Ezra and Nehemiah

 The Importance of Ezra to the Jews 

The importance of Ezra for the creation and formation of what came to be known as rabbinic Judaism cannot be overestimated. According to the Bible, Ezra was the one who brought the Torah to the returning exiles, read and interpreted it publicly, and oversaw the people's solemn recommitment to its teachings (Neh. chapters 8-10). Thus Ezra is like a second Moses. The Rabbis imply this by stating: "Ezra was sufficiently worthy that the Torah could have been given through him if Moses had not preceded him" (t. Sanh. 4.4). A number of ordinances called the ten takanot (regulations) are attributed to Ezra, although they are nowhere mentioned in the text of Ezra-Nehemiah... Ezra is received and embraced by rabbinic Judaism. Ezra is both an authoritative scribe and priest, as well as a kind of proto-Rabbi who also has the authority of a prophet. His legal innovations are not seen as such, but are depicted as proper interpretation of eternally binding Mosaic law (see Ezra 7.10; Neh. 8.1). This principle is at the heart of rabbinic interpretation, and his authenticity is never called into question within rabbinic Judaism8 

Ezra 1-2: The Exiles Return 

1.     Cyrus allows the Jewish exiles to return and restore the temple (Ezra 1.1-4). 

2.     Exiles prepare to return (Ezra 1.5-6). 

3.     Cyrus returns the temple vessels to the returnees (Ezra 1.7-11). 

4.     List of returnees who came up out of the captivity (Ezra 2.1-70). 

a. Ezra identifies certain individuals who are prevented from exercising priesthood due to the lack of genealogical records (Ezra 2.62).

b. The Urim and Thummim is no longer with the returning Jews (Ezra 2.63).

Ezra 3: Jeshua and Zerubbabel Restore Temple Rituals 

1. Temple sacrifice restored at Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3.1-7). a. “Jeshua and Zerubbabel” (Ezra 3.2).

2.     Priests and Levites appointed supervisors (Ezra 3.8-9). 

3.     Temple Foundations Laid (Ezra 3.10-13). 

a. “Many... wept with a loud voice” (Ezra 3.12).

b. “Many shouted for joy!” (Ezra 3.12).

Ezra 4: Conflict with the Adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, the people of the land 

1. Locals offer to help with construction and are rejected (Ezra 4.1-3). 

2.     Locals try to undermine the construction of the temple restoration (Ezra 4.4-7). 

1.     “The people of the land troubled them...” (Ezra 4.4).

2.     “written in the Syrian tongue” (Ezra 4.7).

3.     The locals write a letter to Artaxerxes to halt construction (Ezra 4.8-16). 

a. They tell the king that the Jews will not pay tribute if they are allowed to build the temple (Ezra 4.12-13). 

4.     Artaxerxes replies that construction should cease (Ezra 4.17-22). 

5.     Temple construction interrupted (Ezra 4.23-24). 

6.     Byrce’s list of the oppositional strategy of the enemies of Judah: 

1.     The enemies “weakened the hands of the people of Judah” (Ezra 4.4). 

2.     They “troubled them in building” (Ezra 4.4). 

3.     They wrote out an accusation to the leaders of Persia (Ezra 4.6). 

4.     They stated that the Jews would not pay their tribute (Ezra 4.13). 

5.     They stated that Jerusalem was “rebellious” and a “bad city” (Ezra 4.12). 

6.     The enemies mocked them (Nehemiah 2.19). 

7.     They were angry (Neh. 4.1). 

8.     They conspired against the Jews (Neh. 4.8). 

9.     They request the workers to come down (Neh. 6.2). 

1.     The Judean response: “I cannot come down!” (Neh. 6.3). 

2.     “Let us rise up and build” (Neh. 2.18). 

3.     “The God of heaven will prosper us” (Neh. 2.20). 

4.     “The people had a mind to work” (Neh. 4.6). 

5.     They set a watch day and night (Neh. 4.9). 

6.     “Be not afraid... remember the Lord” (Neh. 4.14). 

7.     The prophets Haggai and Zechariah get involved in the rebuilding effort (Ezra 5.1-2). 

Ezra 5-6: The Temple Construction is Resumed and Completed 

1. Temple restoration is resumed (Ezra 5.1-2) and Haggai and Zechariah prophesy. a. The work will go forward! – Joseph Smith.

2. Tattenai’s inquiry and God’s protection (Ezra 5.3-5).a. “Shethar-bozenai” (Ezra 5.3).

3.     Tattenai’s letter to Darius (Ezra 5.6-17).

4.     Darius finds Cyrus’ decree in Ecbatana (Ezra 6.1-2). 

5.     Letter from Darius to Tattenai ordering the Temple to be completed (Ezra 6.3-12). 

6.     Temple restoration is completed (Ezra 6.13-15). 

7.     The Temple dedication (Ezra 6.16-18). 

8.     The Celebration of the Passover (Ezra 6.19-22). 

9.     “The children of the captivity kept the Passover” (Ezra 6.19).

Ezra 6.21 “And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat.” (Ezra 6.21). This verse has some provocative possibilities regarding the visionaries like Isaiah and Lehi. It has been argued that there was a rift between two groups of people within the community at this time: the visionaries and hierocratic faction. This verse has been read to demonstrate that with the completion of the temple and with the approval of Haggai and Zechariah, that many of the visionaries switched over to the hierocratic faction, and that this text is a polemic against the visionaries of this time period.

Ezra 7-10: Ezra’s mission to Jerusalem

1.     Ezra joins the returnees (Ezra 7.1-10). a. Ezra, a scribe “expert in the teaching of Moses” came up from Babylon (Ezra 7.6)b. The importance of the scribal tradition at this period of history.

2.     Artaxerxes’ letter commissioning Ezra’s mission (Ezra 7.11-26). 

3.     Ezra’s memoir (Ezra 7.27-9.15). 

4.     Ezra’s prayer (Ezra 7.27-28). a. “Nethinims” ְנ ִתי ַנ ָיא (Ezra 7.24).

5.     List of returnees who accompany Ezra (Ezra 8.1-14). Ezra’s preparations for the journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 8.15-30). 

6.     Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem (Ezra 8.31-36). 

8. The Intermarriage Crisis (Ezra 9.1-2). 

9. Ezra’s public confession and prayer (Ezra 9.3-15).
10. The Jews covenant to renounce all intermarriages (Ezra 10.1-14). 11. List of returnees who have intermarried (Ezra 10.15-44). 

Nehemiah 1-7: Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem 

1.     Nehemiah hears that the walls of Jerusalem have been destroyed (Neh. 1.1-3). 

2.     Nehemiah’s prayer (Neh. 1.4-11). 

3.     Artaxerxes authorizes Nehemiah to return to the land and rebuild the walls (Neh. 1.11-2.10). 

4.     Nehemiah inspects the walls at night (Neh. 2.11-15). 

5.     Nehemiah encourages the rebuilding of the walls (Neh. 2.16-18). 

6.     Nehemiah’s rebuilding is opposed by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (Neh. 2.19-20). 

7.     List of returnees who help with the construction of the walls (Neh. 3.1-32). 

8.     Sanballat tries to interfere with the rebuilding, but is unsuccessful (Neh. 3.33-38). 

9.     The faithful work on and guard the walls (Neh. 4.1-17). 

a. George Q. Cannon on the construction of the temple, one hand on a weapon, the other on a tool.

10. Nehemiah works to resolve an economic crisis (Neh. 5.1-13).
a. “What you are doing is not right. You ought to act in a God-fearing way so as to not give 

our enemies, the nations, room to reproach us.” (Neh. 5.9 JPS translation).

11.  Nehemiah refrains from taking the governor’s allowance (Neh. 5.14-19). 

12.  Nehemiah avoids murderous plots to interfere with the completion of the walls (Neh. 6.1-14). 

         13. The walls are completed, despite Tobiah’s constant interference (Neh. 6.15-19). 

14. Nehemiah appoints guardians for the gates of the city (Neh. 7.1-3). 

15. Nehemiah plans for the repopulation of Jerusalem (Neh. 7.4-5). 

16. List of those that have returned from Babylon (Neh. 7.6-72). 

Nehemiah 8-10: Liturgical Practices of the Returnees to Jerusalem 

1.     Ezra reads from the Torah and the people celebrate (Neh. 8.1-12). 

2.     Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Neh. 8.13-18). 

3.     Public confession of sins (Neh. 9.1-5). 

4.     Confessional prayer (Neh. 9.6-37). 

5.     Nehemiah’s covenant (Neh. 10.1-40). 

Nehemiah 11-13: Legislative Acts of Nehemiah 

1.     List of settlers in Jerusalem (Neh. 11.1-24). 

2.     List of distribution of village settlers in Judah (Neh. 11.26-36). 

3.     List of priests, Levites, and gatekeepers of the Temple (Neh. 12.1-26). 

4.     The dedication of the wall (Neh. 12.27-43). 

5.     Support of the clergy through the tithes (Neh. 12.44-47). 

6.     Prohibition against intermarriage (Neh. 13.1-3). 

7.     Threat to the purity of the Temple is resolved by Nehemiah (Neh. 13.4-9). 

8.     Nehemiah reinstates the Temple tithes (Neh. 13.10-14). 

9.     Observance of the Sabbath laws (Neh. 13.15-22). 

10.  Prohibition of intermarriage (Neh. 13.23-27). 

11.  Purification of the returnees and prayer (Neh. 13.28-31). 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Kings 17-25

 2 Kings 17–25

 

Despite the prophet Elisha’s impressive ministry, the spirituality of the Northern Kingdom of Israel kept declining. Wicked kings promoted idolatry, and war and apostasy abounded. Finally the Assyrian Empire conquered and scattered the ten tribes of Israel.

Meanwhile, the Southern Kingdom of Judah wasn’t doing much better; idolatry was also widespread there. But amid all this spiritual decay, the scriptural accounts mention two righteous kings who, for a time, turned their people back to the Lord. One was Hezekiah. During his reign, the Assyrians, fresh from their victory in the north, conquered much of the south. But Hezekiah and his people showed faith in the Lord, who delivered Jerusalem in a miraculous way. Later, after another period of apostasy, Josiah began to reign. Inspired in part by a rediscovery of the book of the law, Josiah brought reforms that revived the religious life of many of his people.

What do we learn from these two bright spots in the otherwise dark years of Judah’s history? Among other things, you might ponder the power of faith and of the word of God in your life. Like Israel and Judah, we all make both good and bad choices. And when we sense that reforms are needed in our lives, perhaps the examples of Hezekiah and Josiah can inspire us to “trust in the Lord our God” (2 Kings 18:22).

 

2 Kings 17: Hoshea reigns in Israel and is subject to the Assyrians—The Israelites forsake the Lord, worship idols, serve Baal, and reject all that the Lord has given them—The ten tribes are carried away captive by the kings of Assyria—The land of Israel (Samaria) is repopulated by other people—Many forms of false worship are found among the Samaritans.

2 Kings 17  The Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel

This is a key chapter in the Old Testament, for it relates the tragic downfall of Israel as they became subject to the powerful Assyrians who came from the east (some 700 miles away). Some background helps:

• In 2 Kings 15:29 it is recorded that the Assyrians took a great deal of the people of the northern kingdom away as captives (in about 738 BC). Then in 2 Kings 17:6 it states: “In the ninth year of Hoshea [king of Israel,] the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria” (see also verses 18, 20, 23, 34-40; 18:11-12).
• The foregoing occurred in about 721 BC, and had been forewarned by the Lord and His prophets (see, for example, Deuteronomy 4:25-28 and Moses’s discourse to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 28).
• This conquer and captivity came upon the “ten tribes,” which included Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Ephraim, and Manasseh (plus part of Levi).

Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah—despite their own wickedness (see 2 Kings 17:19)—remained marginally intact until being conquered some 130 years later (in about 586 BC) by the Babylonians, who had overthrown the Assyrians. The kingdom of Judah was comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, plus parts of Levi and other tribes (including the Book of Mormon’s family of Lehi, who were of the tribe of Manasseh).

2 Kings 17:24 relates that the Assyrians brought other people to the land of Israel, “who dwelt in the cities,” presumably to build up the depleted population and to keep up the farms, vineyards, flocks, herds, and so forth. This led to a mixture of people and their worship, some of whom became the Samaritans, who 700 years later figured importantly into numerous settings of Jesus’s ministry in the New Testament.

 

2 Kings 18: Hezekiah reigns in righteousness in Judah—He destroys idolatry and breaks the brazen serpent made by Moses because the children of Israel burn incense to it—Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invades Judah—In a blasphemous speech, Rabshakeh asks Jerusalem to surrender to the Assyrians.

2 Kings 19: Hezekiah seeks counsel from Isaiah to save Jerusalem—Isaiah prophesies the defeat of the Assyrians and the death of Sennacherib—Hezekiah prays for deliverance—Sennacherib sends a blasphemous letter—Isaiah prophesies that the Assyrians will be destroyed and that a remnant of Judah will flourish—An angel slays 185,000 Assyrians—Sennacherib is slain by his sons.

 

 

2 Kings 18–19

I can stay true to the Lord during challenging times.

Most of us have experienced times that challenge our faith. For Hezekiah and his people, one of those times came when the Assyrian army invaded Judah, destroyed many cities, and approached Jerusalem. As you read 2 Kings 18–19, imagine that you lived in Jerusalem during this time. How might you have felt, for example, to hear the taunts of the Assyrians as recorded in 2 Kings 18:28–37 and 19:10–13? What do you learn from what Hezekiah did in response? (see 2 Kings 19:1–7, 14–19). How did the Lord sustain Hezekiah? (see 2 Kings 19:35–37). Ponder how He has sustained you in challenging times.

 

2 Kings 19:20–37

All things are in the Lord’s hands.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, had good reason to believe that his army would conquer Jerusalem. Assyria had defeated many nations, including Israel—why should Jerusalem be any different? (see 2 Kings 17; 18:33–34; 19:11–13). But the Lord had a message for Sennacherib, given through the prophet Isaiah, and it’s recorded in 2 Kings 19:20–34. How would you summarize this message? What truths do you find in these verses that help you have faith in the Lord and His plan?

 

President Spencer W. Kimball said that the account of King Josiah, found in 2 Kings 21–23, “is one of the finest stories in all of the scriptures”

Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old. He had inherited a kingdom of people who believed in false gods, but he wanted to follow the Lord. In the eighth year of his reign, he ordered that altars and idols of false gods be destroyed throughout Judah.

Ten years later, he asked his people to restore the temple in Jerusalem, where the high priest Hilkiah found the scriptures. When King Josiah read the book, he was inspired to follow its teachings. He then gathered his people and read the book to them.

For so long, the people had hardened their hearts against God. But the scriptures helped turn the hearts of the people back to God. King Josiah promised the people he would walk in the ways of the Lord and obey the commandments.

2 Kings 20: Hezekiah is told he will die and pleads with the Lord; his life is lengthened fifteen years—The shadow goes back ten degrees on the sundial of Ahaz—Isaiah prophesies the Babylonian captivity of Judah.

2 Kings 21: Manasseh turns Judah to idolatry, even sacrificing a son to a heathen god—Prophets foretell the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem—Wickedness continues under Amon.

2 Kings 22: Josiah (important king, 1 King. 13:1-) reigns in righteousness in Judah—Hilkiah repairs the temple and finds the book of the law—Josiah sorrows because of the wickedness of his fathers—Huldah prophesies wrath upon the people but blessings upon Josiah. (Lehi's  family on the scene at this time.)

2 Kings 23: Josiah reads the book of the covenant to the people—They covenant to keep the commandments—Josiah overturns the worship of false gods, removes the sodomites, and puts down idolatry—Idolatrous priests are slain—Judah holds a solemn Passover—Egypt subjects the land of Judah.

 

2 Kings 21–23

The scriptures can turn my heart to the Lord.

Have you ever felt that you were lacking something spiritually? Maybe you felt that your relationship with God could be a lot stronger. What helped you turn back to Him? Ponder these questions as you read about how the Kingdom of Judah fell away from the Lord under King Manasseh (see 2 Kings 21) and how King Josiah helped them recommit themselves to Him (see 2 Kings 22–23). What inspired Josiah and his people? This account might inspire you to renew your commitment to “walk after the Lord … with all [your] heart and all [your] soul” (2 Kings 23:3).

 

2 Kings 24: Jerusalem is besieged and taken by Nebuchadnezzar—Many of the people of Judah are carried captive into Babylon—Zedekiah becomes king in Jerusalem—He rebels against Babylon.

 

 

2 Kings 24-25  The Fall of Jerusalem

As we saw in 2 Kings 17, in 721 BC Assyria captured and enslaved the northern kingdom of Israel. About one hundred years later, the Assyrians in turn were conquered by the Babylonians (also sometimes called the “Chaldeans”).

Now, 2 Kings 24-25 detail another major turning point in the Old Testament, describing the fall of Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians, in 586 BC (much of Judah’s land outside Jerusalem had been taken previously):

• 2 Kings 24:2 says that “the Lord sent” the invaders against king Jehoiakim, to destroy Judah, “according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets.”
• The rulers and people of Judah had more-than-sufficient warning, beginning with Moses who received the commandments and the law many hundreds of years earlier. In D&C 1:37-38 the Lord says that His prophecies and promises “shall all be fulfilled,” and that His word “shall not pass away.” Let us pay close attention to the words of our living prophets, which are God’s words.
• For a time, Judah’s kings remained in place (under Babylon), thus Jehoiakim was replaced by his son Jehoiachin (verses 6-8), who also “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord” (verse 9).
• But things got worse. What happened in verses 10-16?
• We learn later in the Old Testament that those carried away to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar at this time included the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel, plus Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and others.
• According to verses 17-20, who became the next king in Jerusalem, as appointed by Nebuchadnezzar? What was this new king like?

Zedekiah’s placement on the throne of Judah in about 600 BC is another pivotal event, for we learn in the Book of Mormon that Nephi’s written history begins “in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah” (1 Nephi 1:4). This is the same time and place of the ministry of Nephi’s father, Lehi. Read 1 Nephi 1:18-20, noting the similar descriptions of the spiritual atmosphere in Jerusalem at this time. The prophet Jeremiah was a contemporary with Lehi, also warning and prophesying to the people of Jerusalem (see 1 Nephi 5:13; 7:14; see also Jeremiah 1:1-3).

2 Kings 25: Nebuchadnezzar again besieges Jerusalem—Zedekiah is captured, Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed, and most of the people of Judah are carried into Babylon—Gedaliah, left to govern the remnant, is slain—The remnant flee to Egypt—Jehoiachin is shown favor in Babylon.

 

2 Kings 25 reveals the final disastrous blows against Jerusalem and the House of Israel:

• The Babylonians blockaded Jerusalem in about 591 BC, hindering the production and delivery of food and thus creating a famine (verses 1-3).
• King Zedekiah attempted to flee but was captured and taken to Babylon (verses 4-7).
• Zedekiah’s sons were put to death (verse 7)—although the Bible text fails to note what we know from the Book of Mormon; that Zedekiah’s son Mulek survived and journeyed to the Americas (see Helaman 6:10; 8:21).
• The walls of Jerusalem were broken down and many buildings and houses were burnt, including the 400-year-old temple of Solomon (verses 9-10). Also, the temple’s treasures were stolen and taken to Babylon (verses 13-17).
• Most of the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem were taken as captives to Babylon, leaving behind only “the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen” (verses 11-12).
• The temple priests, along with the military and civil officers were taken and put to death (verses 19-21).
• The remaining people of Jerusalem fled to Egypt (verses 22-26).
• Read Exodus 19:3-6 and consider “what might have been” for the children of Israel. What can you improve in your life in order to be found worthy before the Lord?
•  

The doctrine of Christ written “with the Spirit of the living God … in fleshy tables of [our hearts]”⁶ increases our capacity to “heed not” the many distractions, taunts, and diversions in our fallen world. For example, faith focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ fortifies us with spiritual strength. Faith in the Redeemer is a principle of action and of power. As we act in accordance with the truths of His gospel, we are blessed with the spiritual capacity to press forward through the challenges of mortality while focusing on the joys the Savior offers to us. Truly, “if we do what’s right we have no need to fear, for the Lord, our helper, will ever be near.”⁷But We Heeded Them Not

(1 Nephi 8:33)

By Elder David A. Bednar

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