Category Archives: Ezra

Seven Leadership Principles From Ezra-Nehemiah

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Rick Wadholm

Here are my “Seven Leadership Principles (Hopefully No One Has Ever Taught) From Ezra-Nehemiah” (I’m still waiting on the book deal): (7) Demand that all members divorce any foreigners (Ezra 9-10) (6) Remove from membership anyone missing a special business … Continue reading →

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Brief Introduction to the Book of Ezra-Nehemiah (with Bibliography)

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

Ezra begins his record in 538 BC just after the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus king of Persia (cf. Ezra 1:1) and describes some of the events leading to his own work in Jerusalem some eighty years later (458 BC) … Continue reading →

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Esther 7-8 – The Plot of Haman Reversed

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

7:1-10 – Haman Hanged.  After the second banquet, the king once again asked what Queen Esther wanted (“petition” and “request”) and offered her whatever she should ask for.  Her answer was to ask whether he truly favored her or not … Continue reading →

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Esther 3-4 – A Time for Action

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

3:1-6 – Haman…the Agagite.  Whereas the last we read would have suggested that Mordecai should have been rewarded by the king, we find only the mention of another man who instead receives honors and acclaim from the king…and this man … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Kings, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Daniel, Deuteronomy, Esther, Exodus, Ezra, Genesis, Isaiah, Joshua, Judges, Leviticus, Numbers, Proverbs, Psalms, Zechariah | Leave a comment

Esther 1-2 – Parties That Bring Change

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

1:1-3 – The stage is set.  According to Adele Berlin, chapter one “portrays the Persian court in all its decadent lavishness” and “sets the tone of the book” which is a “tone of excess, buffoonery, and bawdiness” (3).  This would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Kings, 1 Samuel, 2 Kings, Daniel, Deuteronomy, Esther, Exodus, Ezra, Genesis, Joshua, Nehemiah | Leave a comment

Daniel 12 – The Vision of the End

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

11:36-39 – The king who exalts himself.  This king does have certain levels of overlap with Antiochus IV Epiphanes (and many commentators believe that this individual is one and the same), but the description does not fit as it did … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 John, 2 Thessalonians, Daniel, Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, Ezra, Genesis, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job, Jude, Judges, Malachi, Mark, Matthew, Nehemiah, Philippians, Psalms, Revelation | Leave a comment

Daniel 11 – The Vision of the Kings of the North and the South

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

11:2-4 – Persians and Greeks.  Why should there be note of telling “the truth”?  It appears to emphasize that because what follows is given as prophecy of kings and kingdoms that are yet to come, even though some of these … Continue reading →

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Daniel 10 – Prepared for the Final Vision

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

10:1 – The Time and General Content of the Vision.  The third year of Cyrus king of Persia would place this vision in approximately 536-535BC.  This would also suggest that the recently begun work on rebuilding the Temple of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colossians, Daniel, Deuteronomy, Ephesians, Exodus, Ezekiel, Ezra, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jude, Leviticus, Luke, Psalms, Revelation | Leave a comment

Daniel 9 – The Vision of the Seventy Sevens

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Rick Wadholm

9:1-2 – Understanding the date.  This chapter occurs some time after chapter five and perhaps after chapter six.  If this “Darius” the Mede (which seems likely) is “Cyrus” as explained in earlier notes (6:28) then the year would be 538BC … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Daniel, Deuteronomy, Ezra, Jeremiah, Leviticus, Mark, Matthew, Nehemiah, Psalms | Leave a comment

Daniel 2 – Dreams From God

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Rick Wadholm

<!–[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]–> <!–[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]–> 2:1-3 – The disturbing dreams of a king. (cf. Gen.41)  Nebuchadnezzar appears to have had dreams that were disturbing his sleep and the notation of time seems confusing (“in the … Continue reading →

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