Chapters 30-31 Study Questions

Question 1

Who wrote 1 & 2 Chronicles?

Answer 1

Ezra, by Jewish tradition

Question 2

What was Ezra’s heritage?

Answer 2

He came from a priestly line.

Question 3

When was 1 & 2 Chronicles written?

Answer 3

450-425 B.C. (5th century)

Question 4

Was 1 & 2 Chronicles always split into two books?

Answer 4

No. Originally it was one book.

Question 5

What was the purpose of 1 & 2 Chronicles?

Answer 5

To review the history of Israel from Creation to the exile and restoration at the hand of Cyrus. This provided a spiritual foundation for the post-exilic nation as the covenant people of Jehovah.

Question 6

What was the theme of 1 & 2 Chronicles?

Answer 6

Purposeful history

Question 7

1 Chronicles carries the narrative up to what point in Jewish history?

Answer 7

The death of David

Question 8

2 Chronicles covers what part of the Jewish timeline?

Answer 8

The reign of Solomon, the Exile, and Cyrus’s decree of restoration

Question 9

What part of Israel is the focus of 2 Chronicles?

Answer 9

House of David (Southern Kingdom - Judah)

Question 10

The books of Chronicles parallel what major books of the Old Testament?

Answer 10

Genesis, Samuel, & Kings

Question 11

Discrepancies in the spelling of names in Chronicles compared to Genesis, Samuel, and Kings can be attributed to what primarily?

Answer 11

Copyists mistaking similar letters

Question 12

Discrepancies in numerical statistics between Chronicles and the other Old Testament books can be attributed to what?

Answer 12

Round number estimates by copyists, or the translating of numbers expressed by alphabetic letters

Question 13

Discuss the salvation of Manasseh (2 Chr. 33:1)

Answer 13

Manasseh was the son of, and heir to the throne after Hezekiah. He was wicked. Manasseh was carried off to Babylon where he repented and was saved (v.13). It was a real salvation that produced good works (v. 14-16). He was saved late, though, and didn’t have time to finish his reforms in Judah before he died (v. 17, 20).

Question 14

What does the name “Ezra” mean?

Answer 14

help

Question 15

Were Ezra and Nehemiah originally one book or two?

Answer 15

One

Question 16

What is Ezra’s connection to Nehemiah, according to tradition?

Answer 16

Nehemiah had a library that Ezra could have used for recording Israel’s history in Chronicles.

Question 17

What was the book of Nehemiah?

Answer 17

Nehemiah’s memoirs included by Ezra

Question 18

What is the theme of Ezra and Nehemiah?

Answer 18

Restoration of the city, the people to the land, the spiritual law, and the temple

Question 19

What is the approximate date of Ezra and Nehemiah?

Answer 19

425 B.C. (5th century)

Question 20

What does the name “Esther” mean?

Answer 20

Persian for “star”

Question 21

Who wrote Esther?

Answer 21

The author is not established though it may have been Mordecai.

Question 22

When was Esther written?

Answer 22

Likely the last half of the 5th century, after the reign of Xerxes

Question 23

What is the theme of Esther?

Answer 23

The providence of God

Question 24

What was the opposition to Esther’s canonicity?

Answer 24

The book does not mention the name of God.

Question 25

How was the Persian decree to exterminate the Jews overcome when it was unchangeable?

Answer 25

It was overridden by another decree.

Question 26

What does the name “Haggai” mean?

Answer 26

Festal - festival

Question 27

What is unusual about the book of Haggai?

Answer 27

Generally scholars and critics seem to agree on its date and authorship.

Question 28

When was Haggai written and during who’s reign?

Answer 28

520 B.C., in the second year of Darius the Great (post-exilic)

Question 29

What is the theme of Haggai?

Answer 29

Rebuilding the temple

Question 30

What does the name “Zechariah” mean?

Answer 30

“Jehovah has remembered”

Question 31

When was Zechariah written?

Answer 31

5th/6th century

Question 32

What is the theme of Zechariah?

Answer 32

The Messiah’s advent

Question 33

Why are chapters 9-14 considered late by Liberal scholars?

Answer 33

They are apocalyptic and have a different style.

Question 34

What are two major teachings of Zechariah?

Answer 34

1. Joshua the son of Jehozadak is a type of Messiah - 6:9ff.

2. Two different comings of the Messiah - 9:9-10

Question 35

Who was the author of Malachi?

Answer 35

Malachi

Question 36

What does the name “Malachi” mean?

Answer 36

“My messenger”

Question 37

What is the theme of Malachi?

Answer 37

Rebuke of superficial religion.

Question 38

What is the major teaching of Malachi?

Answer 38

The tithe (tenth part)

Question 39

What is the main point of teaching about tithing?

Answer 39

Blessing

Question 40

Discuss Malachi’s burden and how it applies to churches today.

Answer 40

Malachi had a burden, or weight upon his heart. Today, God gives people in churches a burden for programs or missions.