Genesis to Esther Series – LESSON 22

 

Subject: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

 

I.    The Book Of Ezra Tells The Story Of The Return

Of A Remnant From Babylon, To Rebuild The Temple

 

The book of Ezra tells the story of the returning remnant from Babylon for the purpose of rebuilding the Temple.  They are going back, primarily to rebuild the Temple.

 

Nehemiah is the return of these Jews to rebuild the city. The rebuilding of the Temple was done before the rebuilding of the city.

 

Then the book of Esther, tells how God preserved certain Jews who did not return.

 

And so, you have a remnant going back to do a job for God, and you have those who did not go back; and we have a story about them.

 

1.    Israel (Or The Twelve Tribes) Return

 

I am making the statement, there is no place in Bible history for the false doctrine of ten lost tribes. I am persuaded that is one of the most important statements that I have made. And I have shown you, on what basis I make that. The tribes went INTO  Babylonian captivity and they CAME OUT of Babylonian captivity.

 

In my Doctrine of Salvation Series, I made reference to this. Some years ago, I was called into a home where Mormons were getting involved with the husband and father of this lady that I had known. When I went in, they had their board up in front of me, and on the top was the statement, “Christ had a church.”

 

 

                             Christ had a church.

                             That church had Apostles and Prophets.

                             Those Apostles and Prophets died.

 

QUESTION:      What church has Apostles and Prophets today?

                             Does the Presbyterian church?   NO

                             Does the Methodist church?        NO  

                             Does the Catholic church?           NO  

 

What church has Apostles and Prophets? The Mormon church

 

Therefore, what church is the true church? The Mormon church

 

 

 

Did you notice what it said? The first statement was CHRIST HAD A CHURCH. And I can still remember my putting up my hand like a student. I said, “I’d like to ask you a question about that first statement. That first statement is  - Christ had a church. Christ HAS a church. And ever since He started to build it, there has always been a church, and there always will be a church.”

 

Why did I say that? All that followed was built on the false premise – the false foundation. Christ had a church; you couldn’t build the rest without that. And so, you put up a false statement, and build your theology on a false statement.

 

That is exactly what these people who are in British Israelism have done. They have put up the statement in front of everybody, and Herbert W. Armstrong was sure great with it when he was alive, so was Garner Ted Armstrong. The ten lost tribes of Israel. That is a falsehood. I repeat: there are NO LOST TRIBES!

 

2.    Scriptures

 

I want to go back in Chronicles, and show you how this is united together.

2 Chronicles 36:22

(22) Now in the first year of Cyrus

 

Ezra 1:1

(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus

What do you learn? Where Chronicles ends, Ezra begins -- In the first year of Cyrus.

 

We won’t read this from Chronicles, but it is the same thing.

Ezra 1:1-2

(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

 

(2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

 

At first reading, I don’t think we get the thrill of this, so I bring it up to date. Do you know what Persia is in the Bible today? Bible Persia is Iran. And so, to make this as miraculous as it really was, who is the head of Iran today? A man by the name of Khomeini (not Cyrus, but Khomeini). Can you imagine the Lord telling Khomeini to tell the Jews to go back to Jerusalem? You can see that would be miraculous. But it is no more miraculous than what you have right here. Here is this heathen king, who doesn’t know the Lord; he doesn’t bow before the Lord, and the Lord stirs up his heart.

 

I think we have learned from the Bible, God can use anything to praise Him. And not only any thing, but any person. Remember, we talked about Him using a rooster one day, and He used a donkey to talk another day. All down through the Bible, God uses things.

 

Here He is using a man, and Isaiah says, “I’ve called you by name Cyrus, and you don’t know me.” Don’t let that bother you. Again, I am persuaded, God can use the unsaved if He wants to. That is what you have here. He is an unsaved man, and he knows it is the God of Heaven. How he knows, I don’t know.

 

I think we saw something almost like this back in 1977, the month of November. I think I kept the Time Magazine. Sadat said “Something inside says I have to go.” It was recorded in history.  Here is an Egyptian who shouldn’t go, but he had to go. It no doubt has a great bearing on future history. I don’t know the full extent of it. (Sadat had to go to Jerusalem)

 

Here you have the Hand of God moving on Cyrus and charging him to make commands to these captive people in his country. You see, he has taken over from the Babylonians. And he has all of these Jews that have gone into captivity, by the hand of the Babylonians. So now a new king has come and God says to the king of Persia, “I want you to send those people back.”

 

Let’s read it.

Ezra 1:3-7

(3) Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

Here he is saying, He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Cyrus knows He is a God above gods.

 

(4) And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

 

I find that interesting. The king said, You have one of two choices; you either go back, or you stay here and work and send money. I can see a parallel today in what God is doing in the United States, and in Canada. The Jews who haven’t gone back to Israel are sending money back; and here you have it is history – if you don’t go, then you have to send your money. And so, those who stayed behind, had to sent their money to do this.

 

(5) Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised,

 

Where are they? They’ve been the sons of captives, and been in captivity for 70 years. And if you are a captive that long, they likely have the heart kicked out of them. And now, God not only moves on the heart of the heathen king, but God moves on the heart of these Jews.

 

to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

 

(6) And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

 

(7) Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

 

All that is back in the history and the prophesy. He gave them to Sheshbazzar, (who elsewhere is called Zerubbabel.) Sheshbazzar is the Babylonian name and Zerubbabel the Hebrew name. 

 

Ezra 2:64-65,

When they took the register, and they went back.

(64) The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore (42,360)

 

(65) Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven (7,337): and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.

I like that!

 

If you add the 7,337 to the 42,360, you are just a few under 50,000. So, from here on, whenever I refer to the return from Babylon, I will say that 50,000 Jews went back to build the Temple. It wasn’t very many, but 50,000 go back to do the job. Isn’t that interesting; among the servants were 200 singing men and women. God seems to do that.

 

Some of the best singers that I have ever heard are the sons of those slaves in the United States--those people who were in slavery, and their children, learned to sing. If you really want to go where people sing, go to a colored church. They can put all of us to shame, the way they can sing.

 

They came out of slavery. And here are the slaves who went back, and they are singing. Praise God, they had some singers. When you go back to build on some ruins, you need some singers. Building on ruins is the hardest thing in the world. They are going back to build of the ruins of the great Temple of Solomon, and among them were singing men and women.

 

I don’t try and pronounce all of these names; most of them you just can’t pronounce. Ezra 2:2 gives the list of the towns and the people that went back with Zerubbabel. I already mentioned, in verse 8 he is called Sheshbazzar, but here it is the same man who is called Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel is the Israeli name, Sheshbazzar is the Babylonian name. Remember, Daniel was Belteshazzar, Hananiah was Shadrack, Mishael was Meshack, and Azariah was called Abednego. They gave them heathen names.

 

When they numbered these people who are going back out of the Babylonian captivity, it says,

 

Ezra 2:2 (the latter part of the verse)

(2) The number of the men of the people of Israel:

 

When God is taking the account, He called them “Israel.” So it wasn’t Judah that went back from Babylon, it was Israel that went back.

 

Ezra 2:70

(70) So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

 

They have come back from their captivity. What are we reading about? We are reading about the return from Babylon. Who came back from Babylon? All Israel. That means all of the tribes.

 

Ezra 3:1-13

(1) And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

 

(2) Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jazadak, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

 

That is the first thing. They have just come back from captivity, they had been in captivity for 70 years, and they set up an altar.

 

(4) They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings

 

Remember, they don’t have a Temple yet. All they have had time to build is an altar. But you know it is the month of October; because they are back keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. That came on the 15th day of October, and so on the 15th day of October, they have a place of worship.

 

(5) And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord.

 

(6) From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord.

 

(7) They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

That is in the fall – in October.

 

(8) Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month (the month of May), began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.

 

They have been back, roughly, six or seven months; and all they did during the winter was build the altar. And now in the spring, they go to work.

 

(10) And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord,

I bring that up to 1986 when they poured the concrete. That is all they have done. They poured the concrete of the Temple, and so, when they saw the foundation, they knew how big it was going to be.

 

they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets,

You would think they had the Temple finished!

 

Last night I saw a repeat on Mr. Bonasteel’s program. It was filmed in Jerusalem. Down underneath the Temple area there are Levites (and they showed this) -- Levites with machines making cloth to robe the priests for the new Temple they are expecting to build. I just saw that last night. They are making cloth for priests to start again in the Temple.

 

Well, they put special robes on.

and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

 

(11) And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

 

(12) But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

 

(13) So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

 

Well, I guess that’s an Old Testament Pentecostal meeting isn’t it! The Jews had a Pentecostal meeting. They can make more noise than Gentiles. They made noise, and all they have is the foundation. But they have come back out of their captivity. What a meeting that was for these people!

 

We notice that some were weeping, some were shouting. Were the Ancient men that is the old men, weeping because they remembered the glory of Solomon’s Temple and thought the size of the foundation for this second temple was as nothing in comparison? Were they weeping from sadness or gladness? We do not know. But the words certainly describe a very emotional gathering.

 

Ezra 6:14-17

(14) And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

 

(15) And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

 

Notice that the building of the Second Temple at Jerusalem was done in the days of Haggai and Zechariah. Note also that it was a result of the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of three Gentile Kings, namely, Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes the king of Persia.

 

(16) And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

As you read this verse, notice that it does not say “Jews” but rather “the children of Israel” indicating that a remnant of all the Tribes returned to Jerusalem from Babylon.

 

(17) And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Here it is again. “All Israel” and they offered “twelve he goats” (not two) according to the number of the Tribes of Israel.

 

When one compares the offering made here with the offerings made at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple perhaps it was then the ancient men thought it was as nothing.

 

2 Chronicles 7:5 “And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the King and all the people dedicated the house.”

 

Comparing the two days of dedication, the second would seem to be nothing. But remember a the Second Dedication these people had come back from captivity. There is always the danger of comparing ourselves among ourselves and the Bible says this is not wise.

 

Ezra 7:7, 10, 27-28

(7) And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers and the porters, and the Nethinimus, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

 

“And there went up some of the children of Judah…” No! It says there went up (from Babylon) some of the “children of Israel.” The major point in all these Scriptures is to prove that a remnant from all the twelve tribes went back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Therefore there is no ground for the doctrine of “ten lost tribes.”

 

(10) For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

 

We notice again, Ezra prepared his heart to teach in Israel, it does not say Judah. Ezra was teaching the children and grandchildren of those who had gone back 57 years before he came to Jerusalem.

 

(27) Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:

 

(28) And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

 

All that Ezra had gathered (when in Babylon) out of all Israel chief men to return to Jerusalem with him. Notice the words “out of all Israel,” from the land of Judah.

 

Ezra 8:35

(35) Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord.

 

Notice “twelve bullocks for all  Israel.” And “twelve he goats.” These were offered for the twelve tribes who had returned from the Babylonian Captivity. Ten tribes were not lost.

 

Ezra 9:1

(1) Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

 

Again he writes of the returned captives as being “the people of Israel.” He does not say Judah and Benjamin.

 

3.  About 50,000 “Jews” returned with Zerubbabel.

 

4.    57 Years Later Ezra Returned

 

Ezra 7:1

(1) Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

 

Ezra 10:25

(25) Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchial, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah etc. etc.

 

Verses 18 to 43 goes on to list names of 113 individuals (17 priests, 10 Levites, and 86 others) who were guilty of inter-marriages.

 

(44) All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Such were the conditions so soon after the return from Babylon

 

In our brief consideration of the Book of Ezra our major lesson has been to prove that ALL twelve tribes had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. Therefore ALL the tribes were preserved in Judah before their captivity.

 

There are many other lessons in Ezra, we give but a few examples.

Ezra 1:1

(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

 

Daniel 1:21

(21) And Daniel continued even until the first year of King Cyrus.

 

Here we learn that Daniel had been a captive in Babylon from the beginning of that captivity until the end. For the captivity ended when the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.  

 

Isaiah 44:28

(28) That saith of Cyrus. He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem. Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

 

Consider this, Isaiah wrote these words over 150 years before Cyrus was born, another witness to the Inspiration of the Scriptures. It is also a revelation of the foreknowledge of God.

 

Isaiah 45:1-4

(1)Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and II will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

 

(2) I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

 

(3) And I will give thee the reassures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

 

(4) For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

 

The Lord made the king of Persia a friend of Israel and not an enemy. To see the wonder of all this, imagine a present leader in Iran or Iraq doing something in favour of the Jews and not against them!

 

There are many practical lessons in the Book of Ezra. One lesson, the book would never have been written had God not been at work. The history in the book is of such a nature that only God could have brought it about.

 

Ezra 1:5

(5) Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

 

We cannot raise our own spirits. We cannot restore ourselves. The Psalmist had learned the lesson when he wrote, “He restoreth my soul.” So in this book, see the hand of God working on the spirit of the king and then on the spirits of the people. Cyrus became a tool in the hand of God to work out God’s plan to have the Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.

 

II.  Nehemiah Returned to Rebuild the City of Jerusalem

 

Nehemiah returned to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. In the Book of Nehemiah the words “Jew” and “Israel” are interchangeable. The following Scriptures again indicate that the return from Babylon was a return of a remnant from twelve tribes.

 

Nehemiah 1:1, 3-4

(1) The words of Nehemiah

 

(3) And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

 

(4) And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.

 

The major purpose of our looking at the Book of Nehemiah, like that of Ezra, is to show that Jews from all twelve tribes returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. Fourteen years after Ezra, Nehemiah led more Jews back to their land to restore the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

 

Nehemiah had received a report of the broken-down conditions in that city and he “sat down and wept and mourned.” There are many spiritual lessons in this, but to point these out is not our purpose. One example of a spiritual lesson: Are we as concerned about the broken down home altars, homes, marriages, morals all about us, to “weep and mourn and pray” as did Nehemiah?

 

Nehemiah 1:5-11

(5) And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

 

(6) Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinner.

 

(7) We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest thy servant Moses.

 

(8) Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

 

(9) But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set y name there.

 

(10) Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

 

(11) O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. 

 

Nehemiah 2:4-5

(4) Then the king said unto me, For what doest thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

 

(5) And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my father’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

 

We have read these verses to show how God opened the heart of king Artaxerxes to ask Nehemiah what was troubling him (verses 1-2) and then how he revealed his request to return to Judah to rebuild the city. So the king gave Nehemiah letters of permission to return and begin to rebuild the walls. (chapter 2:4-20) Chapter three is given over to details about the repairs being made, a work that stirred up the wrath of the Jews’ enemies.

 

Nehemiah 4:1

(1) But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

 

In chapter 4:1 the enemies were full of wrath and “mocked the Jews.” Here Jews but in chapter 2:10 the same people are named “the children of Israel.” Two things to notice. The Gentiles named them “Jews” but they were also identified as “Israelites.” The enemies became the cause of trouble from without.

 

Nehemiah 5:1

(1) And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

 

In chapter four trouble from without, but here is chapter five trouble among the Jews from within. Note again the word “Jews.”

 

Nehemiah 8:14, 17

(14) And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month.

 

(17) And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

 

Reading Nehemiah 8:14, 17 the people identified as Jews are here named “the children of Israel.” Need we say it again? When they returned from Babylon the terms were used interchangeably.

 

Nehemiah 9:1-2

(1) Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

 

(2) And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

 

Notice again, these “Jews” are also called “the children of Israel” and “the seed of Israel.”

 

Nehemiah 11:3-4

(3) Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants.

 

(4) And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

 

Notice “in  the cities of Judah dwelt….Israel.” Not only Israel but the children of Judah and Benjamin. So the returning Jews no longer returned to the land of Israel and Judah as two separate countries, as they had been before captivity, but now they return a united country with the terms “Jew” and “Israel” being used interchangeably.

 

Nehemiah 12:47

(47) And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

 

All Israel, the twelve tribes, returned with Zerubbabel in the days of Ezra and also in the days of Nehemiah.

 

Nehemiah 13:3, 17-18, 23-26

(3) Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

 

Although in the earlier chapters of the book they are called “Jews” here they are named “Israel.”

 

(17) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

 

(18) Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

 

In verse 17 he speaks of the “nobles of Judah” but in verse 18 of “Israel.”

 

(23) In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

 

(24) And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.

 

(25) And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

 

(26) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

 

Verse 23 “Jews” verse 24 “Jews” but verse 26 “Israel” twice. But in all these verses they are the same people. The Jews are not separated from the Israelies.

 

These Scriptures again indicate that the return from Babylon was a return of a remnant from twelve tribes.

 

III. Esther Tells How God Preserved the Jews Who Did Not Return

 

 

1.    Note The Word “Jew” In Esther

 

Esther tells how God preserved Jews who did not return. Note the word “Jew” in this book.

 

Esther 2:5

(5) Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jir, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

 

When they were out of their land of Israel, captive in the land of Babylon, these Gentiles identified all of the people of the twelve tribes as “Jews.”

 

Esther 2:10

(10) Esther had not shown her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it.

 

Esther, the Jewish girl did not reveal her identity because the Jews then were hated as they are to this day.

 

Esther 2:20

(20) Esther had not yet shown her kindred  nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

The fact is repeated, Esther had not revealed her identity as being Jewish.

 

Esther 3:3-4, 6, 10, 13

(3) Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

 

(4) Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Haman discovers that Mordecai is a Jew.

 

(6) And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shown him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

 

Haman hated one Jew but wanted to destroy all the Jews. This is anti-semitism. We had a good picture of Haman in the man Hitler in the days of the second World War when Hitler sought to destroy all the Jews.

 

(10) And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

 

Notice the words, “the Jews’ enemy.” The Jews were still being hated when John the Baptist was born many years later.

 

Luke 1:17

(17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 

They are the same people who are being hated by the world today. The whole world is becoming more and more the enemy of the Jews. This should tell us something about the truth of the Bible.

 

Esther 3:13

(13) And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

 

As his lucky day Haman chose the thirteenth day of the month. Is this the reason some still consider the thirteenth an unlucky day? He had gambled “played Pur” and as we would say “hit the jack-pot” on the thirteenth and so chose that day to cause to perish all Jews. Because he did not succeed, ever since the Jews have celebrated Purim.

 

Esther 9:24, 28

(24) Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

 

(28) And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

 

Esther 4:3, 7, 13, 14

(3) And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

 

Notice the word “Jews.” The book of Esther is certainly a part of the Jewish history.

 

(7) And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

 

Queen Esther had sent a servant, Hatach, to see Mordecai when she learned about Haman’s plans. Mordeci told Hatach about the money Haman had promised to pay to be given leave to destroy the Jews. So great was his hatred.

 

(13) Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

 

(14) For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place;

 

So Mordecai sent a message to Esther. She being one of the Jewish people would not escape Haman’s wrath if she did nothing.

 

Esther 5:13

(13) Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

 

Again, we read of Haman’s hatred. He hated Mordecai for the one reason only, he was a Jew. This is the only verse in chapter 5 where the word “Jew” is found.

 

Esther 6:10, 13    

(10) Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

 

(13) And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

 

How God intervened! The Jew is to be honored and when Haman took his report to his wife and family, their wise men said, “If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews Haman, you will surely fall. Do take note of the phrase, “seed of the Jews.: There is no mistake as to the identity of these hated people.

 

Compare with

Esther 7:3-4 “My people”

(3) Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

 

(4) For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.

 

The expression “My people” in the Old Testament is always making reference to the Jewish people. They were and are God’s Chosen People, and Esther acknowledges that she belongs to these despised people.

 

Esther 8:1, 3, 5, 7-9, 11, 13, 16-17

(1) On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jew’s enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

 

(3)And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

 

(7) Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

 

(8) Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.

 

(9) Then were the king’s scribes called at that  time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants

 

(11) Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

 

(13) The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

 

In every verse quoted you will find the words “the Jews.” The story is now no longer only about Esther and Mordecai, but rather all the Jews.

 

(16) The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

 

(17) And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a  good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

In these two verses, find the word “Jews” four times.

 

Esther 9:1-3, 5-6, 10, 12-13, 15-16

(1) Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

 

(2) The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

 

(3) And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

 

(5) Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

 

(6) And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

 

(10) The ten sons of Haman the sons of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

 

In these six verses you will find the word “Jews” seven times. At least three times those who sought to slay the Jews are named their enemies. To be an enemy of the Jews is to be an enemy of God.

 

Psalm 83:1-4

(1) Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

 

(2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted p the head.

 

(3) They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

 

(4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

 

Esther 9:12-16

(12) And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? And it shall be done.

 

(13) Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

 

(15) For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

 

(16) But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey.

 

Once again in four verses the Jews are named four times, but now having found favour with a Gentile king. That alone was a miracle of God.

 

Esther 9:18-20, 22-25

(18) But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

 

(19) Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

 

(20) And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far.

 

(22) As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

 

(23) And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

 

(24) Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

 

(25) But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

 

In these seven verses the Jews are named in every verse But the story is: the plans to destroy them were turned around by God and used to bless them and destroy their enemies.

 

Esther 10:1-3

(1) And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

 

(2) And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

 

(3) For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

 

The story of the book of Esther ends with the exaltation of Mordecai the Jew. He was raised to a high position and “speaking peace to all his seed.” Surely a type or picture of – what Christ will yet do for the Nation of the Jews.

 

2.    Esther Concludes

 

Thus Esther concludes with the exaltation of the Jew Mordecai – who is a type of Jesus.

 

The purpose of our lesson has been to show how many times the word “Jew” is in the book, not to explain the typology.

 

3.    The Book Of Job

 

The book of Job is a great type of the history of the nation Israel. What they had, they lost. But at the end of the story they too will receive double.

 

IV.    Genesis To Esther Summary

 

1.      We have tried to prove that here we have a continued story. Therefore, one cannot accept part and reject part.

 

2.      We have tried to prove that the story from Genesis to Esther concerns people who are with us today -- namely the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.

 

3.   Genesis

 

Genesis is primarily the genesis or beginnings of “the children of Israel.” And in the context of the original meaning, the “children of Israel” were so named because of their natural or flesh birth. Jacob was the first Israelite and his descendants are the “children of Israel.”

 

4.   Exodus

 

Exodus is primarily the story of Israel’s exit from Egypt. All the stories are connected with identifiable geography. Who cannot identify Egypt or the Red Sea?

 

5.   Leviticus

“Leviticus” The word means “pertaining to the Levites.” Levi was the priestly tribe of Israel. Thus the book has to do with sacrifices and priestly service – but all is in connection with the same children of Israel.

 

6.   Numbers

 

Numbers opens with the numbers of Israelites between age 20-50 years, who were able to go to war. This at the beginning of the wilderness journey.

 

Numbers 1:46

(46) Even all they that were numbered with six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

 

The book concludes with the numbers of the same age group 38 years later.

Numbers 26:51

(51) These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.

 

The first count   603,550

The last count    601,730

They had decreased!

 

7.   Deuteronomy

 

Deuteronomy means “2nd Law.” It has to do with the end of the 40 years in the wilderness. It is the story of Moses giving the law the second time – but now to the new generation of the “children of Israel;” who will enter the land of Canaan. The book concludes with the death and burial of Moses.

 

Deuteronomy 34:5-12

(5) So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

 

(6) And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

 

(7) And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

 

(8) And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

 

(9) And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

 

(10) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

 

(11) In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

 

(12) And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

 

All but two who had come out of Egypt died in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:5

(5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 

8.   Joshua

 

Joshua is the story of the same Jewish people moving into the land of Israel. The tribes were given portions of the land for their inheritance. There is a great deal of Scripture dealing with this important subject. It is the same land we are hearing so much about in the news today. “Jews are News.”

 

9.   Judges

 

Judges has to do with the leaders of the children of Israel, in the land after Joshua. These were named “Judges.”

 

Judges 2:16

(16) Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

 

Judges 3:9

(9) And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

The first Judge.

 

1 Samuel 7:15

(15) And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Samuel was the last Judge. These 450 years were the dark days of Jewish history.

 

10.   Ruth

 

Ruth is a detailed story of one family during the time of the Judges. It shines as a light in the darkness. Its primary purpose is to show the genealogy of David, the one chosen by God to become Israel’s king. A type of the “Son of David” who would appear in what is now known as “New Testament Times.”

 

Ruth 4:21-22

(21) And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

 

(22) And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

 

Matthew 1:1

(1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

11.   Samuel, Kings, Chronicles

 

These books introduce us to that period of Israel’s history of Prophets, Priests and Kings. These were the leaders of the nation. During this time, we have the story of Israel’s repeated backslidings. A continuation of the times of the Judges. The Lord would raise up a godly Prophet and King, the result would be revival and a return back to God. Then backsliding, then revival, etc. But finally this led to Apostasy. Apostasy brought the division of the Kingdom, and idolatry was officially introduced in Israel. This led to captivity. During this period, most of the so-called “Minor Prophets” ministered in Israel.

 

A major purpose of this history is to show that when the Babylonians came and carried Judah into captivity, they took a remnant of ALL TWELVE TRIIBES into that captivity. Thus it was at this point in Israel’s history that ALL the tribes of Israel were nicknamed “Jews.”

 

During the final siege of Jerusalem, by Babylon, the temple of Solomon and the city were both destroyed.

 

2 Chronicles 36:15-20

(15) And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

 

(16) But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

 

(17) Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

 

(18) And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

 

(19) And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

 

(20) And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

 

12.   Ezra

 

Seventy years later, God raised up a heathen king, Cyrus, who opened the way for the Jews to return to their land and rebuild their temple.

 

2 Chronicles 36:22-23

(22) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

 

(23) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

 

Ezra 1:1-3

(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

 

(2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

 

(3) Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

 

Fifty thousand responded. Those who returned were called “Jews” as well as being called “Israelites.” From that time to this day the terms have been interchangeable.

 

13.   Nehemiah

 

Some years after Ezra, a king made a command to “Restore and rebuild Jerusalem.” Thus Nehemiah tells of the rebuilding of the walls. Throughout the book the children of Israel are called “Jews.”

 

14.    Esther

 

Esther tells of God’s preservation of the Jews who did not return. See how often the word “Jew” is found in this book.

 

15.    Conclude

 

From Genesis to Esther the story is linked together. The story has to do with the people of Israel, who were promised a Messiah. The history is essential to understand the Prophets and the New Testament.

 

Matthew 22:29

(29) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Old Testament ignorance causes error.

 

The Nation – produced the Bible.

The Nation – produced Christ.

Christ produced The Church.

The New Testament explains the Church and God’s final plan for Israel.