Chapter 10 The Exile Era Ezekiel - Daniel 139
Exile Era (Ezekiel) Who wrote this book? Ezekiel Why was this book written? The first part of Ezekiel shows why God must punish the wicked people still in Judah. The second part shows that God will bring his people back to their land and that their faith and position before God will be restored What do we learn about God in this Book? God is holy. He will not live among a wicked people What is special about this book? Ezekiel acts out many of his prophecies. Ezekiel vividly pictures both Judah s punishment and restoration When did this happen? 593-571 b.c. Where did this happen? Babylon 140
Exile Era (Daniel) Who wrote this book? Daniel Why was this book written? Daniel shows the Jewish people that foreign nations will have power over their homeland until God sends the promised Savior What do we learn about God in this Book? God is in charge of history. He knows ahead of time what will happen in our world What is special about this book? The first part of the book tells stories of Daniel life. The second part tells about the future governments that will have power over the Holy Land When did this happen? 535 b.c. Where did this happen? Babylon 141
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) 2177 142
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) By the waters, the waters of Babylon. We lay down and wept, and wept for thee Zion. We remember, we remember, we remember thee Zion. Babylon, Don McLean, American Pie 1971 143
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Four main divisions in the Exile Era Prophecy Prophets Exiles Power change 2180 144
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Prophecy Warning of Impending Captivity (Jeremiah) e Jeremiah 22:24-27 Jeremiah 29:10-14 14 2180 145
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Prophets 2180 Encouraging Faithfulness Of Exiles (Ezekiel and Daniel) Ezekiel 2:8-10/3:1-3 Daniel 3:16-29 146
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Exiles Assimilated Into the Culture (Daniel) Daniel 2:36-44, 48-49 2180 147
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Power change Persian Empire Expands (Daniel) Daniel 7:13-14 2181 148
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) S e l f T e s t Major subjects in the Exile Era Power Change Persian empire grows Exiles Assimilation into culture Prophecy Warning of captivity Prophets Encouraging Faithfulness 2181 149
S e l f T e s t Story-line Summary Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Daniel gives leadership and encourages faithfulness among the for the next 70 years. exiles 2181 150
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) S e l f T e s t Creation Patriarchs Exodus Conquest Judges Kingdom Exile 82 151
Empires in Old Testament Times Persian Empire (550-330 BC) Macedonian Empire (336-323 BC) 2182 152
S e Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) l Era Figure Location f T e Creation Adam Eden Patriarch Abraham Canaan Exodus Moses Egypt s Conquest Joshua Canaan t Judges Samson Canaan Kings David Israel Exile Daniel Babylonia 2183 153
Bible 101 Toolbox Arc of the Bible Geography of the Bible Timeline of the Bible Story of the Bible Historical Timeline 154
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Historical Evidence: Daniel and the Dead Sea Scrolls -Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 contain fragments of all the Old Testament books except Esther. Among them is a copy of Daniel and chapters 2:4 7:28 are written in the ancient Aramaic language of Chaldee (language of Babylon) Daniel 1:1-4 362
Exile Era (Ezekiel - Daniel) Throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man both publicly and privately. Daniel 7:13-14 363
Historical Timeline Exile Era 586-538 B.C. Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and frees the Hebrews 539 b.c. Confucius Born 551 b.c. Nebuchadnezzar Takes Jerusalem 586 b.c. Buddha Born 563 b.c. 340
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Chapter 11 The Return Era Ezra - Esther 155
Return Era (Ezra) Who wrote this book? Unknown, many think Ezra wrote much of the book Why was this book written? Ezra shows how God kept his promise and brought the Jews back to their homeland What happens in this book? The Persian ruler Cyrus lets captive people return home. Some of the Jews in Babylon go back to Judah. They rebuild God s temple. Later, Ezra comes from Babylon to teach God s law What do we learn about God in this Book? God is faithful and keeps his promises What people are important in this book? King Cyrus and Ezra When did this happen? 538-458 b.c. Where did this happen? Jerusalem in Judah 156
Return Era (Nehemiah) Who wrote this book? Unknown, many think Ezra Why was this book written? The book of Nehemiah tells how God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem What happens in this book? Nehemiah is made governor of Judah. He has the Jews rebuild the city walls. Nehemiah also helps the people of Judah stop living sinful lives What do we learn about God in this Book? God wants his people to be courageous and keep doing his work What people are important in this book? Nehemiah When did this happen? 444-430 b.c. Where did this happen? Jerusalem in Judah 157
Return Era (Esther) Who wrote this book? Unknown Why was this book written? Esther reveals how God takes care of his people What happens in this book? A Jewish girl, Esther, becomes queen of Persia. An evil man named Haman plots to kill all the Jews everywhere. Esther saves her people What do we learn about God in this Book? God does not need to do miracles to rescue his people. He is able to work through ordinary events and ordinary people What people are important in this book? King Xerxes, Haman, Esther and Mordecai When did this happen? 483-471 b.c. Where did this happen? Susa, the capital of Persia 158
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) 2184 159
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Four Main Subjects in the Return Era Disrepair Temple People Walls 2186 160
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Disrepair Destruction from War and Neglect (Nehemiah e 1) 2186 161
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Temple Rebuilding the temple (Ezra 1-6) Ezra 1:1-11 2186 162
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) People Spiritual it Rebuilding (Ezra 7-10) Ezra 10:1-4 2186 163
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Walls Restoration Complete (Nehemiah 6) 2187 164
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) S e l f T e s t Major subjects in return Era People Spiritual rebuilding Temple Rebuilding the temple Disrepair destruction from war Walls restoration complete 2187 165
S e l f T e s t Story-line Summary Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Ezra Leads the people back from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem 2187 166
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) S e l f T e s t Creation Patriarchs Exodus Conquest Judges Kingdom Exile Return 88 167
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) 2188 168
S e Return Era (Ezra - Esther) l Era Figure Location f T e Creation Adam Eden Patriarch Abraham Canaan Exodus Moses Egypt s Conquest Joshua Canaan t Judges Samson Canaan Kings David Israel Exile Daniel Babylonia Return Ezra Jerusalem 2189 169
Bible 101 Toolbox Arc of the Bible Geography of the Bible Timeline of the Bible Story of the Bible Historical Timeline 170
Return Era (Ezra - Esther) Ezra 11 1:1-1111 So What Happened to the Ark of the Covenant? When the Babylonians sacked the city of Jerusalem there was no mention, in the extensive lists of things taken, of the ark. So what happened to it? Here are a couple of theories: 1. The ark was hidden in the extensive caves and honeycombs under the temple. Today, the Dome of the Rock sits on this spot (Muslim Temple). In 1982 a secret excavation was attempted by the Jews, but was thwarted by the Muslims before finding anything. 2. Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave on Mount Nebo 3. The ark was moved well before the fall of Jerusalem to Ethiopia by Menelik, son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and resides in the sanctuary of St. Mary of Zion chapel in Axum. There it is guarded and no access is allowed by it s guardians. 4. It is in a military warehouse in Washington D.C. 364
Historical Timeline Return Era 538-430B.C. Parthenon is built 447 b.c. Hippocrates Born 460 b.c. Socrates Born 469 b.c. Greco-Persian Wars 499-479 b.c. 341
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Chapter 12 The Silence Era 171
Silence Era 2191 172
Silence Era Four major subjects in the silence Era The Changing Guard Political sects Religious Sects Messianic Hope 2193 173
Silence Era The Changing Guard The March Of Nations 2193 174
Silence Era Political Sects The Maccabeans And Zealots 2193 175
Silence Era Religious Sects Pharisees and Saducees 294 176
Silence Era Messianic Hope Expectation of a Savior 2194 177
Silence Era S e l f T e s t Major Subjects in silence Era Religious Sects Pharisees & Sadducees Changing Guard March of nations Messianic Hope Savior Expectations Political Sects Maccabeans/Zealots 2195 178
Silence Era S e l f T e s t Story-line Summary Pharisees and others entomb the Israelites in legalisms for the next four hundred years. 2195 179
Silence Era S e l f T e s t Creation Patriarchs Judges Kingdom Silence Exodus Exile Conquest Return 95 180
Empires in Old Testament Times 2196 181
Canonization of the Old Testament 5 Books of the Torah Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 31:9) Phase 1: Moses Moses wrote these during the time of wandering in the desert. The Hebrews used a portable tabernacle (Tent of Meetings) for worship. Moses probably had some written sources to work with such as the Book of Generations 182
Canonization of the Old Testament Phase 2: David, Solomon, King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah Books: Psalms Proverbs As temple worship moved from a portable to the permanent structure of the temple, Psalms, Proverbs and other writings were incorporated into the Bible for temple worship. King Hezekiah used the seal of HZK to bind these books of the Bible. 183
Canonization of the Old Testament Phase 3: Ezra and the Great Assembly Books: The remaining i books of the Ketuviim (Prophets) and Neviim (Writings) Upon the return and rebuilding of the Temple, Ezra convened the Great Assembly of 120 priests who lead by Ezra and with the help of Nehemiah, selected and placed in an official order the books of the Old Testament. All were given the HZK seal except for the five books of the Megillot (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). No works written after the time of Ezra, including the Apocrypha, were reckoned as being inspired by God... since no one with the prophetic spirit had come after the days of Ezra (Josephus, Jewish historian) 184
Structure of the Bible Books of the Tanakh Torah (Law, Teaching) Neviim (Prophets) Ketuviim (Writings) Genesis Exodus Joshua Samuel Judges Kings Psalms Proverbs Leviticus Isaiah Jeremiah Job Numbers Ezekiel Hosea Song of Solomon Deuteronomy Joel Amos Ruth Obadiah Jonah Lamentations Micah Nahum Ecclesiastes Habakkuk Zephaniah Esther Haggai Zechariah Daniel Malachi Ezra Nehemiah Chronicles 185
The Apocrypha What is it? Historical Books Books of Wisdom (Poetical) Prophetic Books B Nehemiah B Song of Solomon (Songs) B Jeremiah Tobit (200 b.c.) Judith (150 a.d.) Esther* Book of Wisdom (30 b.c.) Eccleseasticus (32 b.c.) Lamentations Baruch (100 a.d.) Ezekiel 1 Maccabees (110 b.c.) 2 Maccabees (100 b.c.) Daniel* The apocrypha (means hidden things in Greek) is a collection of books that were incorporated into the Catholic Bible at the Council of Trent in 1546 (Reformation started in 1517). Along with the Bible and Catholic Traditions, the Apocrypha is to be received and venerated as the Word of God by Catholics. 186
The Apocrypha Why are they excluded from Protestant Bibles? Not one of the apocryphal books is written in the Hebrew language, which was alone used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament. Most were written in Greek in the first century BC The apocryphal books were never acknowledged as sacred scriptures by the Jews, custodians of the Hebrew scriptures The Apocrypha contains fabulous statements which not only contradict the "canonical" scriptures but themselves. For example, in the two Books of Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanes is made to die three different deaths in three different places. None of the authors of these books ever claimed divine inspiration for writing them 187
The Apocrypha Why are they excluded from Protestant Bibles? The Apocrypha includes doctrines in variance with the Bible, such as prayers for the dead, alms for sin, purgatory and magic: 2 Maccabees 12:43-45, 2.000 pieces of silver were sent to Jerusalem for a sin-offering...whereupon he made reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin. Ecclesiasticus 3:30, Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms make atonement for sin. Tobit 12:8-9, 17, It is better to give alms than to lay up gold; for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Tobit 6:5-8, If the Devil, or an evil spirit troubles anyone, they can be driven away by making a smoke of the heart, liver, and gall of a fish...and the Devil will smell it, and flee away, and never come again anymore. 188
The Apocrypha Why are they excluded from Protestant Bibles? It teaches immoral practices, such as lying, suicide, assassination and magical incantation. Jesus refers to none of the apocryphal books nor are they referred to in any part of the New Testament whereas the Old Testament is referred to hundreds of times (three top books Jesus refers to: Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Psalms) Martin Luther regarded the Apocrypha as "useful historical" writings which Christians should be familiar with and which should even be read in public worship from time to time. But neither Luther never regarded these writings as canonical--i.e., as part of the inspired and inerrant Word of God. 189
S e Silence Era l Era Figure Location f T e Creation Adam Eden Patriarch Abraham Canaan Exodus Moses Egypt s Conquest Joshua Canaan t Judges Samson Canaan Kings David Israel Exile Daniel Babylonia Return Ezra Jerusalem 2196 Silence Pharisees Jerusalem 190
Bible 101 Toolbox Arc of the Bible Geography of the Bible Timeline of the Bible Story of the Bible Historical Timeline 191
Silence Era What is meant by Legalisms? One important principle of rabbinic interpretation involved putting a fence around the Torah. The rabbis reasoned that it would be easier for people to live within God s laws if they enacted rulings that prevented them from even getting close to breaking them. For instance, no one was to handle tools on the Sabbath lest the temptation to work become too strong to resist. The rabbis were like worried parents intent on protecting their children from straying into the road by building a fence three hundred yards away from another fence constructed at the edge of a busy highway. And though the rabbis intentions were good, this practice opened the Mark 223 2:23-2828 door to rigidity and legalism. See Mark 2:23-28 365
Historical Timeline Silence Era 430-6 B.C. Pentateuch is finalized 400 b.c. Alexander the Great Defeats Persia 333 b.c. Cleopatra Rules Egypt 51 b.c. 30 b.c. Temple of the Sun Built 300 b.c. Qin Dynasty 221 b.c. 342
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Era Figure Location STORY LINE Creation Adam Eden Adam is created by God, but sins and destroys God s original plan for man Patriarch Abraham Canaan Abraham is chosen by God to father a people to represent God to the world Exodus Moses Egypt Through Moses, God delivers the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt and then gives them the Law Conquest Joshua Canaan Joshua leads the conquest of the Promised Land Judges Samson Canaan Samson and others were chosen as Judges to govern the people for four hundred rebellious years Kingdom David Israel David, the greatest king in the New monarchy is followed by a succession of mostly unrighteous kings and God eventually Judges Israel for her sin, sending her into Exile Exile Daniel il Babylonia bl Daniel give leadership and encourages faithfulness among the Exiles for the next seventy years Return Ezra Jerusalem Ezra leads the people back from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem Silence Pharisees Jerusalem Pharisees and others entomb the Israelites in legalism for the next four hundred years 314