rmation,
see: (a) Asa's restoration of the altar and its vessels, (b)
Jehoshaphat's teaching the people God's law, (c) Joash and God's
restored house, (d) The reforms Of Josiah. (6) The reign of Manasseh.
(7) The nature of the worship of Judah. (8) The captivity. (9) The
value of true religion to a nation. (10) The evil results of idolatry.

* * * * *

Chapter XI.

Ezra, Nehemiah and Ester.

Ezra and Nehemiah.

Name. Ezra and Nehemiah were formerly counted as one book and contain
the account of the restoration of the exiles to Jerusalem and the re-
establishment of their worship. They soon came to be called First and
Second Ezra. Jerome first called the second book Nehemiah. Wycliffe
called them the first and second Esdras and later they were called the
books of Esdras otherwise the Nehemiahs. The present names were first
given in the Geneva Bible (1560). Ezra is so called from the author
and principal character, the name meaning "help". Nehemiah is so
called from the principal character, whose name means "Jehovah
comforts."

Other Books. Three other books should be read in connection with this
study. (1) The book of Esther, which relates to this time and should
be read between chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Ezra. (2) The books of
Haggai and Zechariah. These two prophets were associated with the
first return of Zerubbabel and their words incited the Jews to
complete the temple in spite of opposition.

The Return from Captivity. The return consisted of three expeditions
led respectively by Zerubbabel. Ezra and Nehemiah. The time covered
can not be accurately calculated. It is probably not fewer than ninety
years. Some think it may have been as many as one hundred and ten
years.

Analysis of Ezra.

I. The Rebuilding of the Temple, Chs. 1-6.

1. The proclamation of Cyrus, 1.

2. Those who returned, 2.

3. The foundation laid, 3.

4. The work hindered, 4.

5. The work finished, 5-6.

II. The Reforms of Ezra, Chs. 7-10.

1. Ezra's Journey, 7-8

2. The confession of sin, 9.

3. The covenant to keep the law. 10.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The traits of character displayed
by Ezra. (2) The reforms of Ezra. (a) What were they? (b) Parallel
conditions of today. (3) The adversaries of Judah. (a) Who were they?
(b) The nature of their opposition. (4) The decree of Cyrus. (5) The
expedition of Zerubbabel and Ezra. (6) Ezra's commission and the
king's orders 7:1-26. (7)