Ezra Nehemiah

and

Esther

Peter A. Steveson

Bob Jones

University Press

Greenville, South Carolina

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Steveson, Peter A. (Peter Allan), 1934–

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther / Peter A. Steveson.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Summary: “This book is a commentary on the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther”—Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-60682-052-0 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Bible. O.T. Ezra—Commentaries. 2. Bible. O.T. Nehemiah—Commentaries. 3. Bible. O.T. Esther—Commentaries. I. Title.

BS1355.53.S75 2010

222′.07—dc22

2009053572

BWHEBB [Hebrew] and BWGRKL [Greek] Postscript® Type 1 and TrueTypeT fonts copyright © 1994–2006 BibleWorks, LLC. All rights reserved. These biblical Greek and Hebrew fonts are from BibleWorks (software for Biblical exegesis and research) and are used with permission.

Cover photo credits: Dreamstime.com/Janathonjackson

The fact that materials produced by other publishers may be referred to in this volume does not constitute an endorsement of the content or theological position of materials produced by such publishers.

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Credits for other versions cited on p. xi.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

Peter A. Steveson, PhD

Design: Nathan Hutcheon

Page layout: Mike Boone

© 2011 BJU Press

Greenville, South Carolina 29614

Bob Jones University Press is a division of BJU Press

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-60682-052-0

In memory of

Nokle and Evelyn Steveson,

my parents,

with gratitude for their godly influence

on my life.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chief Abbreviations

Bibles

Ezra

Introduction to Ezra

Ezra 1

Ezra 2

Ezra 3

Ezra 4

Ezra 5

Ezra 6

Ezra 7

Ezra 8

Ezra 9

Ezra 10

Nehemiah

Introduction to Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 13

Esther

Introduction to Esther

Esther 1

Esther 2

Esther 3

Esther 4

Esther 5

Esther 6

Esther 7

Esther 8

Esther 9

Esther 10

Selected Bibliography

Hebrew and Aramaic Words

Preface

The commentary on Nehemiah was the first commentary that I began. I was beginning my first position of leadership—principal of a Christian school—and the role of this biblical leader drew my attention. I realized, however, that I lacked the training and the credentials to continue the work, and I set it aside. Now, some forty-plus years later, I’ve completed my studies. I have added the books of Ezra and Esther since they naturally fall into the same time period of Persian influence on Israel.

I’m often asked the question “Who are you writing for?” My standard answer is that I’m writing for pastors and godly men and women who want help in understanding God’s Word. At the same time, let me point out that I am not writing for scholars or for those with a liberal philosophy of biblical interpretation. It is for this reason that I have not gone extensively into the reasons why I have dated the books ...