverance will come from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows…. maybe you have become queen for such a time as this?" {Esther 4:13-14}