Bible In 90 Days: Ezra, Nehemiah And Esther

For 1-312, click the "Bible in 90 Days: Impressions" link below.

Ezra:
313.  God specifically stirred the hearts of the priests, Levites and leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple.
314.  The Levites intended to worship God properly.  If one claimed to be a Levite but could not prove it, they could not eat from the offered sacrifices.
315.  At first, opposition to rebuilding the Temple was masked as friendly cooperation.
316.  Royal decrees in Babylon could not be rescinded, so Cyrus' decree to rebuild the Temple had to be obeyed by subsequent Kings.
317.  Ezra had to have access to Babylonian royal papers when Ezra wrote this book.
318.   Even while Judah was in exile, some gave up their idol worship and worshipped God.
319.  Even during the exile, the Law and the knowledge of it was preserved.
320.  Many Levites were recluctant to return to Jerusalem.
321.  Ezra and company traveled to Judah without royal protection to prove God would protect them.
322.  Perhaps because Levites married foreign wives was the reason they were reluctant to return to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah:
323.  Neh. 1:8-9- Does this verse indicate that God has promised land for the Jews that is still valid for this day?
324.  People repaired Jerusalem's gate in the vicinity of their homes.
325.  Israelite lenders were charging their fellow Jews interest.  Nehemiah made them pay it back.
326.  Nehemiah was Governor of Judah for 12 years.
327.  Neh. 5:19- "Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it."
328.  Nehemiah's enemies trembled with fear when they realized the Wall was built with God's help.
329.  Ezra just did not read the Law, but had it explained.  Later the leaders of Israel met with Ezra for further study.
330.  The reading of the Law was to be a joyous event, not a sad one.
331.  The Festival of Shelters had not been celebrated in such a way since Joshua.
332.  Neh. 9- a historical explanation of Israel's disobediance and God's response.
333.  Israel vowed not to intermarry with pagans and to keep the Sabaath, care for the Levites, support the maintenence of the Temple and make the proper sacrifices. Those that signed their name bound their descendants to that vow.
334.  Nehemiah returned to the King who allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem.
335.  The people broke all the vows they made while Nehemiah was absent.

Esther:
336.  The writer of Esther had access to Babylonian Royal documents and officials.  The author was probably Mordecai.
337.  Xerxes took 4 years to find a new Queen.
338.  Esther must have lived in total isolation not to have heard of the King's decree.
339.  Was there a religious connotation to bowing to Haman that caused Mordecai not to bow to him?
340.  Even Haman's wife and friends realized that God protected the Jewish people.