Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) > 
Ezra 
 Introduction
 Exposition
 Conclusion
hide text

The Book of Ezra records two major Jewish returns to the Promised Land from Babylon.

The first of these took place in 537 B.C. under the leadership of Sheshbazzar and then Zerubbabel. About 50,000 Jews returned, rebuilt the temple, and re-established worship as the Mosaic Law directed (chapters 1-6).

The second return occurred in 458 B.C. under Ezra's leadership. About 1,700 men, or 5,000 Jews, returned on that occasion, and the result was a restoration of the people's allegiance to the Mosaic Law. Their purified marriages illustrate the sincerity of their commitment.

In both returns God's sovereign control over the Persian kings is very evident. God moved the hearts of these men to permit His people to return and so fulfill His will (cf. Prov. 21:1). God can and will do seemingly impossible things to remain faithful to His Word.

This book is also a powerful revelation of how God deals with His chosen ones when they prove unfaithful to Him. He does not discard what He has chosen, but He fashions it anew when it fails.

 Bibliography
hide text

Ackroyd, Peter R. I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. London: SCM Press, 1973.

_____. "The Temple Vessels--A Continuity Theme."Vetus Testamentum Supplement23 (1972):166-81.

Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed., New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977.

Albright, William F. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pelican Archaeology series. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1956.

_____. "The Date and Personality of the Chronicler."Journal of Biblical Literature40 (1921):104-24.

Allrik, H. L. "The Lists of Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2) and the Hebrew Numerical Notation."Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research136 (December 1954):21-27.

Archer, Gleason L., Jr. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Regency Reference Library, 1982.

Balcer, J. "The Athenian Episkopos and the Achaemenid King's Eye.'"American Journal of Philology98 (1977):252-63.

Batten, Loring W. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. International Critical Commentary series. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1913.

Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book. 6 vols. London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1965.

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezra-Nehemiah. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1988.

_____. "The Mission of Udjahorresnet and Those of Ezra and Nehemiah."Journal of Biblical Literature106:3 (1987):409-21.

_____. "A Theological Reading of Ezra-Nehemiah."Proceedings of the Irish Biblical Association12 (1989):26-36.

Bowman, R. A. "The Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah."In Kings-Job. Vol. 3 of The Interpreter's Bible. 4 vols. Edited by G. A. Buttrick. Nashville: Abingdon Publishers, 1954.

Breneman, Mervin. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. The New American Commentary series. N.c.: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993.

Bright, John A. A History of Israel. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1959.

Brockington, L. H. Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. Greenwood, S.C.: Attic Press, 1969.

Brueggemann, W. The Land. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977.

Bury, J. B.; S. A. Cook; and F. E. Adcock, eds. The Cambridge Ancient History. 12 vols. 2nd ed. reprinted. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1928.

Clines, David J. A. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. New Century Bible Commentary series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., and London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1984.

Coggins, R. J. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible series. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1976.

_____. "The Interpretation of Ezra IV. 4."Journal of Theological Studies16 (1965):124-27.

Constable, Thomas L. "Analysis of Bible Books--Old Testament."Paper submitted for course 685 Analysis of Bible Books--Old Testament. Dallas Theological Seminary, January 1967.

Coogan, Michael David. "Life in the Diaspora: Jews at Nippur in the Fifth Century B. C."Biblical Archaeologist37 (1974):6-12.

Cross, Frank Moore, Jr.. "A Reconstruction of the Judean Restoration."Interpretation29:2 (1975):187-201.

Darby, John Nelson. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. 5 vols. Revised ed. New York: Loizeaux Brothers Publishers, 1942.

Davis, John J. Biblical Numerology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1968.

_____. Moses and the Gods of Egypt. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1971.

de Vaux, Roland. Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions. 2 vols. Translated by John McHugh. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1961.

Dulin, Rachel. "Leaders in the Restoration."The Bible Today24:5 (September 1986):287-91.

Dumbrell, William J. "The Theological Intention of Ezra-Nehemiah."Reformed Theological Review45:3 (September-December 1986):65-72.

Edersheim, Alfred. The Temple: Its Ministry and Service. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972.

Fensham, F. Charles. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. New International Commentary on the Old Testament series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983.

_____. "Medinain Ezra and Nehemiah."Vetus Testamentum25:4 (October 1975):795-97.

Freedman, David Noel, and G. Ernest Wright, eds. The Biblical Archaeologist Reader. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Co., Anchor Books, 1961.

Gaebelein, Arno C. The Annotated Bible. 4 vols. Reprint ed. Chicago: Moody Press, and New York: Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., 1790.

Galling, Kurt. "The Gola-List' according to Ezra 2//Nehemiah 7."Journal of Biblical Literature70 (1951):149-58.

Grabbe, Lester L. "The Jewish Theocracy from Cyrus to Titus: A Programmatic Study."Journal for the Study of the Old Testament37 (February 1987):117-24.

Haran, Manaheim. "Explaining the Identical Lines at the End of Chronicles and the Beginning of Ezra."Bible Review2:3 (Fall 1986):18-20.

Harrison, Roland K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1969.

Herodotus. 4 vols. With an English translation by A. D. Godley. The Loeb Classical Library. London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1963.

Holmgren, Fredrick Carlson. Israel Alive Again. International Theological Commentary series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987.

Hoppe, Leslie J. "The Restoration of Judah."The Bible Today24:5 (September 1986):281-86.

Ironside, Harry A. Notes on the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther. New York: Loizeaux Brothers, n.d.

Japhet, Sara. "Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel--Against the Background of the Historical and Religious Tendencies of Ezra-Nehemiah."Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft94 (1982):66-98.

Josephus, Flavius. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by William Whiston. Antiquities of the Jews. London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1866.

Keil, C. F. The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Translated by Sophia Taylor. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.

Kidner, Derek. Ezra and Nehemiah. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1979.

Kitchen, K. A. The Bible in Its World. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1977.

Koch, K. "Ezra and the Origins of Judaism."Journal of Semitic Studies19:2 (1974):173-97.

Kuhrt, Amelie. "The Cyrus Cylinder and Achaemenid Imperial Policy."Journal for the Study of the Old Testament25 (1983):83-97.

Laney, J. Carl. Ezra and Nehemiah. Everyman's Bible Commentary series. Chicago: Moody Press, 1982.

Lange, John Peter, ed. Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. 12 vols. Reprint ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1960. Vol. 4: Chronicles--Job, by Otto Zockler, Fr. W. Schultz, and Howard Crosby. Translated, enlarged, and edited by James G. Murphy, Charles A. Briggs, James Strong, and L. J. Evans.

Lawson, Steven J. "The Pattern of Biblical Preaching: An Expository Study of Ezra 7:10 and Nehemiah 8:1-18."Bibliotheca Sacra158:632 (October-December 2001):451-66.

Levine, Baruck A. "The Nethinim."Journal of Biblical Literature82 (1963):207-12.

Luck, G. Coleman. Ezra and Nehemiah. Chicago: Moody press, 1961.

Margalith, Othniel. "The Political Role of Ezra as Persian Governor."Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft98:1 (1986):110-12.

Marmur, Dow. Intermarriage. London: Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, 1978.

Martin, John A. "Ezra."In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, pp. 651-72. Edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. Wheaton: Scripture Press Publications, Victor Books, 1985.

McConville, J. G. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Daily Study Bible series. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1985.

Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987.

_____. "Pilgrimage and Procession: Motifs of Israel's Return."In Israel's Apostasy and Restoration, pp. 261-272. Edited by Avraham Gileadi. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988.

_____. "A Theology of Ezra-Nehemiah and Esther."In A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, pp. 189-205. Edited by Roy B. Zuck. Chicago: Moody Press, 1991.

Millard, A. R. "Assyrian Royal Names in Biblical Hebrew."Journal of Semitic Studies21:1&2 (1976):1-14.

Monson, James M. The Land Between. Jerusalem: By the author, P.O. Box 1276, 1983.

Morgan, G. Campbell. Living Messages of the Books of the Bible. 2 vols. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1912.

Myers, Jacob M. Ezra; Nehemiah. Anchor Bible series. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Co., 1965.

New Bible Dictionary. 2nd ed. S.v. "Money,"by A. F. Walls.

_____. 2nd ed. S.v. "Number,"by R. A. H. Gunner.

Olmstead, A. T. History of the Persian Empire. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948.

Oppenheim, A. L. "The Eyes of the Lord."Journal of the American Oriental Society88 (1968):173-79.

Pfeiffer, Charles F., and Howard F Vos. The Wycliffe Historical Geography of Bible Lands. Chicago: Moody Press, 1967.

Pritchard, James B., ed. The Ancient Near East. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1958.

_____, ed. Ancient Near Eastern Texts. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955.

Rowley, H. H. "The Chronological Order of Ezra and Nehemiah."In The Servant of the Lord and other Essays on the Old Testament, pp. 137-68. 2nd ed. Revised. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1965.

_____. "Nehemiah's Mission and Its Background."Bulletin of the John Rylands Library of the University of Manchester37:2 (March 1955):528-61.

Ryle, H. E. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1917.

Schwantes, Siegfried J. A Short History of the Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1965.

Shea, William H. "Who Succeeded Xerxes on the Throne of Persia?"Journal of the Adventist Theological Society12:1 (Spring 2001):83-88.

Slotki, Judah J. Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah. London: Soncino Press, 1951.

Sprinkle, Joe M. "Old Testament Perspectives on Divorce and Remarriage."Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society40:4 (December 1997):529-50.

Student Map Manual. Jerusalem: Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est., 1979.

Vos, Howard F. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Bible Study Commentary series. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Lamplighter Books, 1987.

Whitcomb, John C. "Ezra."In The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, pp. 423-33. Edited by Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962.

Winkle, Ross E. "Jeremiah's Seventy Years for Babylon: A Re-Assessment; Part I: The Scriptural Data."Andrews University Seminary Studies25:2 (Summer 1987):201-14.

Wood, Leon. A Survey of Israel's History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970.

Wright, J. Stafford. The Date of Ezra's Coming to Jerusalem. London: Tyndale Press, 1946.

Xenophon. Cyropaedia. 2 vols. With an English translation by Walter Miller. The Loeb Classical Library. London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1960.

Yamauchi, Edwin M. "The Archaeological Background of Ezra."Bibliotheca Sacra137:547 (July-September 1980):195-211.

_____. "Ezra-Nehemiah."In 1 Kings-Job. Vol. 4 of The Expositor's Bible Commentary. 12 vols. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein and Richard D. Polcyn. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1988.

_____. "Postbiblical Traditions About Ezra and Nehemiah."In A Tribute to Gleason Archer, pp. 167-74. Edited by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. and Ronald F. Youngblood. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986.

Young, Edward J. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1960.

Copyright 2003 by Thomas L. Constable



created in 0.03 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA