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Ezra 1 – Nehemiah 13:31

Ezra–Nehemiah

Symmetry in Ezra–Nehemiah

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    Zerubbabel's return and list of returneesEzra 1–2list of returnees, gold, silver, priestly garments (2:1–70)
  2. b
    building of temple and opposition from enemiesEzra 3–6themes: opposition, the story of the Jews' success
  3. c
    Ezra's returnEzra 7–8dealings with king; orders from king to Transeuphrates governors to assist Jews; recounted in first-person
  4. d
    CENTER: purification of peopleEzra 9–10
  5. c′
    Nehemiah's returnNehemiah 1–2dealings with king; orders from king to Transeuphrates governors to assist Jews; recounted in first-person
  6. b′
    building of walls and opposition from enemiesNehemiah 3:1–7:3themes: opposition, the story of the Jews' success
  7. a′
    Zerubbabel's return and list of returnees; final reformsNehemiah 7:4–13:31list of returnees, gold, silver, priestly garments (7:4–73)

Seven units

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. aZerubbabel's returnEzra 1–2
  2. bZerubbabel's accomplishmentEzra 3–6
  3. cEzra's returnEzra 7–8
  4. dEzra's accomplishmentEzra 9–10
  5. eNehemiah's returnNehemiah 1–2
  6. fNehemiah's accomplishmentNehemiah 3:1–7:3
  7. gfinal reforms and listsNehemiah 7:4–13:31

Paired parallel pattern in Ezra–Nehemiah

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    Zerubbabel's returnEzra 1–2
  2. a′
    Zerubbabel's accomplishmentEzra 3–6
  3. b
    Ezra's returnEzra 7–8
  4. b′
    Ezra's accomplishmentEzra 9–10
  5. c
    Nehemiah's returnNehemiah 1–2
  6. c′
    Nehemiah's accomplishmentNehemiah 3:1–7:3
  7. d
    final reforms and listsNehemiah 7:4–13:31

Alternating parallel pattern in Ezra–Nehemiah

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. areturnZerubbabel's returnEzra 1–2
  2. baccomplishmentZerubbabel's accomplishmentEzra 3–6
  3. a′returnEzra's returnEzra 7–8
  4. b′accomplishmentEzra's accomplishmentEzra 9–10
  5. a′′returnNehemiah's returnNehemiah 1–2
  6. b′′accomplishmentNehemiah's accomplishmentNehemiah 3:1–7:3
  7. cfinal reforms and listsNehemiah 7:4–13:31