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Jewish Families in Exile

• During the long period of the exile the Jews lived
among unknown places and strange customs
– After several decades only a
few Jews had actually seen
Jerusalem and the Temple
– Although the Jews began
making a life in Babylon they
kept the traditions and
stories of their faith alive for the generations who were
born in exile
– These stories and practices enkindled and increased the
Jew’s hope of one day returning to the Promised Land
 Cyrus King of Persia
• During the exile there is a shift of
power from Babylon to Persia
whose king is Cyrus
– Cyrus was a polytheist who wanted
to appease the people he ruled and
their gods
• Cyrus issued a decree allowing
the Jews to return to their
homeland and rebuild their Temple (Ezr 1:2-4)
– Many, but not all, the exiles begin the long journey back
home to start again
– The prophets words and Cyrus’ decree showed the Jews
the faithfulness and power of God
 New Exodus
• Cyrus bids that the locals help
the Jews with gold, livestock,
and offerings to the Lord (538)
– He also returned the precious
vessels of the Temple which
Nebuchadnezzar stole
– God’s people experienced the
return from exile like a New Exodus
• The return to the Promised Land would happen in
three waves each of which would have a leader
who helped rebuild the people’s identity
– Zerubbabel who begins rebuilding the Temple
– Ezra who rebuilds the people’s knowledge of the Torah
– Nehemiah who rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem
 Zerubbabel
• Zerubbabel is a descendent of David
who becomes governor of Jerusalem
– With the help of the gold and free will
offerings he begins rebuilding the Temple
• The Jews realize that the new exodus
and the words of the prophets are not
completely fulfilled
– When the foundation stone is laid for the second Temple there are
shouts of joy and praise but also loud mourning and weeping among
the people (Ez 3:10-13)
– People mourn because the second temple is less glorious then
Solomon’s temple
• The Samaritans want to help with the temple but the
returned Jews refuse since Samaritans are part pagan
– The Samaritans harass the Jews and cause the construction of the
temple to pause
 Haggai and Zechariah
• Haggai and Zechariah are both prophets who minister to the
Jews during the time of the return
– They encourage the people to continue
their work despite setbacks
– The Jews began to become negligent
and focus on their own houses and
comfort instead of the temple of God
– The prophets also remind the people
that a restored Davidic kingdom has
only started but is not yet fulfilled
• Through Haggai and Zechariah God roused the spirit of the
people to work on the house of the Lord
– The Jew’s enemies go to the Persians to investigate and try to stop
the building project
– Cyrus’ successor, Darius reapproves and financially supports the
rebuilding of the temple (Ezr 6:6-12)
– The people finally celebrate with joy the dedication of the second
temple
 Ezra
• Ezra was descended from
the line of Aaron the High
Priest and was “a scribe
skilled in the Law of Moses” (Ezr 7:6)
– He diligently studied the Torah and taught the people
how to worship of God and study his word
– He leads the second wave of the return and appoints
magistrates, judges, and Levites
• The Jews begin slipping away from God’s law by
intermarrying with the Gentiles
– This marriage would include taking an oath to a false god
– The people approach Ezra about this and he prays, fasts,
and confesses (Ezr 9:6-9)
– The Jews commitment to God is stronger now so they
separate from their foreign wives and families
 Nehemiah
• Nehemiah led the third wave of exiles back to
Jerusalem
– In exile he was the cupbearer to
Artaxerxes the king of Persia
– He heard that Jerusalem was still
in disrepair and unfinished even
after 94 years from the first return
– The city walls and gates were
still broken and burned by fire
– Nehemiah had a deep sense of God’s nearness but also
his and his people’s sinfulness (Neh 1:7-11)
• Artaxerxes gave him permission to return to
Jerusalem to help rebuild the city and
– He also eventually appoints Nehemiah governor there
 Walls of Jerusalem
• When Nehemiah arrives in in 444 BC he begins
rebuilding the city walls and gates of Jerusalem
– The walls were necessary for protection against invaders
and gave the Jews peace and security
– They also gave definition and identity to the city
• On seeing this the Samaritans, led by Sanballat,
threaten to kill Nehemiah and begin taunting,
ambushing, and violently attacking the builders
– Nehemiah responds by stationing
guards around Jerusalem and
giving the laborers weapons while
they work spears (Neh 4:16-18)
– Overcoming fear they work so
diligently that the walls and gate
are complete in 52 days
 Promise Unfulfilled
• Nehemiah seeks the religious renewal of the Jews
– During the wall’s construction many of the wealthy took
advantage of the poor
– Nehemiah puts an end to this and works with Ezra to
continue instructing the people in the Torah
• After Jerusalem is rebuilt there is a great
celebration of the feast of booths and a
renewal of the covenant
– Yet it is clear that all the prophesies about
God making them a glorious and world
renowned kingdom have still not come
– Overall they were still weak in strength,
struggling economically, and unknown
• Later Malachi, the last prophet, foretells
that the saving king and Anointed One is
still to come (Mal 3:1; 4:5)