All their
neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold (Ezra 1:6).
Ezra records for us
the return from exile – I know; it seems like we just got here! These are newer
writings than those found in Deuteronomy. Remember Ezra and Nehemiah – the one
book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Scriptures) deals with events in the sixth
and fifth centuries BC. The exiles returned to Jerusalem in 536 BC and the
temple was completed in 516 BC. Ezra wrote of things that happened before he was
born, and Nehemiah didn’t arrive in Jerusalem until around 445 BC to rebuild
the walls. The Deuteronomic History (Joshua through 2 Kings) was compiled for
an audience that had just been exiled to Babylon. These writings are for their
grandchildren who are once again settled in Jerusalem.
When we read the
account of Moses on the Plains of Moab, giving his farewell address just before
the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land, we asked the question: How
would a Jewish expatriate, waiting for the expedition back to Jerusalem, read
the story of Moses and the Exodus?
Here we are again.
Would the people of Judah receiving gifts from their neighbors see the
connection with the Exodus story? The Israelites did as Moses
instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold (Exodus 12:35). Just as the Israelis
plundered the Egyptians, now it seems their postexilic return to Jerusalem was
financed by Persia.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Consider the riches and
strength God has at his disposal. Do you ever wonder if he has the resources to
get you where you need to go?
No comments:
Post a Comment