The Harmony of the Ezra-Nehemiah History - Appendix to the Companion Bible

Hanani's report in the month of Chislen leads to the "going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem" (Dan. 9:25) by Artaxerxes (i.e. ASTYAGES) in his twentieth year.

NEHEMIAH'S JOURNEY. He visits the Governors, and presents Credentials.

SANBALLAT'S RECEPTION.

NEHEMIAH'S NIGHT SURVEY OF THE RUINS.

HIS REPORT TO THE JEWS.

OPPOSITION THREATENED (Moab, Ammon, and Ishmael) on charge of rebellion against the Suzerain King (i.e. of Babylon) Nebuchadnezzar.

NEHEMIAH'S ANSWER. Foundation work of Wall begun. Wall itself finished to half its height.

ATTEMPTED OPPOSITION BY FORCE.

NEHEMIAH'S COURSE. PRAYER AND WATCH.

COMPLAINT OF JUDAH. Used by Adversaries.

WALL COMPLETED (second half) in fifty-two days.

REFERENCE TO HINDRANCE DURING THE BUILDING.

Condition of the City.

HANANI APPOINTED GOVERNOR.

CITY OPEN. PEOPLE FEW. HOUSES NOT BUILDED. (Cp. Hag. 1:4.)

(Interval of twenty-eight years.)

EMANCIPATION ACT OF CYRUS.

RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL. [N.B. Cyrus's specification for building the Temple recorded in 6:3-5, falls into its proper place here between 2:1 and 2.]

Genealogies of those who Returned.

THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING SET UP.

THE SECOND DAY. Instruction.

Feast of Tabernacles Kept.

"BUT THE FOUNDATION OF TEMPLE NOT YET LAID."

SIX MONTHS' PREPARATION FOR THE BUILDING.

SECOND YEAR OF RETURN. Second Month. TEMPLE FOUNDATION LAID.

FIFTEEN YEARS OF OPPOSITION. From second year of RETURN to second year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS.

NEHEMIAH GOES BACK for twelve years (cp. 13:6).

[N.B. Chapters 4:1-6:22 are a retrospective reference to the WALL-building of Neh. 2:20-6:15.]

Second Year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS. Sixth month : "This People say, 'The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.'" Hag. 1:2.

COMMAND : "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and THIS HOUSE LIE WASTE?" Hag. 1:4. "GO UP ... AND BUILD." Hag. 1:8.

SIXTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day. The WORK BEGUN. Hag. 1:14-15.

SEVENTH MONTH (7th day of Feast of Tabernacles). The word to Zerubbabel (Hag. 2:1-9).

EIGHTH MONTH. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. Zech. 1:1.

NINTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day. The WORD to the PRIESTS. Hag. 2:10-19.

NINTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day. The FINAL WORD to ZERUBBABEL. Hag. 2:20-23.

ELEVENTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. Zech. 1:7.

FOURTH YEAR OF DARIUS HYSTASPIS. Ninth Month. Fourth Day. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. (N.B. His last date.) Zech. 7:1.

SIXTH YEAR, Twelfth Month of DARIUS HYSTASPIS. TEMPLE FINISHED.

NEHEMIAH OBTAINS LEAVE OF ABSENCE, and RETURNS to be present at

The Dedication of the Temple.

Twenty years after laying the Foundation, 3:8-13 (in 425) : and five years and six months from beginning the House itself (Hag. 1:14, 15). Ending the "Seven Sevens" from "the going forth of the commandment" of Dan. 9:25 in 454 B.C.

EZRA "WENT UP FROM BABYLON" as TIRSHATHA. App 973 ointed by the Persian Council of State. Four months' journey, from 1st NISAN, and arrival at Jerusalem 1st of AB.

Separation of the People. Report of the Princes re the NON-SEPARATION of the Princes, Priests and Levites.

Separation of the People.

THE "ASSEMBLY" of all that were troubled at the words of God of Israel.

THE "ASSEMBLY," and reading of the Law of Jehovah, on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month. (The second day of the Feast of Tabernacles.)

THE LEVITES' PRAYER.

"Strange Wives" and the Covenant.

NAMES OF THE PRIESTS, Levites, and others who had married strange wives.

NAMES OF THOSE WHO "SEALED" THE COVENANT.

EZRA'S LATEST DATE : 1st of NISAN, in eighth year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS.

RESIDENTS IN JERUSALEM.

LIST OF PRIESTS WHO RETURNED with ZERUBBABEL and EZRA for the Dedication of the WALL.

THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL.

THE REFORMATION OF THE PEOPLE.

The Whole Period covered by EZRA twenty-three years (426-403 B.C.).

The Whole Period covered by NEHEMIAH fifty-two years (455-402 B.C.).