Ezra, Nehemiah: Volume 11(11 NEW COLLEGEVILLE BIBLE COMMENTARY: OLD TESTAMENT)

About the Book

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 supersessionist 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.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS

Abbreviations    4
Introduction    5

THE BOOK OF EZRA
Text and Commentary    19
     The Return from Exile (Ezra 1–6)    19
     The Deeds of Ezra (Ezra 7–10)    42

THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
Text and Commentary    59
     The Deeds of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1–7)    59
     Promulgation of the Law (Nehemiah 8–13)    79

Conclusion   103
Review Aids and Discussion Topics    106
Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church    109
Maps    110

About the Author :
Thomas M. Bolin writes and teaches about the literary and religious histories of ancient Israel/early Judaism and the history of Christian biblical interpretation. He is the author of numerous articles and four books, including Ezra, Nehemiah in the New Collegeville Bible Commentary series published by Liturgical Press.

Review :
Erudite and accessible, this commentary addresses the numerous challenges that arise when one reads Ezra 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 theological themes such as repentance, renewal and reconstruction. Bolin’s commentary is essential reading for all who seek a deeper and fuller understanding of a seminal period in biblical history, the fifth century BC when Ezra and then Nehemiah helped chart the course of the Judean community. Richard J. Bautch, Associate Professor of Humanities and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, St. Edward's University Thomas Bolin's commentary on Ezra, 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 commentary succeeds in making an often obscure section of the Bible a lively, relevant and fascinating text. Highly recommended for clergy and laity alike.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 expertise in the spiritual tradition of the Egyptian desert is well known and appreciated by scholars and lay readers alike. This new publication represents a welcome addition to the growing corpus of useful translations and commentaries of early Christian and Byzantine texts, many of which have appeared in the affordable series offered by Cistercian Publications.Dr Mary B. Cunningham, Lecturer in Historical Theology, The University of Nottingham