The Preacher's Commentary #11 : Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther

by Roberts, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780785247852
• ISBN10: 0785247858
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-30
• Publisher: Harpercollins Christian Pub

Summary

General editor Lloyd J. Ogilvie brings together a team of skilled and exceptional communicators to blend sound scholarship with life-related illustrations.The design for the Preacher's Commentary gives the reader an overall outline of each book of the Bible. Following the introduction, which reveals the author's approach and salient background on the book, each chapter of the commentary provides the Scripture to be exposited. The New King James Bible has been chosen for the Preacher's Commentary because it combines with integrity the beauty of language, underlying Hebrew and Greek textual basis, and thought-flow of the 1611 King James Version, while replacing obsolete verb forms and other archaisms with their everyday contemporary counterparts for greater readability. Reverence for God is preserved in the capitalization of all pronouns referring to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Readers who are more comfortable with another translation can readily find the parallel passage by means of the chapter and verse reference at the end of each passage being exposited. The paragraphs of exposition combine fresh insights to the Scripture, application, rich illustrative material, and innovative ways of utilizing the vibrant truth for his or her own life and for the challenge of communicating it with vigor and vitality.

Table of Contents

Editor's Preface	7	(6)
Author's Preface	13	(4)
SECTION ONE: THE BOOK OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH
Introduction to Ezra-Nehemiah	17	(16)
An Outline of Ezra--Nehemiah	33	(3)
Historical Time-Line Chart for Ezra-Nehemiah	36	(1)
Introduction to Part I: Restoration of the Temple (1:1--6:22)	37	(2)
God Begins to Restore Through Cyrus (1:1--11)	39	(14)
The People Who Returned to Jerusalem (2:1--70)	53	(12)
Establishing the Foundations (3:1--13)	65	(10)
Opposition to Restoration (4:1--24)	75	(12)
Resumption of Restoration (5:1--6:12)	87	(14)
Completion and Celebration (6:13--22)	101	(12)
Introduction to Part II: Restoration of Covenant Life, Phase One: The Work of Ezra (7:1--10:44)	111	(2)
The King Commissions Ezra (7:1--28)	113	(12)
Ezra Returns to Jerusalem (8:1--36)	125	(12)
Ezra Confronts Jewish Intermarriage (9:1--10:44)	137	(20)
Introduction to Part III: Restoration of the Wall through Nehemiah (1:1--7:73)	155	(2)
Introduction to Nehemiah (1:1--11)	157	(10)
Nehemiah Prepares to Rebuild (2:1--20)	167	(14)
Teamwork in Rebuilding the Wall (3:1--32)	181	(10)
Confronting and Overcoming Opposition (4:1---6:19)	191	(32)
Jerusalem After the Wall (7:1--73)	223	(8)
Introduction to Part IV: Restoration of Covenant Life, Phase Two: Ezra and Nehemiah Together (8:1--13:31)	229	(2)
Renewal Through Understanding and Celebrating the Law (8:1--18)	231	(10)
Renewal Through Confession (9:1--37)	241	(14)
Renewal of the Covenant with God (9:38--10:39)	255	(12)
Ordering a Renewed People (11:1--12:26)	267	(8)
Dedication of the Wall (12:27--43)	275	(10)
A Day of Obedience (12:44--13:3)	285	(4)
Shoring Up Restoration Life: Nehemiah's Second Term (13:4--31)	289	(38)
SECTION TWO: THE BOOK OF ESTHER
Introduction to Esther	303	(22)
An Outline of Esther	325	(2)
Prelude to the Story of Esther (1:1--22)	327	(12)
Esther Becomes Queen (2:1--23)	339	(14)
Haman Issues a Royal Decree to Destroy the Jews (3:1--15)	353	(10)
The Response of Esther and Mordecai to Haman's Plot (4:1--17)	363	(12)
Esther's Favor and Haman's Pride (5:1--14)	375	(10)
The King Honors Mordecai over Haman (6:1--14)	385	(8)
Esther Defeats Haman (7:1--10)	393	(12)
Mordecai Issues a New Royal Decree for Jewish Self-Defense (8:1--17)	405	(10)
The Jews Defend Themselves (9:1--19)	415	(10)
Mordecai and Esther Establish Purim (9:20--10:3)	425	(8)
Bibliography	433