The Post Exile
In 539 BC the kingdom of Babylon was captured by the Persian king, Cyrus. In the following year Cyrus pronounced that the Jews could return to the Palestine. He also allowed them to reconstruct their Temple at the state expense and returned the sacred vessels that were pillaged by Nebuchadnezzar. On their return to the Palestine the Jewish people continued to be small in numbers. The refurbishment of the Temple and Jerusalem was slow. This situation continued for about ninety years. Then, a Jewish official at the Persian king’s court, Nehemiah, had himself selected to become governor of Judah.
This selection meant that Judah became recognised as a province within the Persian Empire. Now that Judah was no longer separated between surrounding provinces of the Persian Empire under other governors, Nehemiah began its transformation. Nehemiah began many improvements, the most important of which were religious. Nehemiah realised that the prosperities of the Jewish people depended upon them turning back to God and drawing upon God’s leadership and forte. He proved a firm ruler, strong-minded to rebuild Judah as a practical community with Jerusalem as its capital.
Once its walls were reassembled, Jerusalem became safe and attracted a larger population, again becoming a major city. During this era another prophet, Ezra, came to prominence. A scribe who represented the Jewish welfares at the Persian court, Ezra returned to Jerusalem and worked to re-impose the Laws of the Sinai Covenant, particularly the Ten Commandments.
By now, the Old Testament had been organised into the three parts we know today: the law, the writings and the prophets. Together these books are called the Torah or the Law. Jesus referred to these books when he said that he had come to complete the Law. After the Exile, many of the writings, particularly Psalms and the astute sayings of a writer named Qoheleth, were completed. Others continued to advance. The memories of Nehemiah and Ezra, dealing mostly with the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon and the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, were involved in the Bible in the books that now bear their names.
This selection meant that Judah became recognised as a province within the Persian Empire. Now that Judah was no longer separated between surrounding provinces of the Persian Empire under other governors, Nehemiah began its transformation. Nehemiah began many improvements, the most important of which were religious. Nehemiah realised that the prosperities of the Jewish people depended upon them turning back to God and drawing upon God’s leadership and forte. He proved a firm ruler, strong-minded to rebuild Judah as a practical community with Jerusalem as its capital.
Once its walls were reassembled, Jerusalem became safe and attracted a larger population, again becoming a major city. During this era another prophet, Ezra, came to prominence. A scribe who represented the Jewish welfares at the Persian court, Ezra returned to Jerusalem and worked to re-impose the Laws of the Sinai Covenant, particularly the Ten Commandments.
By now, the Old Testament had been organised into the three parts we know today: the law, the writings and the prophets. Together these books are called the Torah or the Law. Jesus referred to these books when he said that he had come to complete the Law. After the Exile, many of the writings, particularly Psalms and the astute sayings of a writer named Qoheleth, were completed. Others continued to advance. The memories of Nehemiah and Ezra, dealing mostly with the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon and the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, were involved in the Bible in the books that now bear their names.