Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary
"The chequered story of the Kings, a matter of nearly five centuries, had ended disastrously in 587 B.C. with the sack of Jerusalem, the fall of the monarchy and the removal to Babylonia of all that made Judah politically viable. It was a death to make way for a rebirth." So begins Derek Kidner in this introduction and commentary to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah which chart the Jews' return from exile to Jerusalem and the beginnings of that rebirth.\ As the drama unfolds, we see how...
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"The chequered story of the Kings, a matter of nearly five centuries, had ended disastrously in 587 B.C. with the sack of Jerusalem, the fall of the monarchy and the removal to Babylonia of all that made Judah politically viable. It was a death to make way for a rebirth." So begins Derek Kidner in this introduction and commentary to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah which chart the Jews' return from exile to Jerusalem and the beginnings of that rebirth. As the drama unfolds, we see how international politics, nationalist pride, wise leadership, political intrigue and opportunism, internal dissension and compromise all shape events. But above all and through all we see the good hand of God at work.
General Preface Author's Preface A Selection of Dates Chief AbbreviationsIntroduction I. Ezra and Nehemiah in the setting of their times II. The Religious Policy of the Persian Kings III. Some Leading Themes of Ezra-NehemiahCommentary on EzraCommentary on NehemiahAppendices I. The designation, sources, languages and authorship of Ezra-Nehemiah II. The identity of Sheshbazzar III. The Elephantine Papyri and some statements of Josephus IV. A question of chronology: Ezra-Nehemiah or Nehemiah-Ezra?\ V. Ezra's book of the law VI. Ezra-Nehemiah as history
