Didaskalos Ministries
Selected Studies In

Ezra - Nehemiah: Introduction, Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 8

INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY

The purpose of this work is to guide you in Spirit Filled interpretation of this "Selected Study". As necessary we will provide outlines, historical backgrounds, note the purpose and focus of the text, and also provide the original hebrew language definitions for the key words in the highlighted text. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!

All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this website, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE 3.0 or MICROSOFT 3.0 will be able to read the document easier.

If you discover obvious errors (as I am human, and do make mistakes), please let me know. Do not contact me to argue about the doctrinal differences that you may have with my teaching. I do not argue Theology with anyone, so all Legalists, cultists, and others with extremist views, please save your (and my) time. If you want to discuss your doctrinal differences, or share a viewpoint, please contact me at Didaskalos Ministries. I am not so arrogant as to think I know it all, or even 1% of what the scripture teaches.

Through Christ, Who taught us the way to Love: David Buffaloe, Didaskalos Ministries

Introduction to Ezra

  1. Title of the Book:
    1. Originally part of a larger Book made up of both Ezra and Nehemiah as found in our modern Bibles. The larger Book was called "Ezra".
    2. In 1448 AD Hebrew scholars divided Ezra into the Ezra and Nehemiah as found in our modern Bibles.
  2. Author of the Book was Ezra
    1. He was the founder of the great synagogue, later called the Sanhedrin.
    2. He took the Old Testament canon and arranged it into the three Hebrew divisions called (1) the Law, (2) the Prophets, and (3) the Writings.
    3. As a scribe Ezra took the Chaldean and obscure ancient Hebrew and re-translated the Old Testament canon into standardized Hebrew. This allowed all of Israel to read and understand the Scripture. All Hebrew letters that we have today come from the changes that Ezra made.
    4. He not only started the synagogue, but established it under local Jewish law. The law stated "whenever ten Jews live in the same geographical location a synagogue shall be erected". The synagogue wasn't a place of worship (Jerusalem filled this need), but was a theological seminary/ Bible study organization.
    5. Ezra wrote two Old Testament Books, four by our modern day division. He wrote Chronicles (now 1st and 2nd Chronicles) and Ezra (now Ezra and Nehemiah).
  3. Historical Background
    1. The Book was written after Israel returned from her 70 year captivity in Babylon.
      1. The captivity was prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. God sent Israel into captivity because they ignored the "Sabbatical Year" (every seventh year was to be a Sabbatical Year) for 490 years. God reclaimed all Sabbatical years by sending the nation to Babylon for 70 years.
      2. The people were scattered in four ways:
        1. The poor remained in Palestine and intermarried with the Babylonians. These people lived in the area called in Jesus' day "Samaria", and these illegitimate people were fiercely hated by the "pure blooded" Jews.
        2. Most of the captives went to Babylon. This turned this group of Jews from farming and into commercial selling.
        3. Some freed Israelites stayed in Babylon after their release from captivity because they were so well off financially.
        4. Some Jews escaped to Egypt where they evaded captivity. Many remained in Egypt after Babylon released the rest of the Nation.
          1. This group stayed in Egypt so long that they forgot how to read Hebrew. This led to the writing of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament.
    2. The Book fits into the early part of Israel's restoration after Babylonian captivity.
      1. In 539 BC Cyrus, the Persian King (who was a Believer), defeated Babylon and Beltshazzar.
      2. in 538 BC Cyrus issues a decree (recorded in Ezra 1.1-6) releasing the Israelites so they could rebuild the Temple. This was the first expedition back into the Promised Land.
        1. Ezra 1-3, the rebuilding commences.
        2. Ezra 4, rebuilding is interrupted because of the Samaritans. Haggai and Zechariah come on the scene and exhort the people to continue.
        3. Ezra 5, the rebuilding continues.
        4. Ezra 6, the Temple is completed, about 516 BC. It took 22 years to complete from start to finish.
      3. The second expedition leaves for the Promised Land. They were led by Ezra, about 516 BC.
        1. Ezra 7-8, the expedition leaves for and reaches the Promised Land.
        2. Ezra 9-10, a revival takes place because of the second expedition.
      4. In 444 BC the third expedition goes to the Promised Land led by Nehemiah. This is recorded starting in the Section we now call "the Book of Nehemiah".
  4. Theme of the Book: Spiritual restoration of the people and physical restoration of the Temple.
  5. Outline of the Book:
    1. Ezra 1-6: Restoration of the people and the Temple under Zerubbabel (first expedition).
      1. Ezra 1-2: Return of the selected few.
      2. Ezra 3-6: Temple restored.
    2. Ezra 7-10: Reforms of the people under Ezra.
      1. Ezra 7-8: The second expedition of all who wanted to come.
      2. Ezra 9-10: Reformation of the people.

Ezra 9.1-6, The Great Sin

Ezr:9:1:

Now when these things were done, the princes (SAR = RULERS OR TRIBAL HEADS) came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated (BADAL = TO SEPARATE OR REFUSE TO MINGLE WITH.HERE REFERS TO SEXUAL SEPARATION) themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, (TOWEBAH, MORALLY DISGUSTING HABITS.REFERS TO THE VARIOUS IDOLATROUS PRACTICES OF THE GENTILES AROUND THEM) even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Ezr:9:2:

For they have taken (NASA = TO BEAR UP OR TAKE AWAY. HERE REFERS TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND INTERMARRIAGE) of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed (QODESH ZERA = SANCTIFIED SEED, SANCTIFIED FAMILY) have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief (RISHOWN = FIRST IN PLACE, FOREMOST IN DOING THIS THING) in this trespass.(MA'AL = UNFAITHFUL ACT, ACT OF TREASON)

Ezr:9:3:

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. (SHAMEN = DEVASTATED, SHOCKED)

Ezr:9:4:

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled (CHARED = IN REVERENTIAL AWE) at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression (MA'AL = UNFAITHFUL ACT, ACT OF TREASON) of those that had been carried away; (GOWIAH = REMOVED, EVACUATED, EXILED) and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

Ezr:9:5:

And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,

Ezr:9:6:

And said, O my God, I am ashamed (BUWSH = DISGRACED, SHAMED) and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities (AVOWN = PERVERSITY) are increased over our head, and our trespass (ASHMAH = GUILT) is grown up unto the heavens.
 

The Commandment Quoted that was Broken

Ezra 9.10-12

Ezr:9:10:

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, (MITSVAH = PRECEPTS, LAWS, ORDINANCES)

Ezr:9:11:

Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess (YARASH = TO SEIZE OR TAKE IN BATTLE) it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another (PEH, IDIOMATIC = FROM MOUTH TO MOUTH) with their uncleanness. (TUMAH = IMPURITY, POLLUTION)

Ezr:9:12:

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

The Corrective Action Taken

Ezra 10.10-14

Ezr:10:10:

And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, (MA'AL = UNFAITHFUL ACT, ACT OF TREASON)and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass (ASHMAH = GUILT) of Israel.

Ezr:10:11:

Now therefore make confession (TOWDAH = TO CONFESS A SIN AS A SIN, TO VOW TO DO BETTER) unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate (BADAL = REFUSE TO CO-MINGLE WITH SEXUALLY) yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Ezr:10:12:

Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

Ezr:10:13:

But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

Ezr:10:14:

Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, (ZAMAN ETH = SCHEDULED OR SET TIMES) and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath (APH = BREATHING. BREATHING WAS USED SYMBOLICALLY FOR BURNING, RAGING ANGER) of our God for this matter be turned from us.

Why Did Israel Sin?

  1. When Israel returned from her 70 year captivity under Babylon many of the women of Israel (who were left behind) had already intermarried with Gentile men. In the ancient world life was very hard. There were no "office" or secretarial jobs. Most employment was self-employment through farming the hard soil with ancient non-mechanical means. Most women survived by marriage, and once linked to a strong husband were able to raise a family. Women were often considered chattel by the conquerers and were often forced into marriage or harems. As a result there was a severe "woman shortage" for the returning Israelites.
  2. To alleviate this shortage the men of Israel had the bright idea of marrying Gentile women. Once the ruler of the Tribe committed this act, his followers felt that it had the "stamp of approval" and did the same.
  3. When Israel first reached the Promised Land God told them to drive out all of the Gentiles they found there. He said that He would help Israel drive them out. (Joshua 23.4-5)
    1. Israel was told to remain separate from these Gentiles because of their idolatrous practices (Joshua 23.6-11).
    2. Israel was warned that if she refused to drive out these nations she would be tempted to intermarry with them. With their idolatrous practices they would be entrapped (Joshua 23.12-13)
  4. Because the ancestors of the newly released Israelites were disobedient to the Word of God, the Gentiles multiplied and waited in the Promised Land like a trap. This trap was one of the reasons Israel went into captivity for 70 years under Nebuchadnezzar (Joshua 23.16).
  5. When Adam (and mankind) fell in the Garden of Eden, God promised a Saviour from the seed of the woman. The lineage of Christ was prophesied to come through Israel (Genesis 3.13-14).
  6. If Satan could destroy the lineage or purity of the bloodline of Israel he could impede the Plan of God as regarding salvation.
    1. Satan attempted to pervert the bloodline of man in Genesis 6.1-8, but God destroyed this plan by flooding the earth with water.
    2. When the returning Israelites, many years later, returned to the Land and took wives from among the Gentiles, they were contributing to Satan's devices. This is what so shocked Ezra. The Messianic line was being destroyed by rejection of the Word of God by the people.
  7. Intermarriage with the Gentiles also brought idolatry into Israel again. God so hates idolatry that the ten Northern Tribes of Israel were dispersed, their records destroyed, and their lineage hidden from mankind's knowledge even today.
  8. Had Israel been allowed to keep their pagan wives the Messianic line would have been destroyed. On top of this the child sacrifices, phallic worship, and other Pagan festivals would have come back into Israel. Israel would have been destroyed and Christ would have never come.
  9. The only solution was for:
    1. All believing Israelites to repent of their sin, starting with the leaders of Israel.
    2. For the pagan wives to be divorced. If the men refused to divorce these women then all would be cast out of Israel (Ezra 10.8). This would protect the bloodline of Israel and the Messianic line.
    3. Those who refused to divorce their pagan wives went to live in an area called "Samaria". These people were a living reminder to Israel of their great sin, as Samaria would continue to harass Israel over the years.
  10. Conclusions we can draw from this study:
    1. Though God may forgive the indiscretion of a sin, the after-effects of that sin may continue to harm you long after the forgiveness.
    2. Only by following the Word of God can we stay in His Plan, and stay away from Satan.
    3. Satan works through the operation of the Old Sin Nature, and his ultimate plan is to destroy us in the worst possible way.
    4. The sins of the parents may come back to haunt the innocent children.

Studies in Nehemiah 8

Neh:8:1:

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe (CAPHAR = ONE WHO RECOUNTS OR ENUMERATES. USED OF EZRA BECAUSE HE KEPT THE LAW, TRANSFERRED IT, AND COPIED IT FOR ISRAEL) to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded (TSAVAH = TO CONSTITUTE, ESTABLISH, OR APPOINT OVER) to Israel.

Neh:8:2:

And Ezra the priest (KOHEN = ACTING PRIEST, RULING PRIEST. EZRA WAS HIGH PRIEST, NEHEMIAH WAS ACTING GOVERNOR) brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear (SHAMA = HEAR INTELLIGENTLY) with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. (CALLED TISRI [1 KINGS 8.2], THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER. THE FEASTS DURING THIS MONTH ARE LISTED HERE.)

Doctrine of Culpability

  1. Culpability refers only to unbelievers. It means accountability for Divine discipline for rejecting Christ as Saviour.
  2. Only those unbelievers who keep on hating and rejecting the Gospel message are slated for Divine discipline (Exo 20.4-5)
  3. Every man pays for his own sin. Children are only accountable for their father's sins if they follow in their parent's footsteps in rejecting Christ as Saviour (Ezek 18.20; Jer 31.29-30)
  4. Punishment in the Mosaic Code applied only to the offender, unlike the codes of the Gentiles (Deu 24.16)
  5. God wants all to be saved so He provides the means for their salvation (Jer 23.13; John 17.17; 2 Pet 3.9; Acts 17.27)
  6. Most normal people are able to reach God consciousness through the process of their own minds. After God consciousness the Father provides the Gospel message, at which point they can either accept or reject Christ (Rom 1.20-21). Those who never reach God consciousness before death (children, mentally handicapped, etc) are automatically saved (Ezek 18.1-30; John 12.48).

Neh:8:6:

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, (AMAN = TO TRUST OF HAVE FAITH IN) with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Neh:8:7:

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

Neh:8:8:

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Neh:8:9:

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, (MEANS "GOVERNOR, RULER". NEHEMIAH LED A GROUP OF EXILES TO THE PROMISED LAND IN 444 BC UNDER EZRA'S ORDER AND LED IN REBUILDING THE WALL OF JERUSALEM. TIRSHATHA WAS ALSO USED OF ZERUBBABEL IN EZRA 2.63) and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Neh:8:10:

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; (ATSAB = TO SORROW OR FEEL MENTAL DISCOMFORT) for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Doctrine of Repentance

  1. Repentance in the Bible does not carry the primary connotation of "being sorry for your sins". It in reality means "to change your mind so as to be in agreement with God". People often use emotions to extreme levels, and extreme emotions often cloud the mind. True repentance is a thought out action of the mind where you agree with God that what you did (or are doing) is sin and must be stopped.
  2. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for "repent" is NACHAM, and can be found in Gen 6.6; Exo 32.14; Judges 2.18; 1 Sam 15.35; Psa 90.13; Jer 15.6; 42.10; Amos 7.3-6
  3. In the New Testament the Greek word for "repent" is METANOEO, and means "to change your thinking or policy so as to agree with another". Metanoeo does not bring salvation, but prepares you for salvation. Faith in Christ alone saves. In order for Faith to be effective you must first repent so as to agree with God that Christ alone can be your Saviour: Mark 1.15; Mat 12.41; Luke 13.3, 5; 15.7-10; 16.30-31; Acts 17.30; 20.21; 26.20; Heb 12.17; 2 Pet 3.9
  4. Believers who have backslidden from God are told to repent: Heb 6.1; Rev 2.5; 16.22; 3.19; 2 Co 12.21
  5. A Greek word that is often mis-translated as "repent" (metanoeo) is the word METAMELOMAI. This word means "to be emotionally sorry for", and has nothing to do with salvation. It is used in Mat 21.29; 27.3; Rom 11.29; Heb 7.21

Neh:8:11:

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

Neh:8:12:

And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make (ASAH = TO MANUFACTURE. SALVATION AND RESTORED FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD BRING GREAT JOY, NOT ASCETICISM) great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

Neh:8:13:

And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

Neh:8:14:

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast (CHAG = A FESTIVAL OR CELEBRATION OF A HOLIDAY. FOUND IN LEVITICUS 23.34) of the seventh month:

Neh:8:15:

And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

Neh:8:16:

So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. (ONE OF THE TEN NORTHERN TRIBES OF ISRAEL, NOW LOST AT THIS TIME. PERHAPS BOOTHS WAS ESTABLISHED HERE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE DAY WHEN ISRAEL WOULD BE REGATHERED)

Neh:8:17:

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

Neh:8:18:

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, (ATSARAH = A MASSIVE FESTIVAL OR GATHERING OF ALL OF ISRAEL) according unto the manner. (MISHPAT = RULING, ORDINANCE, LAW. SEE LEVITICUS 23.34)

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