Nehemah Exile

The exile and return of the Hebrews to their promised land. The Israelites were exiled to the surrounding nations due to their wickedness and disobedience to God. They broke the covenant He had made with them in the desert, ignored the repeated warnings by His prophets, and became like the nations He helped them extricate from their promised land. Therefore, being true to His word He disbursed them amongst the nations around them. These opposing nations were God’s tools to execute His judgment and fulfill His promises to Israel. This paper will evaluate, describe, and expound on the numerous issues or obstacles involved in the conquering of Israel and Judah, the restoration of the Israelites to their land and the struggles faced, the reinstatement

With temple reconstruction completed it was now time to fully engage in phase two. According to the Holman Bible Atlas “Soon after 500 B.C. discouragement and spiritual apathy gripped Judah. Malachi confronted the people with his penetrating oracles that sought to revitalize the spirit of the people. The Jewish community was on the verge of cultural assimilation and extinction.” (Bisco, 172). Ezra was sent by God. However, as part of God’s plan the Persian government had appointed Ezra as the Minister of Jewish (or religious) Affairs. He was the man primarily responsible for completing phase two (reinstating the sacrificial system). He was a man educated in the Mosaic Law, therefore, it was his job to teach the people how to worship God according to the Law. Ezra reminded the people of their covenant responsibilities. In Nehemiah chapters 8 and 9 Ezra reads from the book of the law and rededicates the Israelites to God - verse 9:3 “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.” Ezra completes phase