This is an interactive outline with links to the mentioned Scripture passages.
· Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms:
o The Northern Kingdom
o Judah
· Both fell to the nations around them
· The Israelites are exiled to foreign lands
· King Cyrus of Persia allows the Israelites to return
o Allows rebuilding of Jerusalem- 2nd Temple Period
o Construction paused for a time, resumed under King Darius
o Chronicled in Ezra and Nehemiah
· In this time Ezra reads from the “Book of Moses” (Nehemiah 8:1)
· One of the issues that comes up is marrying foreign wives
o Possibly a reference to Deuteronomy 7:1-4
o Note the reason is so they don’t worship other gods
§ That did happen under Solomon
· Ezra calls Israelites to get rid of foreign wives and children
· Why did they do this?
o Fear is the simple answer
o Israelites exiled for not following God
§ Ezra’s words suggest keep from happening again
o Original purpose of Israel is that they be separate
§ Holy means “set apart”
§ Sign of God’s love and presence in the world
o Does forget Deuteronomy 10:12-22
§ Focus on Israelites loving God
§ Also focus on being separate
§ vv. 19, called to love stranger
· They were once strangers in Egypt
· Some scholars put Ruth around Ezra and Nehemiah’s time
· Ruth is a foreigner- Great Grandmother to King David
o Sign that maybe foreign wives aren’t so bad
Note:
· Ezra’s claim to know God’s will isn’t through a direct conversation with God (such as with Moses and the Prophets), but his interpretation of Torah.
· Scripture is the collection of stories about God’s people and all that they did, and all those stories are sacred. Those stories also include conflicting opinions God's people had with one another.
· Also, Ruth is about much more than has been covered here…