CHAPTER 6: The Post-Exilic Period
6.1 The return of the Jews
to Jerusalem
After the
fall of the southern kingdom, the Jews found themselves exiled to foreign
lands. Fortunately, the godly among them realized the need to repent and to ask
God for a safe return to the holy land (Neh 1:4–11). God heard their prayers
and, in 538 BC, moved the King of Persia
to allow the first batch of exiles to return home. The Bible records:
Now in
the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the
mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and
also put it in writing, saying,
Thus says
Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And
He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
Who is
there among you of all His people? May his God be with him! Now let him go up
to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel
(He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
And
whoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help
him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill
offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:1–4
On account
of the king’s decree, three key figures—Zerubbabel,
Ezra and Nehemiah—were able to lead the people back in groups to rebuild the
temple and the city walls. Moreover, Ezra the priest, made it his priority to
re-educate the people in God’s Law:
So Ezra
the priest brought the Law before the congregation, of men and women and all
who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. Then
he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from
morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
Nehemiah
8:2–3
6.2 Profaning of the
Sabbath
Despite
hearing the word of God, the people failed to implement it consistently. Around
445 BC, when Nehemiah returned to
Jerusalem, he found them profaning the Sabbath on account of their business
activities:
In those
days I saw in Judah some people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and
bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs and all kinds
of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned
them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of
goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing
is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers
do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster
on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the
Sabbath.”
Nehemiah
13:15–18
Nehemiah
rebuked the people and reminded them that God had brought disasters upon their
forefathers for the same sin. He then warned them that if they did not mend
their ways, God’s wrath would come upon them also.
6.3 Nehemiah reinstates
Sabbath observance
Nehemiah’s
next step was to initiate a religious reform. Firstly, he led the people to
make a solemn oath before God: “If the peoples of the land bring wares or any
grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath,
or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year’s produce and the
exaction of every debt” (Neh 10:31).
He then
proceeded to implement a number of practical measures:
So it
was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that
I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till
after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no
burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Now the merchants and sellers
of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. So I warned them,
and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so
again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the
Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and
that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember
me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
Nehemiah
13:19–22
Nehemiah’s
strategy was to physically prevent the people from breaking the Sabbath: he
shut the city gates at sunset and arranged for them to be guarded, and warned
off traders who attempted to come into the city. In this way, he ensured that
the Jews kept the Sabbath rest.
6.4 Stricter observance
after Nehemiah
Not long
after Nehemiah, the Jewish scribes began developing increasingly legalistic
rules for Sabbath-keeping. While they were well-meaning, wanting to prevent the
people from transgressing the Fourth Commandment ever again, they ended up
creating a complicated and burdensome culture.
Aside from
the Jews, there were other groups who kept the Sabbath zealously. They included
the Samaritans and the Essene community at Qumran who were both, in many ways,
even stricter observers of the Sabbath. The Samaritans, for example,
interpreted Exodus 16:29 literally, such that they avoided leaving their homes
at all on the seventh day. In addition, both groups refrained from lighting any
fires on the Sabbath, and so would pass Friday night in total darkness.[1]
6.5 Conclusion
After the
Jews returned to Jerusalem, they had much to learn in terms of keeping God’s
laws. Indeed, when Nehemiah returned to the city, he found that the people were
breaking the Sabbath commandment. The situation prompted him to take action: he
led them to make a solemn oath before God and established stringent measures to
promote the Sabbath rest. This period marked a turning point for the nation;
thereafter, the religious leaders developed increasingly strict measures to
prevent the Jews from transgressing God’s laws.
© January 2012
True Jesus Church.
