RELG 464 - The Inter-Testamental Era

 

Module 3 - Ezra, Nehemiah : Restoration and Reform

Key Topics

1. Ezra
2. Nehemiah
3. Sheshbazzar
4. Zerubbabel
5. Tension between Jews and Samaritans
6. The Rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the Rebuilding of the Temple
7. The Religious Reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah
8. Haggai
9. Zechariah
10. Malachi
11. Cyrus II
12. Darius I
13. Artaxerxes I
14. Achaemenes and the Achaemenid Dynasty
15. The Behistun Inscriptions
16. Zoroaster / Zarathrustra and Zoroastrianism
17. The Rise of Persia as a Nation
18. The Fall of Babylon
19. 1 Esdras
20. 2 Esdras

Scripture and Apocrypha Readings

• 2 Chronicles 36:22-23
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• 1 Esdras
  Esdras is the Greek form of the name Ezra
• 2 Esdras
  It is generally thought that 2 Esdras was probably written much later than the time of Ezra, and added to and edited by several writers, including a Christian who wrote chapters 1 and 2. It may have been intended for readers during the Roman occupation and persecution in Palestine, using "Babylon" as a figurative way of speaking about Rome. It is included in this week's readings so that you may compare its style to that of the other books.

Textbook Readings

The text book does not show Page numbers very well - they are inside the logo at the top of the page - but the Maps are numbered clearly. It is easier to find sections by following the Map numbers

• Prophets of the Exile, and Return to Judah, pages 162-163
• The Persian Period, pages 164-173, maps 82-86

Course Notes

• Map of the Persian Empire
• Time-Line of the Babylonian and Persian Periods

Useful Links to get you started

Go here for InterNet Links.

Discussion Board 3

Thread : Whom would you most like to have been : Zerubbabel, Haggai, Cyrus II, Darius I, or Artaxerxews I ?
Choose whom you would most like to have been, write an account of his life, and say why you chose him rather than any of the others.

Replies to 2 of your classmates' Threads :
If possible, choose Threads which deal with different people.
What are your thoughts about the people chosen, and their influence on the history of the period ?

Study Report for this Module

Write a paragraph (3 to 10 sentences) on each of the Key Topics
Use MSWord or a text editor such as Notepad to prepare and save your work, then submit it to the relevant SafeAssign box on the BlackBoard site for the course.

Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved

Dr. Rollinson

Station 19, ENMU
Portales, NM 88130

Last Updated : November 1, 2020

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