The Bible in a Year

Old Testament

Nehemiah 4 to Esther 5
Read this coming week:
Aug 8 Neh 4‐6, Ps 35, Mark 14 Aug 9 Neh 7, Ps 36, Mark 15 Aug 10 Neh
8‐9, Ps 37:1‐22, Mark 16 Aug 11 Neh 10, Ps 37:23‐40, Luke 1 Aug 12 Neh
11, Ps 38, Luke 2 Aug 13 Neh 12‐13, Ps 39, Luke 3 Aug 14 Est 1‐2, Ps 40,
Luke 4 Aug 15 Est 3‐5, Ps 41, Luke 5

Reading Questions
For next week you’re reading Nehemiah 4 to Esther 5.
Answer the following:
• Who opposes the work that Nehemiah is doing?
(4)
• What is missing inside of Jerusalem that hasn’t
been built? (7)
• What does Ezra do in 8 and how do the people
react?
• What are the obligations of the renewed
covenant? (10)
 • Which people lived inside Jerusalem, which lived
outside? (11)
• What do the priests and Levites do at the
dedication of the Wall? (12)
• Why is the king looking for a wife? (1)
• What is the plot of Haman? (3)

The Bible in a Year

Old Testament

Nehemiah 4 to Esther 5
Read this coming week:
Aug 8 Neh 4‐6, Ps 35, Mark 14 Aug 9 Neh 7, Ps 36, Mark 15 Aug 10 Neh
8‐9, Ps 37:1‐22, Mark 16 Aug 11 Neh 10, Ps 37:23‐40, Luke 1 Aug 12 Neh
11, Ps 38, Luke 2 Aug 13 Neh 12‐13, Ps 39, Luke 3 Aug 14 Est 1‐2, Ps 40,
Luke 4 Aug 15 Est 3‐5, Ps 41, Luke 5

Reading Questions
For next week you’re reading Nehemiah 4 to Esther 5.
Answer the following:
• Who opposes the work that Nehemiah is doing?
(4)
 • What is missing inside of Jerusalem that hasn’t
been built? (7)
• What does Ezra do in 8 and how do the people
react?
• What are the obligations of the renewed
covenant? (10)
• Which people lived inside Jerusalem, which lived
outside? (11)
• What do the priests and Levites do at the
dedication of the Wall? (12)
• Why is the king looking for a wife? (1)
• What is the plot of Haman? (3)
Esther and the Canon
Ignored or derided, the book of Esther has always held
an uneasy position in the canon (the list of accepted
books of the Bible)/

Esther’s position in the biblical canon has long been a

puzzle since the book neither mentions the name of
God, nor makes any overt allusions to religious
practices. Named after its heroine, Esther has been
considered by many to serve the primary purpose of
giving the historical background of the Jewish festival of
Purim.

Since Purim appears to be mainly a holiday of political

liberation rather than religious salvation, with possible
origins in an older Persian holiday, even this justification
has been called into question.

Yet Esther’s message in the canon is one of historical

understanding and of the meta-narrative (the over all
story) of the Bible – and that is that God rescues His
people.
 Please don’t throw this away. If you’re not going to use it, leave it for
someone else to use.

Esther and the Canon

Ignored or derided, the book of Esther has always held
an uneasy position in the canon (the list of accepted
books of the Bible)/

Esther’s position in the biblical canon has long been a

puzzle since the book neither mentions the name of
God, nor makes any overt allusions to religious
practices. Named after its heroine, Esther has been
considered by many to serve the primary purpose of
giving the historical background of the Jewish festival of
Purim.

Since Purim appears to be mainly a holiday of political

liberation rather than religious salvation, with possible
origins in an older Persian holiday, even this justification
has been called into question.
Yet Esther’s message in the canon is one of historical
understanding and of the meta-narrative (the over all
story) of the Bible – and that is that God rescues His
people.

Please don’t throw this away. If you’re not going to use it, leave it for
someone else to use.