1. Announcements Make-up and re-take exams on Friday, 12 December, 3:00-5:00, in J 406 Study questions on Blackboard Final exam on Monday, 15 December, 10:30-12:30, in J 237 All questions from units 1-4 taken from previous exams Review materials for prophets and post-exilic history are on Blackboard

2. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free. From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art. Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

3. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

4. Post-Exilic Judaism: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

5. Sources Biblical Ezra and Nehemiah Narratives Letters Documents Lists Haggai and Zechariah Esther Malachi Extra-biblical Herodotus Josephus Persian inscriptions Archaeological Papyri Official seals with names

6. Cyrus Cylinder

7. General History of the Period: The Rise of Medo-Persia Review 722 – fall of the north to Assyria (Nineveh) 612 – fall of Nineveh to Babylon 587/6 – fall of Jerusalem to Babylon Cyrus the Great (559-530) – first return Cambyses (530-522) Darius I (522-486) – Temple completed Xerxes I/Ahasuerus (486-465) – Esther Artaxerxes I (464-425) – Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi

8. Jerusalem Re-established (539-516) [Ezra’s review of history – chs 1-6] Cyrus’s edict in 539 Returnees Leadership (royal and priestly lines) Sheshbazzar Zerubbabel Joshua Opposition Enemies of Judah and Benjamin Samaritan opposition Rebuilding and completing the Temple (516)

9. The Scroll (Megillah) of Esther

10. The Feast of Ahasuerus – who was showing off!

11. Esther and Mordecai

12. Esther Before the King

13. Esther before Ahasuerus – the version in the Septuagint (Greek translation)

14. Esther’s Banquet for the King and Haman

15. Haman’s Humiliation

16. Assyrian relief – horses with “crowns”

17. Haman Begs Esther for Mercy

18. Esther in a Foreign Court (ca 483) A literary masterpiece built around… Reversals A long “thread” of biblical allusions – deliverance at Passover; Amalekites (Agag) A comic portrayal of the Persian court Key themes Threat to Judaism in the diaspora Hiddenness / Sovereignty of God

19. Ezra’s Return to Jerusalem (ca. 460) Ezra 7:1-11 Ezra’s identity Priest - line of Aaron Teacher who knew the Torah His mission

20. The Reformation (Ezra 7-10; Nehemiah 8-10) The Problem(s) Ezra’s prayer Punishment of the disobedient Reading the Torah and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles Fasting, confession, covenant to keep the Torah The intent of the reform Prevent another exile from occurring Intermarriage with foreigners would lead to idolatry

21. Nehemiah the Governor (ca. 444) Identity and character In the administration of Artaxerxes I A man of faith, prayer, and action Strengthening Jerusalem’s defenses (chapters1-6) The reformation with Ezra (chapters 8-10)

22. Nehemiah’s Word Development of Jerusalem People moved into Jerusalem Walls of Jerusalem dedicated Ongoing religious reformation removing foreigners payment of tithes keeping the Sabbath addressing the problem of intermarriage