Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Nehemiah 2a - Nehemiah Petitions the King

The echoes of Queen Esther and her confrontation with Artexerxes father can be heard in this petition of Nehemiah before the King.  While plying the King with drink party, Nehemiah beseeches him and asks for permission to go to Judea and rebuild the city of his fathers.

Nehemiah 1 - Bad News Arrives in the Capital

We learn of a new important figure, Nehemiah, a Jew who is highly placed in the court of King Artaxerxes.  His brother comes to the capital Shushan with bad news from Jerusalem.  The city is in ruins, and the people are depressed and downtrodden.  Nehemiah takes action, he prays to God, and prepares himself to convince the King to support a renewal of building.

Ezra 10b - Solving the Intermarriage Dilemma Part 2

We learn the details Shechaniah's solution to the problem, which Ezra implements.  A system of courts is set up in every town to review every case of intermarriage one by one.  Women that were willing to join God's covenant are then welcomed into their families.  Those who would rather remain idolaters and continue their abominable customs, had to be divorced and sent back to their families.  Fortunately, only a small minority of families had to be broken up, though many were from very prominent families.

Ezra 10a - Solving the Intermarriage Dilemma Part 1

Shechaniah approaches Ezra and tells him that there is hope! Stop the crying and praying, get yourself together and lead us! We can do this, and we begin to learn of Shechaniah's plan to fix this problem.  

Ezra 9 - Ezra Confronts Intermarriage

The newcomers to the land find that they have been more faithful to God than the residents of the Holy Land.  The people have already started to falter in their faithfulness to God, and have begun to adopt the ways of pagan cults that surrounded them.  This led to intermarriage, and Ezra is stunned by the constant and never ending backsliding of God's people.

Ezra 8 - The Newcomers Arrive in Jerusalem

Having gotten the necessary support of the King, Ezra now gathers the people who will join him on his journey to Jerusalem.  The people gather, pray, and with God's help they have a safe and successful journey.

Ezra 7 - A Teacher of Torah Sets Out for the Holy Land

Ezra sets out for the land of Israel with a new group of returnees.  King ArtaXerxes gives him the full support of the Persian Empire.  The Jewish religion takes a new and important turn, as interpreting the word of God is no longer the realm of the prophets.  Now it is the scholars of Torah who study the word of God, practice it, and teach it to the people. 

Ezra 6 - A NewTemple is Inaugurated!

Evidence is found that the Judean's were given the rights to build by Cyrus himself.  Darius continues the full support of the Persian kingdom for the building effort, and the Temple is finally completed.  The Judeans, along with many converts from other nations gather together to celebrate Passover in the new Temple.

Ezra 5 - An Archival Inquiry is Initiated

Some things never change.  The enemies try to use the cumbersome wheels of bureaucracy to stifle the building project of the new Temple.

Ezra 4 - The Troubles Begin

The local tribes that lived in Judea and Israel while the Judeans were exiled attempt to thwart the building of the Temple and Jerusalem.  This goes on for generations of Persian kings.