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The books of Ezra and Nehemiah relate the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon during the rule of the early Persian kings. For a long time, interpretations of these two books by Christian exegetes characterized the Judaism of the post-exilic age as narrow and nationalistic. This interpretation led to a separation of post-exilic Judaism from its pre-exilic Israelite roots that allowed for a super-sessionist reading of the Old Testament based on perceived deficiencies in the religious views of the post-exilic era. Informed by recent advances in our knowledge of the Persian Empire, this commentary, demonstrates that Ezra and Nehemiah offer a compelling story of a people's attempt to reassemble the fragments of their heritage as they face the future in a greatly changed world.
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Reviews
"Thomas Bolin's commentary on Erza, Nehemiah provides a wealth of background information as well as insight into the literary construction of this scroll divided into two biblical books. This is a ready introduction for anyone interested in appreciating the history in, as well as the history of the making of, the Bible. Clearly written in a style that maintains the interest of the reader, this com
Lowell K. Handy, Indexer-Analyst, American Theological Library Association
"The publication of this long-awaited English translation of the collection of sayings by the Desert Fathers, known as the systematic version, is an event to be celebrated. John Wortley has provided us with a fluent and readable version of this important anthology, allowing us now to explore the wisdom of the Desert Fathers in a more systematic way than has previously been possible. Wortley's expe
Dr. Mary B. Cunningham, Lecturer in Historical Theology, The University of Nottingham
"Erudite and accessible, this commentary addresses the numerous challenges that arise when one reads Erza and Nehemiah closely and takes seriously the books' historical context, the wake of the Babylonian exile. By chapter and verse, Thomas Bolin shows how the missions of these two biblical figures paralleled and complemented each other with a common emphasis on the theological themes such as repe
Richard J. Bautch, Associate Professor of Humanities and Associate Dean of the School of H