1. Nehemiah/Malachi

2. Where We Are in Our Journey
Last Three Weeks:
Ezekiel 44 – 48 / Joel / Daniel 1 - 6
Daniel 7 – 12, Ezra 1-6, Psalms 137, Haggai
Zechariah, Esther, Ezra 7-10

3. Where We're Going in Our Journey
This Week:
Nehemiah, Psalms 126, Malachi
Remaining:
December 28 – Transition class

4. O. T. TIMELINE (1): 1. Beginnings 2. Patriarchs 3. Bondage 4. Exodus
5. Wanderings
6. Conquest
7. Judges 4

5. O. T. TIMELINE (2): WE ARE HERE Samaria Falls 722 BC Israel Judah
9. Divided
Kingdom
722 BC
Israel
Judah
Judah Alone
8. United Kingdom
10. Captivity
11. Return
WE ARE HERE

6. Extent of the Medo-Persian Empire

8. Persian / World Chronology
(559)
(Ahasuerus/Artaxerxes)
Chronological & Background Charts of the Old Testament by John H. Walton, Zondervan 1994
~480BC
Deaths of Buddha (India) & Confucius (China)
(Ahasuerus)

9. Chronological & Background Charts of the Old Testament by John H
Chronological & Background Charts of the Old Testament by John H. Walton, Zondervan 1994

10. The Return from Captivity - Timeline
536
516
458
444
432+
430?
606
“Rebuild the
Temple”
483
473
“Rebuild
the
Walls”
“Restore
God’s
Law”
Ezra 1-6
Esther
Exile
Ezra
7-10
Malachi
Haggai
Nehemiah
Zechariah
Jews Released
1st return to
Jerusalem
2nd
return to
Jerusalem
3rd
return to
Jerusalem
Cyrus II C
Darius I
Xerxes I
Artaxerxes I

11. Ezra Part Two, Chapters 7-10:
(Elapsed Time – One Year, 7:9-10:17)
- Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts, 1993 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

12. Nehemiah Background
Early Heb. manuscripts joined Ezra & Nehe-miah, but Neh. clearly written in 1st person
Nehemiah served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia in Sushan (Susa)
Received permission to return & rebuild Jerusalem in 20th yr. of King ( B.C.)
Appointed governor in Judah for 12 years
Ezra served as priest and scribe at this time
Returned to King in Persia ~ 432 B.C. (13:6)
Back to Jerusalem “after some time” and lead more reforms (post-Malachi?)

13. Nehemiah - Main Outline
Nehemiah leads reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem, Ch. 1-7
Preparation, 1:1-2:20
Reconstruction, 3:1-7:73
Record of builders, 3:1-32
Opposition to the building, 4:1-6:14
Walls completed, 6:15-19
Jerusalem organized, 7:1-4
Citizens enrolled acc. to genealogies, 7:5-73

14. Nehemiah - Main Outline
Ezra and Nehemiah lead spiritual restoration of the people of Judah, Ch. 8-13
Ezra reads the law / feasts restored, Ch. 8
The covenant is reaffirmed, Ch. 9-10
Jerusalem is resettled, Ch. 11
Record of the priests and Levites, 12:1-26
Dedication of the wall, 12:27-47
Further restoration / separation of the people, Ch. 13

15. Jerusalem in the Time of Nehemiah

16. What Did the Wall Look Like?
Western or “Wailing” Wall of Jerusalem (Herod)

17. More Likely Wall Construction
Ruins of “Broad Wall” dating to 8th Century B.C. (Hezekiah?) May have been 25 ft. high / 23 ft. thick

18. Work on the Gates and Walls of Jerusalem (Ch. 3)
Sheep
Dung
Fish
Old
Valley
Fountain
Water
Horse N

19. Lessons/Themes from Nehemiah
“Let us arise and build” (2:18)
Importance of dedicated leadership, focused on the task at hand
Problems, pains, prayers, & perseverance
Don’t be afraid; Our God will fight for us
Help of God in the face of opposition (6:16) (Ridicule / intimidation & fear / financial hardships / assassination plots / libel / temptation / fraternization with enemies)
Sanballat (Samaria) & Tobiah (Ammon)
Spiritual restoration / Covenant with God

20. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
Prophets Memory Key
4 Major Prophets:
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
12 Minor Prophets:
Hosea*
Joel
Amos*
Obadiah
Jonah*
Micah
* Prophets to Israel
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
-----
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

21. Malachi Background Malachi means “My Messenger”
No other information is given about the man
Exact date uncertain, but message fits problems addressed by Nehemiah on his return, B.C. (Compare with Neh. 13)
Unique style among the prophets: Didactic-Dialectic (Proposition/Objection/Reply), an exposition style later adopted in synagoges
Frequent (25) references to “the Lord” / “the Lord of Hosts” as the prophet’s source

22. They Said / God Said: Wherein have You loved us? 1:2
How have we despised Your name? 1:6
How have we defiled You? 1:7
Why is God displeased with us? 2:14
I chose Jacob over Esau 1:2-4
You are presenting defiled bread on altar 1:7
You despise worship, it’s tiresome to you 1:7-14
You divorced own wives & married pagans 2:11-16

23. They Said / God Said: How have we wearied Him? 2:17
How shall we return? 3:7
How have we robbed You? 3:8
What have we spoken against You? 3:13
You say that evil is good, 2:17
Keep My statutes, 3:7
In tithes and offerings, 3:8
You say it is vain to serve God, 3:14

24. Malachi - Main Sections
Condemnation of the priest’s faithlessness, 1:1-2:9
The Lord’s love for Israel, 1:2-5
Rebuke of the priests & the people, 1:6-14
Priests threatened with a curse, 2:1-9
Mixed marriages & divorces condemned, 2:10-16
The Day of the Lord – Condemnation of religious indifference and skepticism, 2:17-4:6
The Lord’s approach in judgment, 2:17-3:6
Wrongful withholding of tithes and offerings, 3:7-12
God defends His justice – “the day is coming”, 3:13-4:3
Closing admonitions and promises, 4:4-6

25. Malachi - Themes Ritual worship not acceptable
Better to shut the doors of the temple than give half-hearted worship to God
Indifference and skepticism rebuked
Condemnation of divorce and intermarriage with pagan neighbors
Withholding God’s portion = robbery
The day of the Lord is coming, who can endure?

26. Psalm 126 Captives set free – like a dream
Filled with laughter and joy
God given credit
Remembrance of others
Promise of blessings
Sow in tears / reap with joy
“We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves”