Ezra
Fifteenth Book of the Holy Bible
The 15th out of 39 Old Testament Books
The 10th of the Historical Books 550 BC to 510 BC
Author: The Scribe & Scholar Era Written Around: 450 BC
Notable Verses
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites - everyone whose heart God had moved -prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:5-
Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance. -
Ezra 9:12-
Significance In the book of Ezra we witness the rebuilding of the new temple, the unification of the returning tribes as they shared common struggles and were challenged to work together. Later, after the original remnant had stopped work on the city walls and spiritual apathy ruled, Ezra arrived with another two thousand people and sparked a spiritual revival. By the end of the book, Israel had renewed its covenant with God and had begun acting in obedience to Him.
Popular Stories
King Cyrus decrees the work of the Temple may begin.
Men with foreign wives sent them all away.
God of the Temple of Worship
Nehemiah
Sixteenth Book of the Holy Bible
The 16th out of 39 Old Testament Books
The 11th of the Historical Books 450 BC to 430 BC
Author: Nehemiah
Written Around: 425 to 400 BC
Translation: Comforter of Yahh
Notable Verses
They said to me; Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. -Nehemiah 1:3-
You divided the sea before them, So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground; And their pursuers You hurled into the depths, Like a stone into raging waters. -Nehemiah 9:11-
Significance
Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest like Ezra nor a prophet like Malachi. He served the Persian king in a secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city walls.
“Nehemiah’s expertise in the king’s court equipped him adequately for the political and physical reconstruction necessary for the remnant to survive.
Popular Stories
Nehemiah gets Israel's leaders to stop charging tax to the returnees of the Great Exile. Nehemiah gets tough with the men who had married foreign wives, especially the priests.19
God of the Wall ; Protection
Esther
Time Period of Events: Books 480 BC to 475 BC
Seventeenth Book of the Holy Bible
The 17th out of 39 Old Testament Books
The 12th of the historical books
.Author: Unknown Written Around: 450 BC Written in Hebrew as Esther
Popular Stories
The book takes place in Susa, east of the Tigris River, which is now part of Iraq. It is the only Bible story to take place east of what is thought to be the Garden of Eden.
Esther becomes queen of Persia.
A man named Mordecai had adopted Esther after she was orphaned and before she became queen.
It features Mordecai discovering a plot to have all the Jewish people in the kingdom executed. The evil plot was started by Haman. Esther was able to talk her husband, a very strong king, out of the genocide through a combination of wits and humility, and support from Mordecai
Notable Verses
If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question. -Esther 5:8-
In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. -Esther 8:17-
Significance
Esther is one story about a woman of Israel who became queen in a foreign land and stopped a genocide meant to kill all Jews in the land. 20
God of the Gallows
