Ezra-Nehemiah. one book in Heb & Gk (cf. outline) in Writings in MT, just before Chr in History in LXX

Transcription

1 1 Ezra-Nehemiah Place in the Canon one book in Heb & Gk (cf. outline) in Writings in MT, just before Chr in History in LXX Book #1 Book #2 Book #3 Book #4 Hebrew (MT): Ezra-Nehemiah X X Greek (LXX): Esdras B Esdras A X Catholic: 1 Esdras 2 Esdras 3 Esdras 4 Esdras Protestant: Ezra Nehemiah (1 Esdras 2 Esdras) (or 3 Ezra or 4 Ezra) Ezra & Nehemiah considered canonical by Jews & all churches 1 Esdras (Book #3) accepted as Deuterocanonical scripture by Greek & Russian Orthodox Churches, & placed in an appendix in Latin Vulgate (Roman Catholic) different version of Ezra-Nehemiah 2 Esdras (Book #4) accepted as canonical by Slavonic Orthodox Church (as 3 Esdras), & placed in an appendix in Latin Vulgate (Roman Catholic) apocalyptic vision of Ezra Historical Setting Median Empire had joined with Babylonian Empire in overthrow of Assyria in 552 Cyrus, a governor of the province of Persia, revolted & overthrew Ecbatana assumed control of Median Empire (now Medo-Persian or Persian Empire) & conquered various Greek states, before turning on Babylonia in 539 & capturing it in contrast to Assyrian & Babylonian policies of massive displacements of conquered enemies, Cyrus allowed subjects to govern themselves & worship their own gods, often offering sacrifice to them himself (though Cyrus & other Persian kings Zoroastrians) took over existing Babylonian administrative districts (now called satrapies) Persian kings often faced revolts within own Achaemenid family, with most Persian kings succeeded by their murderers rather than their sons frequent battles with Greeks from time of Darius I (490) Darius III defeated by Alexander the Great in 331 less than 50,000 Jews probably returned to Judah, a Persian province with much smaller territory than during monarchy, part of 5th satrapy, Beyond-the-River Judah ruled by governor, sometimes Jewish (Nehemiah) & sometimes not time of peace & gradual rebuilding of Jewish society Persian rulers: Cyrus ( ) defeated Babylon in 538, decree of Jewish repatriation Cambyses ( ) killed brother, possibly committed suicide during Gaumata's rebellion Darius I ( ) defeated Gaumata, organized & stabilized empire, temple built Xerxes ( ) biblical Ahasuerus, major defeats by Greeks Artaxerxes I ( ) peace with Greece, halted then authorized Jewish reforms &

2 2 building Darius II ( ) position strengthened by Peloponnesian War ( , Sparta & Greece) Artaxerxes II ( ) end of Spartan activity in Asia Minor Artaxerxes III ( ) Arses ( ) Darius III ( ) defeated by Alexander the Great Critical Issues Chronology of Ezra & Nehemiah issues: Ezra's work seems to presuppose Nehemiah's in some ways (repopulation of Jerusalem before cult reform); mixed marriages, supposedly remedied under Ezra, still present under Nehemiah suggested solutions: 1. Ezra not a historical person (Torrey) Ezra memoirs "an elaborate historical apology for the Jewish institutions of [the Chronicler's] time" (Torrey, Ezra Studies:238) 2. Ezra in 458, Nehemiah in 445 (traditional) Ezr 7:8 is 7th year of Artaxerxes I 3. Ezra in 428, Nehemiah in 445 (Bright) Ezr 7:8 is 37th year of Artaxerxes I (textual error) 4. Ezra in 398, Nehemiah in 445 (von Hoonacker) Ezr 7:8 is 7th year of Artaxerxes II Languages Ezr 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26 in Aramaic first section begins with imperial correspondence & second contains only such correspondence Aramaic the lingua franca of the Persian Empire, & inclusion in Ezra indicates bilingualism among intended readers/hearers of book Sources reasons for suspecting complex authorship/editing: 1. alterations between Hebrew & Aramaic 2. alterations between first & third person 3. chronological displacement of 4: twelve-year silence of Ezra according to traditional reckoning 5. parallel genealogies in Ezr 2 & Neh 7 6. comparison with 1 Esd two main sources: account of Ezra's mission & Nehemiah Memoir also various official documents, letters, lists, & census rolls Overview three main accomplishments of covenant community: 1. rebuilding of temple (Sheshbazzar & Zerubbabel)

3 3 2. acceptance of law & purification of community (Ezra) 3. rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem (Nehemiah) obstacles to realizing accomplishments opposition of neighboring peoples (Ezr 3:3; 4:1-6) mixed marriages (Ezr 9:1-4, 10-15) Sanballat & Tobias (Neh 2:10, 19; 4:1-3, 7-8; 6:1-14, 17-19) community's poverty, internal dissension, & inability to control its own destiny demonstrated by 70 year lapse between completion of temple (515) & rebuilding of city walls (445) message of book is one of legitimacy & divine election Themes legitimacy: community enjoys unbroken succession with preexilic Israel, as demonstrated by genealogies, identification of new altar & temple with previous altar & temple, use of original temple vessels, proper ceremonies, etc. law of God: book of the law, provided by Ezra, central to community probably close to current form of Pentateuch community purity: covenant community must remain separate from other groups, who are ritually impure, follow the abominable ways of the Canaanites, & fail to observe the Sabbath Jews in mixed marriages must dissolve them Ezr 1-6 Return of Exiles & Rebuilding of Temple Cyrus the Great 1:1-4 Cyrus allows return of Jews to Jerusalem Persians never criticized for atrocities like Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, or Romans Cyrus himself seen as almost messianic figure, chosen by God, in Is 44:28; 45:28; cf. 45:13 Return from Exile (538) 1:5-2:60 Sheshbazzar & Zerubbabel two separate returns? those who went praised, those who stayed also complimented for generosity Exclusivity 2:61-63 exclusion of priests without proof of ancestry characteristic of post-exilic period, foreshadowing attitude of exclusivity & prejudice 4:1-5 Jews refuse Samaritan's help, Samaritans discourage & oppose workers beginning of

4 4 Samaritan schism? Building of Temple 3:8-13 foundation begun soon after return (537/6) 4:24-6:12 begun again after lapse at instigation of Haggai & Zechariah, authorized by Darius I (521) 6:13-22 temple completed, dedicated, Passover celebrated Opposition 4:6 opposition during reign of Xerxes (486-65) 4:7-16 opposition during reign of Artaxerxes I (465-24) 4:17-23 Artaxerxes stops building of walls chronologically out of order associated with opposition of Samaritans Ezr 7-10 Ezra's Reforms Ezra 7:10 scribe from high priestly family religious reformer, focusing on teaching the law centrality of law in post-exilic period closely associated with temple early, but achieved increasing independence, esp. outside Judah, so that Judaism able to withstand destruction of temple in A.D. 70 7:11-26 supported by authority of Artaxerxes Early Reforms 9:1-4 Ezra's rejection of "mixed marriages" (cf. Dt 7:1-4) law primarily concerned with possible religious deviation Ezra's motivations may have also been primarily the same religious concern, but concern for Jewish identity in midst of non-jews or determination to meticulously follow letter of law also possible motives (cf. also Mal 2:10-16) Neh 1-7 Nehemiah's Reforms Nehemiah cupbearer to Persian king Artaxerxes appointed governor of Judah with authority to rebuild walls primarily a political figure, though also involved in some religious & social reforms Opposition to Rebuilding Walls main opponents of rebuilding walls were Sanballat, governor of Samaria; Tobiah the Ammonite,

5 5 an official of Sanballat; and Geshem the Arab, perhaps governor af a neighboring province attempts to prevent rebuilding of walls included mistrust (2:10), mockery (2:19-20), plans for military assault (4:1-23), plans to murder Nehemiah (6:1-14) opposition aided by some Jewish nobles (6:17-19), who resented Nehemiah's social reforms (5:1-13) walls completed in 52 days (6:15) Neh 8-10 Ezra's Reforms Continued Reading of the Law people gather on New Year's Day, & Ezra reads law all morning (8:3), & Levites interpreted law (8:8), perhaps origin of Aramaic targums reflection of synagogue worship (8:1-8) Confession & Covenant after public reading & private study (8:13) of law, public confession led by Nehemiah, & people renew covenant with God summary of covenant (in obedience to "law of Moses"): prohibition of mixed marriages, strict observance of the sabbath, observation of the sabbatic year, 1/3 shekel annual temple tax, provision of wood for the altar, offering of first-fruits, dedication of firstborn, tithes for Levites many provisions same as Neh 13, so maybe out of chronological order Neh Nehemiah's Reforms Continued Reforms repopulation of Jerusalem (11:1-21), expulsion of Moabites & Ammonites (13:1-3; cf. Dt 23:3-6; no pretense of religious reasons, just legalism) after Nehemiah's return tithes, sabbath, mixed marriages Dedication of Wall (12:27-43) cf. 7:1, out of order? appointment of Levites, choirs, trumpets, singing, rejoicing