Ezra and Nehemiah: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture (Concordia Commentary | CC)

by Andrew E. Steinmann

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 2010

Overview

God raised up extraordinary individuals of faith to rebuild the Jerusalem temple and prepare for the Messiah’s coming. Ezra and Nehemiah offer hope and comfort by showing us what God accomplishes through his people’s faithful labors—and, more importantly, through Jesus Christ, who fully accomplished our salvation through his perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. God continues to show his gracious mercy in Christ to his people despite their faults and failures, their self-centeredness, and their fickle love for righteousness. These themes give the books of Ezra and Nehemiah their power as part of God’s sacred Scriptures.

With the Logos version, you have the unique ability to cross-reference this volume with other commentaries on Ezra and Nehemiah, comparing Steinmann’s research and scholarship with that of other commentators, both contemporary and classic. Bible verses are hyperlinked to your favorite translation, giving you instant access to each passage mentioned throughout this volume.

Key Features

• Provides a theological exposition of sacred Scripture
• Brings careful attention to the original Hebrew
• Includes insight from archaeology, history, and extrabiblical literature
• Illustrates the texts’ contemporary significance

Contents

• Introduction
  • Authorship and Date
  • Historical Background: The Persian Empire and Its Rulers
  • Chronological Issues
  • The Literary Structure of Ezra and Nehemiah
  • Major Theological Themes in Ezra and Nehemiah
  • Law and Gospel in Ezra and Nehemiah
  • Later Traditions
• Commentary on Ezra
  • 1:1–6:22: From Exile in Babylon to the Worshiping Community at Yahweh’s Temple
    • 1:1–2:70: Returning to Jerusalem
    • 3:1–6:22: Rebuilding the Temple
  • 7:1–10:44: The First Year of Ezra’s Mission and Ministry
    • 7:1–8:32: Ezra Is Sent by Artaxerxes I to Jerusalem
    • 8:33–10:44: Ezra Implements His Mission
• Commentary on Nehemiah
  • 1:1a: Superscription
  • 1:1b–6:19: Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem
  • 7:1–13:31: Providing for a Newly Secure Jerusalem

Top Highlights

“It is unlikely that either Ezra or Nehemiah wrote both of these books in their present form, though both books incorporate material from their memoirs. Furthermore, it is unproven (and perhaps impossible to prove) that the author of Chronicles is the author of Ezra and Nehemiah, though the author or authors of Ezra and Nehemiah most likely lived in the same era as the author of Chronicles and both were probably inhabitants of Jerusalem or at least the Persian province of Yehud.” (Page 12)

“Nehemiah, having successfully dealt with internal dissent that had threatened to disrupt the building of Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 5), reports that the project was on the brink of completion (Neh 6:1) when his enemies made a series of last-minute attempts to stop him. The first of these came in the form of diplomatic correspondence designed to lure Nehemiah outside of Jerusalem and to the edge of the territory of Yehud in order to assassinate him (Neh 6:2).” (Page 463)

“It is interesting to note that the place of the arrival is called ‘the house of Yahweh’ (Ezra 2:68), even though the building itself had not yet been rebuilt. This verse anticipates the rebuilding and views it as guaranteed because of God’s promise (Is 44:28). It was this promise of God, and faith in God’s faithfulness, that moved the people to contribute generously.” (Page 177)

“Praise of God before reading Scripture has a long history, and Neh 8:6 is the first known example of the practice” (Page 510)

“The posting of a Judean guard did have a detrimental psychological effect on the Judean builders. The presence of the guard constantly reminded the workers that Sanballat and his associates were threatening to attack. The builders realized how hazardous their work was. The constant threat of imminent attack made the completion of the project less certain; the work seemed harder, and the danger appeared insurmountable (Neh 4:4 [ET 4:10]). The taunting words of Sanballat and Tobiah (Neh 3:33–35 [ET 4:1–3]) had instilled doubts in the minds of the workers.” (Page 447)

Product Details

• Title: Concordia Commentary: Ezra and Nehemiah
• Author: Andrew E. Steinmann
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 736

About Andrew E. Steinmann

Andrew E. Steinmann holds a BS from the University of Cincinnati, an MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary (Ft. Wayne) and a PhD in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan. He has served as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Fraser, Michigan (1981–86); taught at Concordia College, Ann Arbor (1986–91); served as editor at God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society (1991–94); served as staff pastor at Lutheran Home, Westlake, Ohio (1995–2000); and taught at Ashland University and Seminary (1996–2000). He is currently Professor of Theology and Hebrew at Concordia University Chicago, where he has served since 2000.

 

Sample Pages from Ezra and Nehemiah: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture (Concordia Commentary | CC)