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Your interpretation and especially your poorly questioning regarding the Canon as well as the text itself are causing confusion among those early Bible students. You creators of the "Bible Project" clearly lack historical and contextual knowledge of the word of God. If you truly value the word of God remove this video and consider uploading a corrected one only after a thorough preparation in the study of the word and prayer.
At minute mark 3:00 you have absolutely scriptural false information, stating the children of Israel who didn’t go into exile “just want to help.” This was just the beginning of inaccuracies. You can find a more detailed list in Andrew Podolios comments. The scripture from Ezra 4:1-4 clearly states: “1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” 4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.“ These residents were adversaries, or ENEMIES, of Judah and Benjamin who approached them. While these residents claimed to seek the same God, they also sacrificed to false gods and could therefore have no part in building the temple, which Zerubbabel showed wisdom in his leadership and not allowing them to do so. These people proved they were not true followers of Yahweh God when they began trying to frustrate their plans and come against them in every way. This is only the beginning of the fallacies in this video. This is a poor interpretation so I would recommend people read and study the Word themselves in a translation they can understand (I recommend NLT or NIV for new believers and people who struggle reading) rather than rely on Bible Project for an accurate interpretation of God’s Word. I struggle with reading and am a visual learner, so I hoped this would help me understand what I was about to read. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit was with me when I was reading and showed me the errors in this video. Unfortunately, I’m left with the visual memory of this poor interpretation but I pray the Holy Spirit will override that memory and help me remember the Truth of His Word as it is written. Do Better, Bible Project.
It makes me think that. No matter what we do, if God is not there and doesn't support it, it's not going to happen. Our efforts will be useless. The body without the Spirit is dead. Their efforts were only physical...maybe it was a lesson. Nothing can come together without God.
It was the people who requested the public reading of Torah. They were so hungry for God's Word that they stood for six hours to hear it read and explained to them. This was followed by conviction of sin, confession and repentance. If this isn't the work of the Holy Spirit then nothing is. Today in church people can scarcely sit through a 20 minute sermon before they start looking at their watches. If this video has led you to believe that Ezra-Nehemiah is purely about human effort then it has failed dismally.
I do think that it depends on the sermon. If preachers constantly repeat themselves and tell the same content multiple times in a row it unfortunately gets INCREDIBLY boring even though it is god's word... :( Also one has the feeling of being completely brain washed in a negative way even though it is actually a positive statement which is repeated. So I totally understand those people. I think that one can also teach god's word in short and edible bites. :)
I believe that God moved them to repent, God was with them but they failed to get God's message and took their desire to follow God and turned it into Religion and legalism. They sent away people that wanted to follow God because the demonstration of God's amazingness to Israel, which had been God's intention with his people, because they followed the law literally. They did not accept women from other nations when the intention of the law is to avoid temptation to follow other believes not to exclude people (Ruth is an example), they did not give people the chance to demonstrate if they were God's followers and just explled them not mirroring God's grace that was shown so many times to Israel. They forced their people to follow God instead of moving their desire to follow God with their harts out of love for God. This is a great example of how we fail when we follow our logic and forget God's word and intentions to humanity. We must seek God with our harts not with our minds.
This whole book feels so relevant for today, often times we make our own plans and get angry when they don’t work out bc deep down, nothing has changed. It’s good and humbling to see this every once in a while, thank you! God bless you in Jesus name :)
When Nehemiah begins to rage against those building markets around the temple of the Lord, I was reminded of how this points to Jesus zeal for his fathers house when he "cleansed the temple" and "drove them out" in the same way. It all points to Jesus!
After reading the comments, it shows even further that the books itself should also be read and not just watch the video. I adore Bible Project and take it's interpretation as a viewpoint. Before each book I read, I watch their video. Then after I read the book, I watch the video as a recap. Things that stand out that I am still lost on, I research. It encourages me to find out more. Thank you Bible Project for your wonderful works. May you continue to be blessed.
Yes exactly this!! I’m finding these Bible project videos to be an excellent resource to watch BEFORE tackling a new book of the Bible in its entirety. However, if one were to ONLY watch these videos and not read at all, there is so much that is missed and so much that can be misinterpreted when not reading. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I usually like watching these overviews after I finish reading a book, but I can't help feel that some of the key points of Ezra and Nehemiah have been altered, and some of the information is simply wrong. 1) Zerubbabel didn't allow other inhabitants (who worshipped God along side other pagan gods) to participate in the rebuilding of the temple because it was clear they had ulterior motives in trying to form a partnership with the returning exiles solely so that they can hinder their efforts in re-establishing a presence in Jerusalem and/or have leverage over the usage of the temple (which would've certainly meant worshipping the pagan gods alongside the true God, which is obviously a grave sin that led to exile from Jerusalem in the first place). Then after the inhabitants' help was denied, they did everything they could to stop the construction of the temple. So it was a wise move to deny having these badly motivated people be a part of God's work. A very important detail that seems to have been omitted and the resulting interpretation thus skewed. I understand the narrator wants to promote a vision of unity based on the word of the Prophets, but this shouldn't excuse the danger of forming alliances with those who explicitly go against God. 2) The inhabitants that rebelled against the construction of the temple were those who weren't carried off to Babylon during the exile, and they intermarried with the pagan people and this led to the formation of a faith that mixed the worship of the true God with the worship of false pagan gods. The Israelites returning from exile were supposed to set themselves apart from this kind of improper worship, and after correctly not allowing the inhabitants to assist in the building of the temple, they then went on to marry them. God may have not commanded it, but since Ezra was an expert on The Book Of The Law and was well aware of the consequences of pagan worship (i.e exile), he didn't need a separate command from God to make a proper judgment on the matter. (and I'm not sure if this is accurate, but apparently, most of the wives renounced their worship of pagan gods and promised to worship the real God. Only 114 couples refused to renounce their pagan worship and were either forced to divorce or be excommunicated from the community. Also, while divorce was not encouraged, it was allowed by law) 3) 5:49 is where the video just outright lies. Nehemiah didn't "provoke them to hostility" ("them" being the surrounding inhabitants). Nehemiah was met with resistance as soon as he set foot in Jerusalem and even before he announces his plan to rebuild the wall of the city, "When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel" [Nehemiah 2:10]. These enemies constantly threatened him and his people up until the completion of the wall, and all he ever did in response was pray to God to take care of his enemies for him and to strengthen the will of his people to complete the job, along with arming them and setting up guards to keep watch (day and night) to be ready for an attack at any moment.
Me thinks that the interpretation has something to do with a certain presidential candidate at the time who was also wanting to build a wall for boarder security. I could be wrong but the video came out in 2016 it looks like when that was a make topic of discussion. Anyway, I agree with you too. It's sad bc I love the bible project but not the progressive interpretations... Makes it seem like they have ulterior motives...
@@szechuon6971 possibly, yeah. there might be some political bias at play. But I personally think that they’re altering the meaning text to make the Old Testament seem harsher than it really is to contrast it with the New Testament (which commonly happens with Christian commentators). I’m a Christian, I love the Old Testament and I don’t see the need to alter it’s meaning in anyway
Yes, I think the BP was puzzling over why Gentiles were excluded in the work since the prophets spoke of nations of all tongues worshipping and serving God. I believe the Bible was never against Gentiles or foreigners, but their idolatry. If those of mixed parentage had been willing to subject themselves to God's rule as Ruth did, I think they would have been welcomed to participate in the building projects.
Unfortunately, they really missed the message this time. Badly. Go and read Ezra/Nehemiah again. I have enjoyed the work that they have done, as well, but this one is way off.
@@mydiiulio im interested on what you see when reading Ezra/Neh. Im not disagreeing with you just looking to be enlighten incase you have something to add on🕊
@@jermaine-Yahservant Forgive the slow reply. I will try to be brief. When you look at the narrative of Ezra/Nehemiah, what you see are three primary figures of faithfulness who stick out more than the others, Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Each of them is faithful to their appointed tasks of rebuilding the temple, reinstating temple teaching and worship, and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, respectively. This video depicts the exclusion by these leaders of those living around Jerusalem as a wicked and unfaithful thing. When you read Ezra 4:1-6 (and the following episode, which continues through chapter 6), 10:18-44, Nehemiah 4, and 13, all of the actions of these leaders is presented as a faithful response to an unfaithful history of intermingling with the surrounding nations (a problem whose root finds itself in not fully obeying God's commands during the conquering of Canaan). This video presents a blatantly false reading of the text, where the makers of the video point to the Israelite's exclusivism as bad thing, when in truth it was their lack of exclusivism that led to their ultimate destruction and exile. This undermines the entire message and theme of this book and fundamentally changes the narrative. The Bible Project has done a wonderful job on some other books, but this one misses the mark in a big way. Thanks for asking my thoughts. I'd love to hear your reply.
GOD I S SO GOOD!!!! I keep finding out He is the Master story teller through His Book of truth provable by history .... Ie by what actually happens. Only God Almighty can do that only Him!!!!😍😍😍love you so much Lord!!!😄😄😄
SulemaBook shelf Negative comments aren’t bad. The Bible Project does a lot of extremely good videos, sadly, this one does not use the source text in a fair way.
As usual Bible Project always delivers. Great production and I continue to ask God to bless this ministry. However, this teaching on Nehemiah caused me to go back to Scripture to verify its accuracy [which is what we are to do as believers- Acts 17:11/1 Thess 5:21] and while I am no theologian, the idea that Nehemiah should have included the "enemies" of Israel in the rebuilding of the walls is not what is expounded within Scripture. I encourage my fellow believers to read this Book again. Opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem had been going on for 90 years by those who settled in the area when the Jews were taken captive. Further, the Moabites and Ammonites were bitter enemies of Israel. The fact that Nehemiah did not accept their assistance was not racial prejudice. Yes, God loves all people and desires all nations to know and love him. But while God wants all to come to him, he warns believes to stay away from those bent on evil. The relationships established by Jews and pagans caused their captivity in the first place. And today, the same principle applies. Jesus asked that we remain in the world but not part of it. How does that translate for the believer? Win as many souls for Christ as you can but if you know that your friendship/partnership/fellowship with certain unbelievers will cause you to sin, then would it not be better to refrain from doing so? That varies from believer to believer and varies depending on the circumstance. What might trip me up, may not trip you up. There are some people and circumstances I avoid altogether because why allow myself to be tempted in the first place. Conversely, I have been able to maintain friendships with unbelievers even though they oppose my faith strongly because God gave me to grace to remain strong and stand my ground. Anyways, I encourage the Bible Project to continue their good work, I hardly have occasion, to question their theology and will continue to be an avid fan. God Bless.
This really threw me as well...these are adversaries. I really do like the Bible project, but it sometimes seems to miss the mark in the OT when it comes to any passage our current society may struggle with (see also on Judges). Love you guys, but please do consider these concerns. As a pastor, I feel unable to show some of these videos without disclaimer and critique.
I love how you split the books up into sections, really helps with studying. I've been in church all my life and very few people have shown how to open up the bible like you guys have. Be blessed and continue what you are doing, this surely is a blessing what you are doing.
I have been watching and recommending the Bible Project for a number of years, this is the first time I felt troubled with their interpretation of the biblical text. I have begun a study on Nehemiah and turned to this video for support, I was surprised to see Nehemiah portrayed as the antagonist when Sanballat and Tobiah oppose the building effort. Nehemiah had to come and lead the re-building effort because the walls were destroyed and the gates were burned down.
I'm here from the bible recap and this is th3 first video I've watched since their horrible portrayal of Jonah. I, too, was troubled with this video as well, and came to the comments to see if I was the only one.... most of the comments seem to think it's great, but I am glad to see I am not alone in my thoughts on how it has been handled. I will no longer watch these videos as I can't trust their interpretations.
Don't know how to thank the BibleProject ... it really opens your eyes to the beauty of the scripture ! There are some things, you see them and you cannot help but Praise the Lord !
This was amazing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate how honest it was about the tensions in the text, and how the leaders described in our text are not perfect. Especially about that troubling part of Ezra when the wives and kids are sent away, which is a cruelty not commanded by God. Thank you!
Wow!!!! Thank you so much. Ive been studying the bible and its good to watch this video before I go in the book and have that 1 on 1 with the Lord. Truly so amazing.
let's start by saying that I'm not a radical right and that I've enjoyed every video and that I feel the teaching has been solid, up to this one. it's a very strange interpretation to emply that Ezra got it all wrong and that the people hadn't commented sin. Time and time again in the histories of Kings and Chronicals we are giving the example of leaders marrying "the people of the land" and how that influence led to the worship of the gods of the land. This teaching crossed the line to "having an agenda." I'm not sure what that agenda is and I haven't given up on you...yet.
Bible Project: great analysis made at the end, that political and social reforms don't address the core issues of God's people -- that what we need is a TRANSFORMED HEART. We are to let the Holy Spirit transform us, conform our hearts and lives to the image of Christ. Very timely word for 2022!!!
The Bible never has anything negative to say about Zerubabel, Ezra or Nehemiah, yet, “The Bible Project” clearly does. Below is a scriptural rebuttal to their claims. 2:49 According to the producers, the “grandchildren” of the Israelites want to help but Zerubabel refuses. Note: artwork depicts Zerubabel as mean and crazy and the “grandchildren” as kind and innocent. If this really was the case, then I could see their point in depicting it this way. However, it is not the case. Ezra 4 verse 1 clearly states that they were adversaries of Judah and Benjamin. These were the people of 2 Kings 17 verse 24, who mixed the worship of their idols with the worship of the LORD, so that the LORD sent lions to devour them! The producers go on to say that Zerubabel’s refusal to allow these people to rebuild the temple is “very strange” since the prophets had envisioned everyone coming together to worship The LORD. However, the prophets never envisioned a compromised faith, which is exactly what the adversaries of Israel would have brought, since they worshipped other gods. Makes me wonder if they would conclude it was “very strange” that Jesus drove some people out of the temple in His day? After all, if inclusivity is the highest standard, then holiness must take a back seat. Finally, in Ezra 4 verse 4, we learn that the adversaries discouraged the rebuilding, made the Jews afraid, and even made bribes to frustrate their plans. 3:47 again with the picture of Ezra as defensive and suspicious, and the married couples looking very sweet and innocent. 4:41 Malachi 2 is in reference to the Israelites divorcing the Jewish wives of their youth so that they could marry the pagan women of the land. Yes, God hates divorce, but in this context, He is specifically referring to the initial divorce, not any subsequent divorce of the pagan spouse. 5:16 the opposition is not simply from the neighboring people, but again, adversaries of the Jews. Nehemiah 2 verse 10 says that they were “disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” not that they were disturbed that they couldn’t participate in the rebuilding of the wall. 5:27 reference to the prophet Zechariah speaking of a Jerusalem without walls and borders, but this does injustice to Zechariah’s prophecy, because it is only after the Lord’s four craftsmen have destroyed Israel’s adversaries that there can be peace for Jerusalem. In fact Zechariah is filled with judgment on Israel’s enemies. 5:40 again, another picture of God’s people (this time Nehemiah) looking angry and crazy “Nehemiah informs the people surrounding Jerusalem that they have no part in rebuilding and this of course provokes them to hostility.” NO! In Nehemiah 2 verse 19 we are told that when they heard about the rebuilding they mocked and ridiculed. The hostility was already present before Nehemiah informs them in verse 20, “that they have no share in Jerusalem.” 7:10 again, Nehemiah is made out to be this bad guy, when in actuality He is being used by God to bring judgment and correction. The motivation of Nehemiah is love for God and His holiness, and grief over the people’s rejection of God. This doesn’t mean that he hates the people; he is just grieved. Case in point, his words at the end of chapter 13 verse 26, “Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.” Instead of acknowledging the godly character and motivation of Nehemiah, the Bible project producers use a mocking tone to describe him. I appreciate the producers’ conclusion at the end of this video, that ultimately the Israelites needed a new heart, pointing to Christ. However, in their zeal to highlight the difference between the Old and New Covenant, they overstep the Bible’s own bounds, and essentially slander Zerubabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Russel Grigsby, i appreciate how you use the Bible to critique how the producers present this video. We must be mainfull not to add or take away from the word of God, especially i using our own opinions to facilitate an interpretation of God's word. We were created as inteligent beings who will have question that we seek answer to but to just take out a portion of God's words and manipulate the will our opinions that comes from a carnal mind to dipict to the public as truth, conveys a deceptive agenda. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. KNOWLEDGE DOESNOT DENOTE TRUE WORSHIPPERS!!!!!!
I liked your detailed response. My response to you will not be nearly as long since I am On my tablet at the moment. Your main point is based on a flawed premise. Since the Bible never explicitly states that the three leaders did something wrong or imperfectly, than they didn't. Does the Bible state explicitly that Abraham did anything wrong? Yet his failures in faith from the moment he left Hebron with Lot in tow are clearly evident though not always explicit. Countless other characters in the Bible are not explicitly called out for their imperfections or sins, does that mean they we slander them for seeing them? We should be careful not to add extra biblical "morals" onto the text but still can interpret the Bible with the Bible, which arguably they did. Many of your points are worth discussing but do not, in total, equal a rebuttal of their main point, that these strong leaders were imperfect and the people, both native and returning, more so. And there was still a need to look forward. You simply disagree with how they applied other biblical texts to these passages. But I am afraid you too have a theme to pick out, that these characters are impervious to critique and it that the larger theme isn't important to the interpretation of details. Both are hermeneutics problems worth working out.I encourage you and those reading your comment to not throw out everything they propose because of those quibbles.
Good response. I use Bible Project a lot, but this one did seem to stretch some things. I've wondered sometimes if they try to soften God's sharper decrees to make him more palatable for the American masses. While there are countless examples of leaders in Hebrew Bible doing wrong, the video does overlook the real threats that this vulnerable community faced in reestablishing themselves. Context is important here. I hope that people do not view these videos instead of reading the books and studying them in depth, but rather to help them wrap their mind around the major outline and themes. If the videos would do this without pushing speculations or assumptions as facts, that'd be super great.
reminds me a lot of the world today, how we argue so much over the best ways to patch the growing tensions in ways similar Ezra and Nehemiah, and how these, like anything we do without the guidance of the Lord, eventually disappoint us, and that in the end it is all a heart problem. The world needs a new heart, salvation. Without the blessing of God there is no victory.
I'm a baby Christian who needs to be fed! Meaning, I picked up the Holy Bible in Oct. 2017 and I havent put it down since. Anyway, I just finished the book of Ezra, haha I could hardly understand it. It made me frustrated, so I came here. Watched the video, and I was still lost for words. .. Until I read your comment! How did I miss that?? Haha I almost went to bed feeling bad that I'm not bright enough to understand what I am reading. Some of the stories do hit home for me. I'm happy now, thanks for posting!
Gosh I love these videos. I’m trying to read through the Bible and these summaries are SOOO valuable to my understanding. Giving God the glory for leading you all to this project so that the lost can find the way. Blessings. 🙏🏼
I watch the first video on Genesis then I read Genesis and watched the video again to recap. I've repeated that pattern and I'm on Ezra now. These videos make reading the Bible much more manageable.
I started a Bible listening group about a couple years ago. We go from cover to cover every six months. Right now we’re in the book of Nehemiah. That’s awesome!
Very thorough interpretation of what Nehemiah was fighting to accomplish. When we as born again Bible believers obey Jesus, there will be opposition. We must stick to the work and do what is pleasing in the sight of Him!
I absolutely love how Bible project sums up all the books of the Bible...i am in wonder of how the Israelites kept on getting it wrong. With such a God how could they be soo blind even to this day.?..thanks again this awsome way of explaining how the Bible works. It's given me new vigor and inspired me to read and listen to the Bible again.
At first I gave this vid a thumbs up, then later down, then later no thumb, now I am back to thumbs up. This is an 8:34 minute video, and not meant to be an in-depth study on 2 books, which would make this video like 2 hours or more. Who is going to watch a 2 hour video and the content would be totally different! The basic story is explained. Messiah is mentioned, our need for a new heart explained, and we are encouraged to learn more concerning, "what is God going to do about fulfilling his great covenant promises." May we all seek after God more earnestly each day that we are graciously given to live, until our day to be with Him comes. "Lord, help me to keep my lamp burning and trimmed (Matthew 25:7)."
The Bible project is helping me understand things so much better. After each book I read, I summarize with one of these videos. It really helps me understand what I just read. Thank you for this !!!
I watch these videos right before I read the books and they are wonderfully helpful. Thank you for the work you do. The illustrations and the superb narration play such an important part in making these books easier to understand. God bless
I suggest you to watch them rather after. Becáuse then yyour views on the book may twist wrongly for I think the Bible project did not deliver this books feel just right. Rather read it for yourself and ask God what it means, then go and compare it with commentaries by other people.
Been contributing for years to the Bible Project, and I must say that what you guys are doing is such a blessing. Please continue your work, the world needs God more than it can possibly know right now.
Bible Project group, you have great art work. I don't know what you grew up learning about the Bible, but your interpretation of the Bible is contrary at times. I am so sorry that whatever happened for you to begrudge the Word of God transpired, but please don't do that anymore. You all are wonderful people, but sometimes, we can get hurt in the church and misinterpret the Word. You are in my prayers and I think you do awesome work a lot of times. Thank you for trying to help us learn more in Jesus' name.
Those people who wanted to help in Ezra chapter 4 are not grandchildren of the Israelites, but the Samaritans. These people wanted to serve the God of their new land, but they did it in the wrong way. It says in verse 2: "....ever since Esarhaddon king of Assyria BROUGHT us here."
I just read Ezra and now Nehemiah but decided to watch your video. It gives it better context watching your video. I usually try to watch before starting to read something especially in the Old Testament.
As I read the Bible I always watch your overviews of each chapter just so I know I caught/understood the storyline and main points. Thank you so much for helping me on my journey. God bless!
I feel it so much. I cannot change my heart and my ways through my own efforts no matter what I try. So I continue to seek God’s closeness through prayer, reading bible, obeying commands, loving people as much as I can, doing good, etc but knowing that I need grace and nothing that I do can save me or give me a heart of flesh. Oh how I desire Holy Spirit to change my heart.
Oh God please help me to hear you and obey you fully!!!! Unwavering and abide in You!!!! And keep me protected from the opposition around me-But more than that, may your will be done and Kingdom come!!!!
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. Today (April 11), Ezra 10:1-12 was the basis for our Sunday School Lesson of the Day. It was entitled "Ezra: Faith and Action Preacher." The beloved hymn, "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me," written by Julie von Hausmann (1825-1901), is a good hymn to compliment this Scripture, regardless of denomination.
My Bishop has just introduced the bible project to the church as our studying tools doing Biblestudy, so there is loved this approach of learning the books in this manner, and it is fascinating, so now I am here to get the knowledge for myself. I will find myself here to receive the rest of this knowledge. What you two scholars have done, I commend you for a job well done. thank you . for I will use you as my studying tool from now on along with the bible study that our Bishop bring to us as a whole. Great work, and thank you for sharing this with us all. Min/Chaplain Elaine
I am a non-believer who decided to read the Good Book page by page (I am at Nehemiah). I must say the Bible Project is a fantastic tool. You have a gift of re-telling stories and focusing on important elements. My sincere compliments.
@@berrylict Hey I know how you feel I try to read the bible and take notes at the same time and I try to read at least 10 mins each day but it is taking awhile still at the old testament. Also this video is not accurate so I would be carefully watching this one. These videos really bring in their personally beliefs which is very annoying. But one of the top comments tells in detail what is wrong with this video. But just reading the bible will tell you the true story. Also I am glad that you are reading the bible but why do you not believe? I hope I can answer any questions. Have a blessed day!
Being a carpenter, my trade has taught me many skills with my hands, heart and character. Biblical wisdom addresses the parts of human nature that must be understood and discussed openly if we are to thrive as individuals first and society second!😎🙏
Its a heart issue..sometimes we do things half hearted to God..we think that it can pleases God but God knows every heart of the person,we cannot hide everthing from him..I pray that our hearts beats only for the Lord no matter what happends..
I’m about to start reading the book of Ezra, thank you for creating this explanation! I pray God blesses all your work and that it helps bring many to the knowledge of Christ! ✝️💜
I just finished these two books 2 days ago, and feel like I need to reread them and study them better. This video pointed out a few things that I didn't really think about as I read. I still have some questions that I'd like to find answers/clarifications to.
So if it wasn't the KING who brought peace; and it wasn't the TEMPLE that brought peace; and it wasn't the LAND that brought peace... *Psst*, Jesus, you're on.
The heathens wanted to kill them while they were building the wall. That’s why there was no peace. The nations around the Israelites hated them. You need to READ the Bible. “And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” Nehemiah 4:11
Zarubabel Ezra and Nehemiah did more for the Israelites than jesus. All jesus did was irrelevant parlor tricks. Never saved Israel from their enemies,not even their sins.They are still sinning (not doing the covenant) sin is still in the world today. They are still in captivity under the curses and oppesed by their enemies. What kind of savior is this?
I have watched since the Genesis up to this book. Great Job. I am a youth from the Philippines and the faith and hope of the people especially of the youth must return to God. In your contribution, I am telling my co youth to watch your videos. Keep up the good works. God bless.. ♥
I love these! These easy to get, comic book pictures (lending a pinch of humor) make bible study doable and fun. I had never heard about these 3 parallel stories, the "not quite there yet" ending of these stories, and the messianic implications.
I always watch the video of the book before I read it to understand it more and there's no other place I rather go but here because you break it down so awesomely... thank you so much!
In Ezra God placed curse over Ezra because they married Caucasian women. They were not allowed into Jerusalem. They had to send the women and children away they married. The curse on Israel was lifted when the men got rid of the women. Some of the men got beaten by the Tribes. It’s not your book yet you’re trying to interpret it and you’re not giving accurate information.
Ezra 4 marks the people who offered to help as “adversaries,” probably because they (or at least their ancestors) worshipped false gods (2 Kings 17:29-41). It isn’t strange that there was conflict - they were opposing true worship of Yahweh.
I was thinking the same thing as the clip was going, glad my head was thinking as you. With that said I/we could be wrong but I dont think so. The issues with the Israelites from before the Kings and till their end with Babylon was mixing with the evil ones, the ones they were to kill off. Reading scripture tells us this very clearly, doesnt it? Praying for biblical truths always. I like the BibleProject and think they do a good job but I think they are a little off here, respectfully.
Yes This is interpreted by the Bible project completely wrong. The Jews went into captivity because they were all bad they wouldn’t repent. That was the whole message from Jeremiah. You’re going to Babylon the ones who didn’t go for the most part became pagan idolaters and they stayed that way. so any of the 3 groups that showed up under the ZarubaBell Ezra or Nehemiah were not there to help they were there to stop the building and corrupt the line of the Messiah, ( Jesus) who has not been born yet and all of the future references to the temple are not this temple but in Revelation I urge all of you to look up and listen to Calvary Chapel pastors because they have been studying the Bible verse by verse as a denomination for over 50 years Thanks JP
This morning I woke up and in that moment of between awake and asleep, I heard in my spirit “Hashub” so I’m here to learn more about the book of nehemiah
I just finished reading Ezra and Nehemiah and if this doesn’t represent the times we are living in now than I don’t know what does! We are marrying people we shouldn’t. We are exiling people who have souls and do belong to God too. We do well by staying holy for a bit and then trail off into sinful or disobedient paths and then try again by going back to God in prayers of renewal! All of it represents us today and I love the final message on the true focus of these books. In order for us to fully turn away from sin is a new heart and they only one who can instill that in us is God ❤
Thank you for this explanation. I'm teaching this book to the kiddos. The divorce part has always tripped me up because although I understand the transgression of them taking foreign wives they still have started families with these wives. To understand that Ezra's reform was his own way of handling it really helps me see this book properly.
This is so prophetic for today. Israel have been back in their land since 1948, but they are far from God. One day they shall “look upon him whom they pierced” and have the ultimate feast of booths. Praise Jesus
It’s like how just because God gifted his people Jerusalem again, doesn’t mean they will be happy and sinful. We are gifted things from God yet are still unhappy or sinful. The circumstances around us might change but we never will unless we truly seek God. I believe that is another theme of these books: It was never the loss of Jerusalem that caused Gods people to stay, but instead it was Israel’s heart that was lost and the people never truthfully repented to receive their forgiveness again. Great job!
The way you guys summarise the Bible one might think youre the author of that book. I mean its so plain that we're all able to get something, youre doing amazing Job. Just like few many comments have alluded, the work of mankind without God is in vain. You saw Nehemiah at the end of the book Prays to God because in his humananity he failed, people opposed his ideas. It is the same with us today, we face challenge after challenge in our way of life lets pray that our GOD go before us because we cant do without HIM. May He remain big and us small in Jesus name Amen. God bless us all as we unite on this blog to support the ministry of our lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
While I have been blessed by the Bible project, I feel that they have missed the entire point of Ezra 4. There are strong reasons that the offer for help was refused. The despised Samaritans of Jesus' time were descendants of the people identified in II Kings 17, who combined their worship of God with those of idols.
I’m so grateful for these videos as they are helping me understand the bible a lot more than I would had I not watched them. What I do is after reading each book in the bible I then watch the corresponding video and it’s great! Thank you and God bless you 🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇
@@pulsar2049 Uh no, actually the high five emojis that pop up when you type in the words high five are 🙌🏻✋🏻🖐🏻. Prayer is 🙏🏻. But thanks anyways, God bless you🙏🏻🙂.
Very good. Another huge point of the book is that although we may try our best, we can never keep God's Law faithfully, as seen in these books. This is what points us to our and their need of a Savior. Matthew 1:21. This will continue until One day he will return and fully enact his promise in Jerimiah 31, and thereby bring to pass the prophecy of Revelation 22.
I do love and appreciate your insight, Tim, but there are times I would love to sit with you and chew the theological cud. This is one of those. I do appreciate how you compared this rebuilt Temple and rebuild Jerusalem with the promised Messianic Temple and Messianic Jerusalem - and showed how this isn't it. However, I believe you misrepresented the hearts and intentions of the three leaders. 1) What does the Torah state about who and who cannot build the Temple? What does Torah state about who only can cut the stones of the Temple? This is key to recall when it comes to the people asking to help build the Temple. 2) Ezra 4 - "1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” The text states thee people were enemies, not the grandchildren of the Israelites left behind from being exiled. In fact, if you read back in 2 Kings, people from the surrounding nations had been brought in to resettle the land. So why are you stating that the people asking to help build the Temple were Israelites? 3) The pre-exile Israelites fell into sin when they married foreigners and kept the religious practices of these foreign nations. I do not understand why you neglected to consider this consequence in your evaluation of Ezra's actions in forcing the foreign wives and their children away. Please recall that the people were still under the Covenant of Sinai and were still required to abide by *this* Covenant, not the one that had not come yet. Now we could debate about whether or not the wives and their children should have been given the chance to renounce their foreign gods et al, but it is still improper to leave out this key point of information with regards to the people needing to keep themselves holy (set apart). 4) The surrounding people becoming hostile to being rejected happened with Zerubbabel, not with Nehemiah. With Nehemiah, the surrounding people were hostile first. I do not understand why this was presented inaccurately. That said, I do appreciate the conclusion about change needing to come from the heart. In fact, Ezra-Nehemiah is the perfect set-up for what we see in the Gospels. 1) The hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans - the Israelites who were left behind intermarried with the Gentiles who were brought into the land. 2) The additions of strict laws to force people into obeying Torah. We can see in this book the foundation for why the religious leaders found it necessary to clamp down on the rules to help keep the people from falling into sin and rebellion.
I generally really like The Bible Project; however this video really misrepresents Ezra-Nehemiah! Zerubbabel's story doesn't end on a downer, but with JOY! (Ezra 6:19-22) It was BECAUSE the Israelites separated from the surrounding nations' sinful practices that they were able to experience this joy. And it wasn't just the returning exiles who celebrated, but also other's who purified themselves from those practices. The whole point of the book of Ezra is to encourage them to remain faithful in the midst of hostility by their enemies... and such hope is vindicated in the book of Nehemiah. This video really misses the point.
Though many of the Bible Project videos are solid and clarifying, the presenters blew it with this one! I recommend a redo of this particular video. The graphics can stay the same, but the narrative needs to change. Confusion of prophecies concerning nearby times and the last days, mistaken facts, arbitrary interpretations, calling parts of the story "odd" and "very strange", and finally, what's actually the purpose of these books?...... I find many things in this video odd and strange and feel sad about it because many will just accept what it says and it's God's Word and it needs to be truthful. Great work with what I've seen so far, but not with this one.
yes... some of this video doesn’t seem to align with what i read in my Bible, though i do generally still like the Bible project videos i find some discrepancies here and there. perhaps the whole “anti climax” theme is a take on by the content author of this video..
I agree that there is nothing seemingly off here. Many rejoice, they celebrate and observe the passover. However, when compared to the other stories of God's temple being built and dedicated (lev 9, 1 kings 8) there seems to be something lacking in this story. Mainly, it mentions the work and celebrations of humans, but not the work and presence of God. This story is also surrounded by narratives of "deconstruction" like, "you can't help us build this" and "the men must divorce and the women and children must leave" (also a human decision: "let us make a covenant"). All of this is curious when especially when compared to the immediate surrounding abundance of God and His blessing in 1 Kings 8. Basically, although Israel is celebrating and observing the law, there is no mention of God being pleased, or really even showing up to the party which is the real "anti-climax" of the story.
@@Rebecca-asdf I agree! They’ve somehow added a lot of “personal views” that don’t align with the actual story at all! I also noticed when I recently read it in the Bible.
I honestly have some doubts on the section that depicts the elders crying. Are they crying for joy or sadness? The text is pretty open for interpretation but this analysis makes a lot of sense.
@@RudeSnipe Well.. when I read that part I interpreted as they cried because they were nostalgic and because of what they suffered since the last time the saw the temple... maybe I was projecting myself because I read the chapter just when my church reopened after covid restrictions were lift and we all cried
I just finished learning about Mesopotamia and Babylon and Sumer and this made so much more sense because I understood their advances and where they were located
It tells us that until Christ comes earth will not be like heaven. When Christ says it is finished the final time then it will be. It won't fully be until the King takes us home but we strive to understand why earth is not our final home and why we were unable to get it right. First as a defiled man then on land unintended to sustain eternal life in God's image. ❤ Anyone who is looking for earth to be an everlasting home hasn't had the full revelation of what God is trying to do. We are human. Still working towards this great gift and what it truly means to settle in our hearts. ❤❤❤
You guys are building the kingdom big time through your videos!! Motivates me so much to read and really understand my Bible and its context. THANK YOU and greetings from Germany!! :)
Super good, just got done reading Ezra and was confused about why Ezra would demand the people to divorce their wives and send out wives and children away, and in general what the book was trying. This video was very helpful, thanks.
Thank you for this brilliant Video! It truly helps people integrating studying the bible specifically for the newbies in the faith. ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Keep creating!
BibleProject creates free resources to help you experience the Bible. Everything we make is funded by generous supporters around the world. You can see our entire video library, check out our other resources, and give at bibleproject.com.
Your interpretation and especially your poorly questioning regarding the Canon as well as the text itself are causing confusion among those early Bible students.
You creators of the "Bible Project" clearly lack historical and contextual knowledge of the word of God.
If you truly value the word of God remove this video and consider uploading a corrected one only after a thorough preparation in the study of the word and prayer.
At minute mark 3:00 you have absolutely scriptural false information, stating the children of Israel who didn’t go into exile “just want to help.” This was just the beginning of inaccuracies. You can find a more detailed list in Andrew Podolios comments.
The scripture from Ezra 4:1-4 clearly states: “1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” 4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.“
These residents were adversaries, or ENEMIES, of Judah and Benjamin who approached them. While these residents claimed to seek the same God, they also sacrificed to false gods and could therefore have no part in building the temple, which Zerubbabel showed wisdom in his leadership and not allowing them to do so. These people proved they were not true followers of Yahweh God when they began trying to frustrate their plans and come against them in every way. This is only the beginning of the fallacies in this video.
This is a poor interpretation so I would recommend people read and study the Word themselves in a translation they can understand (I recommend NLT or NIV for new believers and people who struggle reading) rather than rely on Bible Project for an accurate interpretation of God’s Word. I struggle with reading and am a visual learner, so I hoped this would help me understand what I was about to read. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit was with me when I was reading and showed me the errors in this video. Unfortunately, I’m left with the visual memory of this poor interpretation but I pray the Holy Spirit will override that memory and help me remember the Truth of His Word as it is written.
Do Better, Bible Project.
Thank you for giving us more understanding of the Holy Bible
Your videos helped me.thank u...I appreciate your time spent making them.thank u again I listen everyday to them I can't read small print.🌈🤗😊🌞🌈
@@pinkmoonilnlosahadi4913 Amen🙏🙏
It makes me think that. No matter what we do, if God is not there and doesn't support it, it's not going to happen. Our efforts will be useless. The body without the Spirit is dead. Their efforts were only physical...maybe it was a lesson. Nothing can come together without God.
It was the people who requested the public reading of Torah. They were so hungry for God's Word that they stood for six hours to hear it read and explained to them. This was followed by conviction of sin, confession and repentance. If this isn't the work of the Holy Spirit then nothing is. Today in church people can scarcely sit through a 20 minute sermon before they start looking at their watches. If this video has led you to believe that Ezra-Nehemiah is purely about human effort then it has failed dismally.
amen i agree!
I do think that it depends on the sermon. If preachers constantly repeat themselves and tell the same content multiple times in a row it unfortunately gets INCREDIBLY boring even though it is god's word... :( Also one has the feeling of being completely brain washed in a negative way even though it is actually a positive statement which is repeated. So I totally understand those people. I think that one can also teach god's word in short and edible bites. :)
I believe that God moved them to repent, God was with them but they failed to get God's message and took their desire to follow God and turned it into Religion and legalism. They sent away people that wanted to follow God because the demonstration of God's amazingness to Israel, which had been God's intention with his people, because they followed the law literally. They did not accept women from other nations when the intention of the law is to avoid temptation to follow other believes not to exclude people (Ruth is an example), they did not give people the chance to demonstrate if they were God's followers and just explled them not mirroring God's grace that was shown so many times to Israel. They forced their people to follow God instead of moving their desire to follow God with their harts out of love for God.
This is a great example of how we fail when we follow our logic and forget God's word and intentions to humanity. We must seek God with our harts not with our minds.
Read If your self and stop listening to This false preachers!!
This whole book feels so relevant for today, often times we make our own plans and get angry when they don’t work out bc deep down, nothing has changed. It’s good and humbling to see this every once in a while, thank you! God bless you in Jesus name :)
Can relate
😊
Hi
Bye
When Nehemiah begins to rage against those building markets around the temple of the Lord, I was reminded of how this points to Jesus zeal for his fathers house when he "cleansed the temple" and "drove them out" in the same way. It all points to Jesus!
I did not picked up on that at all 🤯thank you for drawing this correlation.
This I also thought about
Yip! Very true
You’re saying the Old Testament was written with knowledge of Jesus? I don’t think so.
@@mugflubhuh?
After reading the comments, it shows even further that the books itself should also be read and not just watch the video. I adore Bible Project and take it's interpretation as a viewpoint. Before each book I read, I watch their video. Then after I read the book, I watch the video as a recap. Things that stand out that I am still lost on, I research. It encourages me to find out more. Thank you Bible Project for your wonderful works. May you continue to be blessed.
I agree, thank you ,very good artwork and explanation
Yes exactly this!! I’m finding these Bible project videos to be an excellent resource to watch BEFORE tackling a new book of the Bible in its entirety. However, if one were to ONLY watch these videos and not read at all, there is so much that is missed and so much that can be misinterpreted when not reading.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I usually like watching these overviews after I finish reading a book, but I can't help feel that some of the key points of Ezra and Nehemiah have been altered, and some of the information is simply wrong.
1) Zerubbabel didn't allow other inhabitants (who worshipped God along side other pagan gods) to participate in the rebuilding of the temple because it was clear they had ulterior motives in trying to form a partnership with the returning exiles solely so that they can hinder their efforts in re-establishing a presence in Jerusalem and/or have leverage over the usage of the temple (which would've certainly meant worshipping the pagan gods alongside the true God, which is obviously a grave sin that led to exile from Jerusalem in the first place). Then after the inhabitants' help was denied, they did everything they could to stop the construction of the temple. So it was a wise move to deny having these badly motivated people be a part of God's work. A very important detail that seems to have been omitted and the resulting interpretation thus skewed. I understand the narrator wants to promote a vision of unity based on the word of the Prophets, but this shouldn't excuse the danger of forming alliances with those who explicitly go against God.
2) The inhabitants that rebelled against the construction of the temple were those who weren't carried off to Babylon during the exile, and they intermarried with the pagan people and this led to the formation of a faith that mixed the worship of the true God with the worship of false pagan gods. The Israelites returning from exile were supposed to set themselves apart from this kind of improper worship, and after correctly not allowing the inhabitants to assist in the building of the temple, they then went on to marry them. God may have not commanded it, but since Ezra was an expert on The Book Of The Law and was well aware of the consequences of pagan worship (i.e exile), he didn't need a separate command from God to make a proper judgment on the matter. (and I'm not sure if this is accurate, but apparently, most of the wives renounced their worship of pagan gods and promised to worship the real God. Only 114 couples refused to renounce their pagan worship and were either forced to divorce or be excommunicated from the community. Also, while divorce was not encouraged, it was allowed by law)
3) 5:49 is where the video just outright lies. Nehemiah didn't "provoke them to hostility" ("them" being the surrounding inhabitants). Nehemiah was met with resistance as soon as he set foot in Jerusalem and even before he announces his plan to rebuild the wall of the city, "When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel" [Nehemiah 2:10]. These enemies constantly threatened him and his people up until the completion of the wall, and all he ever did in response was pray to God to take care of his enemies for him and to strengthen the will of his people to complete the job, along with arming them and setting up guards to keep watch (day and night) to be ready for an attack at any moment.
I agree with your views
Me thinks that the interpretation has something to do with a certain presidential candidate at the time who was also wanting to build a wall for boarder security. I could be wrong but the video came out in 2016 it looks like when that was a make topic of discussion. Anyway, I agree with you too. It's sad bc I love the bible project but not the progressive interpretations... Makes it seem like they have ulterior motives...
@@mirriamchishachimba5212 why thank you. But all I am doing is just staying true to the text
@@szechuon6971 possibly, yeah. there might be some political bias at play. But I personally think that they’re altering the meaning text to make the Old Testament seem harsher than it really is to contrast it with the New Testament (which commonly happens with Christian commentators). I’m a Christian, I love the Old Testament and I don’t see the need to alter it’s meaning in anyway
Yes, I think the BP was puzzling over why Gentiles were excluded in the work since the prophets spoke of nations of all tongues worshipping and serving God. I believe the Bible was never against Gentiles or foreigners, but their idolatry. If those of mixed parentage had been willing to subject themselves to God's rule as Ruth did, I think they would have been welcomed to participate in the building projects.
I am never disappointed when I click on a Bible Project video!
Thank you!
very well said 👍 agreed
My new comfort zone 😍
Unfortunately, they really missed the message this time. Badly. Go and read Ezra/Nehemiah again. I have enjoyed the work that they have done, as well, but this one is way off.
@@mydiiulio im interested on what you see when reading Ezra/Neh. Im not disagreeing with you just looking to be enlighten incase you have something to add on🕊
@@jermaine-Yahservant Forgive the slow reply. I will try to be brief. When you look at the narrative of Ezra/Nehemiah, what you see are three primary figures of faithfulness who stick out more than the others, Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Each of them is faithful to their appointed tasks of rebuilding the temple, reinstating temple teaching and worship, and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, respectively. This video depicts the exclusion by these leaders of those living around Jerusalem as a wicked and unfaithful thing. When you read Ezra 4:1-6 (and the following episode, which continues through chapter 6), 10:18-44, Nehemiah 4, and 13, all of the actions of these leaders is presented as a faithful response to an unfaithful history of intermingling with the surrounding nations (a problem whose root finds itself in not fully obeying God's commands during the conquering of Canaan). This video presents a blatantly false reading of the text, where the makers of the video point to the Israelite's exclusivism as bad thing, when in truth it was their lack of exclusivism that led to their ultimate destruction and exile. This undermines the entire message and theme of this book and fundamentally changes the narrative. The Bible Project has done a wonderful job on some other books, but this one misses the mark in a big way. Thanks for asking my thoughts. I'd love to hear your reply.
You guys doing great ! Your contribution is brilliant. In JESUS name stay blessed.
Thanks Arkeri!
GOD I S SO GOOD!!!!
I keep finding out He is the Master story teller through His Book of truth provable by history .... Ie by what actually happens. Only God Almighty can do that only Him!!!!😍😍😍love you so much Lord!!!😄😄😄
Yes they are. It’s a very helpful summary.
SulemaBook shelf Negative comments aren’t bad. The Bible Project does a lot of extremely good videos, sadly, this one does not use the source text in a fair way.
Word bro
As usual Bible Project always delivers. Great production and I continue to ask God to bless this ministry. However, this teaching on Nehemiah caused me to go back to Scripture to verify its accuracy [which is what we are to do as believers- Acts 17:11/1 Thess 5:21] and while I am no theologian, the idea that Nehemiah should have included the "enemies" of Israel in the rebuilding of the walls is not what is expounded within Scripture. I encourage my fellow believers to read this Book again. Opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem had been going on for 90 years by those who settled in the area when the Jews were taken captive. Further, the Moabites and Ammonites were bitter enemies of Israel. The fact that Nehemiah did not accept their assistance was not racial prejudice. Yes, God loves all people and desires all nations to know and love him. But while God wants all to come to him, he warns believes to stay away from those bent on evil. The relationships established by Jews and pagans caused their captivity in the first place. And today, the same principle applies. Jesus asked that we remain in the world but not part of it. How does that translate for the believer? Win as many souls for Christ as you can but if you know that your friendship/partnership/fellowship with certain unbelievers will cause you to sin, then would it not be better to refrain from doing so? That varies from believer to believer and varies depending on the circumstance. What might trip me up, may not trip you up. There are some people and circumstances I avoid altogether because why allow myself to be tempted in the first place. Conversely, I have been able to maintain friendships with unbelievers even though they oppose my faith strongly because God gave me to grace to remain strong and stand my ground. Anyways, I encourage the Bible Project to continue their good work, I hardly have occasion, to question their theology and will continue to be an avid fan. God Bless.
Brilliant! You said it better than I could have. Thank you.
I totally agree.
Hit my point.
Agree!
This really threw me as well...these are adversaries. I really do like the Bible project, but it sometimes seems to miss the mark in the OT when it comes to any passage our current society may struggle with (see also on Judges). Love you guys, but please do consider these concerns. As a pastor, I feel unable to show some of these videos without disclaimer and critique.
Nehemiah 8:10: "The Joy of the Lord is your strength!" 🙏🌟
I love how you split the books up into sections, really helps with studying. I've been in church all my life and very few people have shown how to open up the bible like you guys have.
Be blessed and continue what you are doing, this surely is a blessing what you are doing.
I always get excited to finish a book of the Bible because I'm like yay now I can watch a Bible Project video!
After reading the Bible, I always come here to watch the overview of each chapter and it sure does create more understanding.. thank you for this !
The Bible makes sense now! 🎉 Total clarity has been achieved! Praise God for the Bible Project! ❤
I have been watching and recommending the Bible Project for a number of years, this is the first time I felt troubled with their interpretation of the biblical text. I have begun a study on Nehemiah and turned to this video for support, I was surprised to see Nehemiah portrayed as the antagonist when Sanballat and Tobiah oppose the building effort. Nehemiah had to come and lead the re-building effort because the walls were destroyed and the gates were burned down.
Abe Zimmerman There are other questionable videos from the BP. I no longer share them w my family.
I'm here from the bible recap and this is th3 first video I've watched since their horrible portrayal of Jonah. I, too, was troubled with this video as well, and came to the comments to see if I was the only one.... most of the comments seem to think it's great, but I am glad to see I am not alone in my thoughts on how it has been handled. I will no longer watch these videos as I can't trust their interpretations.
these overview videos are soo good im literally binge watching all of it. its literally better than netflix
Do you take notes on these overviews and use them for your further study?
@@AbbaJoy1good idea
Don't know how to thank the BibleProject ... it really opens your eyes to the beauty of the scripture ! There are some things, you see them and you cannot help but Praise the Lord !
This was amazing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate how honest it was about the tensions in the text, and how the leaders described in our text are not perfect. Especially about that troubling part of Ezra when the wives and kids are sent away, which is a cruelty not commanded by God. Thank you!
Wow!!!! Thank you so much. Ive been studying the bible and its good to watch this video before I go in the book and have that 1 on 1 with the Lord. Truly so amazing.
Just finished reading Nehemiah, and came straight here for the breakdown. I now see why God had me to read it. 🙌🏽 Thank you for this video
Me too😂.. Ezra, Nehemiah Esther, Daniel the timeline was beating my brain😅
let's start by saying that I'm not a radical right and that I've enjoyed every video and that I feel the teaching has been solid, up to this one.
it's a very strange interpretation to emply that Ezra got it all wrong and that the people hadn't commented sin.
Time and time again in the histories of Kings and Chronicals we are giving the example of leaders marrying "the people of the land" and how that influence led to the worship of the gods of the land.
This teaching crossed the line to "having an agenda." I'm not sure what that agenda is and I haven't given up on you...yet.
Did they imply that? I didn’t see it personally
Illegal immigration.
You should see how they did Jonah dirty...
Agreed King Solomon is a big example of this. His downfall ultimately marrying women of other cultures, which led to his pagan god worship.
Bible Project: great analysis made at the end, that political and social reforms don't address the core issues of God's people -- that what we need is a TRANSFORMED HEART. We are to let the Holy Spirit transform us, conform our hearts and lives to the image of Christ. Very timely word for 2022!!!
It`s been 6 years since the release of this episode - and the artwork and production are still out of this world.
The Bible never has anything negative to say about Zerubabel, Ezra or Nehemiah, yet, “The Bible Project” clearly does. Below is a scriptural rebuttal to their claims.
2:49 According to the producers, the “grandchildren” of the Israelites want to help but Zerubabel refuses. Note: artwork depicts Zerubabel as mean and crazy and the “grandchildren” as kind and innocent. If this really was the case, then I could see their point in depicting it this way. However, it is not the case. Ezra 4 verse 1 clearly states that they were adversaries of Judah and Benjamin. These were the people of 2 Kings 17 verse 24, who mixed the worship of their idols with the worship of the LORD, so that the LORD sent lions to devour them!
The producers go on to say that Zerubabel’s refusal to allow these people to rebuild the temple is “very strange” since the prophets had envisioned everyone coming together to worship The LORD. However, the prophets never envisioned a compromised faith, which is exactly what the adversaries of Israel would have brought, since they worshipped other gods. Makes me wonder if they would conclude it was “very strange” that Jesus drove some people out of the temple in His day? After all, if inclusivity is the highest standard, then holiness must take a back seat.
Finally, in Ezra 4 verse 4, we learn that the adversaries discouraged the rebuilding, made the Jews afraid, and even made bribes to frustrate their plans.
3:47 again with the picture of Ezra as defensive and suspicious, and the married couples looking very sweet and innocent.
4:41 Malachi 2 is in reference to the Israelites divorcing the Jewish wives of their youth so that they could marry the pagan women of the land. Yes, God hates divorce, but in this context, He is specifically referring to the initial divorce, not any subsequent divorce of the pagan spouse.
5:16 the opposition is not simply from the neighboring people, but again, adversaries of the Jews. Nehemiah 2 verse 10 says that they were “disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” not that they were disturbed that they couldn’t participate in the rebuilding of the wall.
5:27 reference to the prophet Zechariah speaking of a Jerusalem without walls and borders, but this does injustice to Zechariah’s prophecy, because it is only after the Lord’s four craftsmen have destroyed Israel’s adversaries that there can be peace for Jerusalem. In fact Zechariah is filled with judgment on Israel’s enemies.
5:40 again, another picture of God’s people (this time Nehemiah) looking angry and crazy
“Nehemiah informs the people surrounding Jerusalem that they have no part in rebuilding and this of course provokes them to hostility.” NO! In Nehemiah 2 verse 19 we are told that when they heard about the rebuilding they mocked and ridiculed. The hostility was already present before Nehemiah informs them in verse 20, “that they have no share in Jerusalem.”
7:10 again, Nehemiah is made out to be this bad guy, when in actuality He is being used by God to bring judgment and correction. The motivation of Nehemiah is love for God and His holiness, and grief over the people’s rejection of God. This doesn’t mean that he hates the people; he is just grieved. Case in point, his words at the end of chapter 13 verse 26, “Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.” Instead of acknowledging the godly character and motivation of Nehemiah, the Bible project producers use a mocking tone to describe him.
I appreciate the producers’ conclusion at the end of this video, that ultimately the Israelites needed a new heart, pointing to Christ. However, in their zeal to highlight the difference between the Old and New Covenant, they overstep the Bible’s own bounds, and essentially slander Zerubabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Perfectly said!
Russel Grigsby, i appreciate how you use the Bible to critique how the producers present this video. We must be mainfull not to add or take away from the word of God, especially i using our own opinions to facilitate an interpretation of God's word. We were created as inteligent beings who will have question that we seek answer to but to just take out a portion of God's words and manipulate the will our opinions that comes from a carnal mind to dipict to the public as truth, conveys a deceptive agenda. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. KNOWLEDGE DOESNOT DENOTE TRUE WORSHIPPERS!!!!!!
I liked your detailed response. My response to you will not be nearly as long since I am On my tablet at the moment. Your main point is based on a flawed premise. Since the Bible never explicitly states that the three leaders did something wrong or imperfectly, than they didn't. Does the Bible state explicitly that Abraham did anything wrong? Yet his failures in faith from the moment he left Hebron with Lot in tow are clearly evident though not always explicit. Countless other characters in the Bible are not explicitly called out for their imperfections or sins, does that mean they we slander them for seeing them? We should be careful not to add extra biblical "morals" onto the text but still can interpret the Bible with the Bible, which arguably they did.
Many of your points are worth discussing but do not, in total, equal a rebuttal of their main point, that these strong leaders were imperfect and the people, both native and returning, more so. And there was still a need to look forward.
You simply disagree with how they applied other biblical texts to these passages. But I am afraid you too have a theme to pick out, that these characters are impervious to critique and it that the larger theme isn't important to the interpretation of details. Both are hermeneutics problems worth working out.I encourage you and those reading your comment to not throw out everything they propose because of those quibbles.
But wasn't The books of Ruth and Jonah reject the racialization of the Israelite religion by Ezra?
Good response. I use Bible Project a lot, but this one did seem to stretch some things. I've wondered sometimes if they try to soften God's sharper decrees to make him more palatable for the American masses. While there are countless examples of leaders in Hebrew Bible doing wrong, the video does overlook the real threats that this vulnerable community faced in reestablishing themselves. Context is important here.
I hope that people do not view these videos instead of reading the books and studying them in depth, but rather to help them wrap their mind around the major outline and themes. If the videos would do this without pushing speculations or assumptions as facts, that'd be super great.
reminds me a lot of the world today, how we argue so much over the best ways to patch the growing tensions in ways similar Ezra and Nehemiah, and how these, like anything we do without the guidance of the Lord, eventually disappoint us, and that in the end it is all a heart problem. The world needs a new heart, salvation. Without the blessing of God there is no victory.
Very true.
I'm a baby Christian who needs to be fed! Meaning, I picked up the Holy Bible in Oct. 2017 and I havent put it down since. Anyway, I just finished the book of Ezra, haha I could hardly understand it. It made me frustrated, so I came here. Watched the video, and I was still lost for words. .. Until I read your comment! How did I miss that?? Haha I almost went to bed feeling bad that I'm not bright enough to understand what I am reading. Some of the stories do hit home for me. I'm happy now, thanks for posting!
+Tami Rox hi bro
Amen.
Gosh I love these videos. I’m trying to read through the Bible and these summaries are SOOO valuable to my understanding. Giving God the glory for leading you all to this project so that the lost can find the way. Blessings. 🙏🏼
I watch the first video on Genesis then I read Genesis and watched the video again to recap. I've repeated that pattern and I'm on Ezra now.
These videos make reading the Bible much more manageable.
Same 👍🏻
I started a Bible listening group about a couple years ago. We go from cover to cover every six months. Right now we’re in the book of Nehemiah. That’s awesome!
Very thorough interpretation of what Nehemiah was fighting to accomplish. When we as born again Bible believers obey Jesus, there will be opposition. We must stick to the work and do what is pleasing in the sight of Him!
All of these summarizations of each book of the Bible are so helpful. Thank you for doing this. God bless you and your ministry.
I absolutely love how Bible project sums up all the books of the Bible...i am in wonder of how the Israelites kept on getting it wrong. With such a God how could they be soo blind even to this day.?..thanks again this awsome way of explaining how the Bible works. It's given me new vigor and inspired me to read and listen to the Bible again.
Makes it easy to understand a book in the Bible.... gives an overrral overview and make it easy to remember an to teach. I love you and Toda Rabah!
At first I gave this vid a thumbs up, then later down, then later no thumb, now I am back to thumbs up. This is an 8:34 minute video, and not meant to be an in-depth study on 2 books, which would make this video like 2 hours or more. Who is going to watch a 2 hour video and the content would be totally different! The basic story is explained. Messiah is mentioned, our need for a new heart explained, and we are encouraged to learn more concerning, "what is God going to do about fulfilling his great covenant promises." May we all seek after God more earnestly each day that we are graciously given to live, until our day to be with Him comes. "Lord, help me to keep my lamp burning and trimmed (Matthew 25:7)."
The Bible project is helping me understand things so much better. After each book I read, I summarize with one of these videos. It really helps me understand what I just read. Thank you for this !!!
I watch these videos right before I read the books and they are wonderfully helpful. Thank you for the work you do. The illustrations and the superb narration play such an important part in making these books easier to understand. God bless
I suggest you to watch them rather after. Becáuse then yyour views on the book may twist wrongly for I think the Bible project did not deliver this books feel just right. Rather read it for yourself and ask God what it means, then go and compare it with commentaries by other people.
Been contributing for years to the Bible Project, and I must say that what you guys are doing is such a blessing. Please continue your work, the world needs God more than it can possibly know right now.
thank you for all you have done in HIS KINGDOM !!!
blessings from Taiwan !
Bible Project group, you have great art work. I don't know what you grew up learning about the Bible, but your interpretation of the Bible is contrary at times. I am so sorry that whatever happened for you to begrudge the Word of God transpired, but please don't do that anymore. You all are wonderful people, but sometimes, we can get hurt in the church and misinterpret the Word. You are in my prayers and I think you do awesome work a lot of times. Thank you for trying to help us learn more in Jesus' name.
Those people who wanted to help in Ezra chapter 4 are not grandchildren of the Israelites, but the Samaritans. These people wanted to serve the God of their new land, but they did it in the wrong way. It says in verse 2: "....ever since Esarhaddon king of Assyria BROUGHT us here."
The Samaritans were a mixture of Israelites and the surrounding nations, that was why the Hebrews of Jesus’ time hated them
I thought that they were the people that the King of Assyria planted there. They were not Israel grand children.
I just read Ezra and now Nehemiah but decided to watch your video. It gives it better context watching your video. I usually try to watch before starting to read something especially in the Old Testament.
As I read the Bible I always watch your overviews of each chapter just so I know I caught/understood the storyline and main points. Thank you so much for helping me on my journey. God bless!
I feel it so much. I cannot change my heart and my ways through my own efforts no matter what I try. So I continue to seek God’s closeness through prayer, reading bible, obeying commands, loving people as much as I can, doing good, etc but knowing that I need grace and nothing that I do can save me or give me a heart of flesh. Oh how I desire Holy Spirit to change my heart.
I sometimes have a hard time understanding my Bible but these videos are always so clear that it makes my Bible reading a lot more enjoyable
Oh God please help me to hear you and obey you fully!!!! Unwavering and abide in You!!!! And keep me protected from the opposition around me-But more than that, may your will be done and Kingdom come!!!!
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. Today (April 11), Ezra 10:1-12 was the basis for our Sunday School Lesson of the Day. It was entitled "Ezra: Faith and Action Preacher." The beloved hymn, "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me," written by Julie von Hausmann (1825-1901), is a good hymn to compliment this Scripture, regardless of denomination.
My Bishop has just introduced the bible project to the church as our studying tools doing Biblestudy, so there is loved this approach of learning the books in this manner, and it is fascinating, so now I am here to get the knowledge for myself. I will find myself here to receive the rest of this knowledge. What you two scholars have done, I commend you for a job well done. thank you . for I will use you as my studying tool from now on along with the bible study that our Bishop bring to us as a whole.
Great work, and thank you for sharing this with us all.
Min/Chaplain Elaine
Who is here watching before reading the book of Ezra? hehe
i have done this often
Me
I am , I listen to every book of Bible here then read the Bible book that makes it easier to understand
that's funny I do the opposite, I read then watch these to get a better understanding/summary
After for me 😂making sure we understood the same thing
I am a non-believer who decided to read the Good Book page by page (I am at Nehemiah). I must say the Bible Project is a fantastic tool. You have a gift of re-telling stories and focusing on important elements. My sincere compliments.
How is it going reading pal?
@@BornAgainJohn Hello friend. I'm still reading, but lately at a snail's pace. Still in the Old Testament. Hope you're well...
@@berrylict Hey I know how you feel I try to read the bible and take notes at the same time and I try to read at least 10 mins each day but it is taking awhile still at the old testament. Also this video is not accurate so I would be carefully watching this one. These videos really bring in their personally beliefs which is very annoying. But one of the top comments tells in detail what is wrong with this video. But just reading the bible will tell you the true story. Also I am glad that you are reading the bible but why do you not believe? I hope I can answer any questions. Have a blessed day!
Love the Bible Project! It has brought me closer to God!
Being a carpenter, my trade has taught me many skills with my hands, heart and character. Biblical wisdom addresses the parts of human nature that must be understood and discussed openly if we are to thrive as individuals first and society second!😎🙏
Its a heart issue..sometimes we do things half hearted to God..we think that it can pleases God but God knows every heart of the person,we cannot hide everthing from him..I pray that our hearts beats only for the Lord no matter what happends..
These guys are really inspired by GOD.THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU !
I’m about to start reading the book of Ezra, thank you for creating this explanation! I pray God blesses all your work and that it helps bring many to the knowledge of Christ! ✝️💜
I just finished these two books 2 days ago, and feel like I need to reread them and study them better.
This video pointed out a few things that I didn't really think about as I read. I still have some questions that I'd like to find answers/clarifications to.
So if it wasn't the KING who brought peace; and it wasn't the TEMPLE that brought peace; and it wasn't the LAND that brought peace...
*Psst*, Jesus, you're on.
😂😂
This is so true
Love it lol. Great insight
The heathens wanted to kill them while they were building the wall. That’s why there was no peace. The nations around the Israelites hated them. You need to READ the Bible.
“And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.”
Nehemiah 4:11
Zarubabel Ezra and Nehemiah did more for the Israelites than jesus. All jesus did was irrelevant parlor tricks. Never saved Israel from their enemies,not even their sins.They are still sinning (not doing the covenant) sin is still in the world today. They are still in captivity under the curses and oppesed by their enemies. What kind of savior is this?
What a genius great explanation of a very difficult part of the Bible. Thank you so much!
I have watched since the Genesis up to this book. Great Job. I am a youth from the Philippines and the faith and hope of the people especially of the youth must return to God. In your contribution, I am telling my co youth to watch your videos. Keep up the good works. God bless.. ♥
Found you for the first time this year, 2021. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I am telling others these book breakdowns are amazing. I feel blessed.
Woow! That is a whole new point of view, thanks guys, just finished reading these. Love the way God is shaping my quiet time, through this project! 😇
The graphics like this one are the best! The drawing along with the narrative are very good teaching tools
I love these! These easy to get, comic book pictures (lending a pinch of humor) make bible study doable and fun. I had never heard about these 3 parallel stories, the "not quite there yet" ending of these stories, and the messianic implications.
I always watch the video of the book before I read it to understand it more and there's no other place I rather go but here because you break it down so awesomely... thank you so much!
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Ezra should be redone
In Ezra God placed curse over Ezra because they married Caucasian women. They were not allowed into Jerusalem. They had to send the women and children away they married. The curse on Israel was lifted when the men got rid of the women. Some of the men got beaten by the Tribes. It’s not your book yet you’re trying to interpret it and you’re not giving accurate information.
(My Hope) Is Triggered!!! Been A Blessing 🙏😇🙌 Thank You
I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait... is their Tobit? I believe he showed his faithfulness to the Lord
These videos help me out so much in my journey to better educate myself on the Bible. I appreciate you all and the videos you make. God bless you.
Anyone here in 2024? ❤️
Yes
?
2025!!!
2025
When you said downer I laughed with irony, and spoken the same storytelling ending as you. Must be the holy spirit! God is always the best.
Ezra 4 marks the people who offered to help as “adversaries,” probably because they (or at least their ancestors) worshipped false gods (2 Kings 17:29-41). It isn’t strange that there was conflict - they were opposing true worship of Yahweh.
I was thinking the same thing as the clip was going, glad my head was thinking as you. With that said I/we could be wrong but I dont think so. The issues with the Israelites from before the Kings and till their end with Babylon was mixing with the evil ones, the ones they were to kill off. Reading scripture tells us this very clearly, doesnt it? Praying for biblical truths always. I like the BibleProject and think they do a good job but I think they are a little off here, respectfully.
Yes This is interpreted by the Bible project completely wrong. The Jews went into captivity because they were all bad they wouldn’t repent. That was the whole message from Jeremiah. You’re going to Babylon the ones who didn’t go for the most part became pagan idolaters and they stayed that way. so any of the 3 groups that showed up under the ZarubaBell Ezra or Nehemiah were not there to help they were there to stop the building and corrupt the line of the Messiah, ( Jesus) who has not been born yet and all of the future references to the temple are not this temple but in Revelation
I urge all of you to look up and listen to Calvary Chapel pastors because they have been studying the Bible verse by verse as a denomination for over 50 years
Thanks JP
Holistic change of heart is so needed for this season. Man's heart ❤️ is growing colder.
A new heart that keep Gods commamdments! Thank u for the visuals and interpretation! 😊 May God bless u
This morning I woke up and in that moment of between awake and asleep, I heard in my spirit “Hashub” so I’m here to learn more about the book of nehemiah
Glad you explained the purpose of the "downers." It all makes perfect sense now.
I just finished reading Ezra and Nehemiah and if this doesn’t represent the times we are living in now than I don’t know what does! We are marrying people we shouldn’t. We are exiling people who have souls and do belong to God too. We do well by staying holy for a bit and then trail off into sinful or disobedient paths and then try again by going back to God in prayers of renewal! All of it represents us today and I love the final message on the true focus of these books. In order for us to fully turn away from sin is a new heart and they only one who can instill that in us is God ❤
You people are making it easier to understand bible thank you lots n may God bless you🖤❤️
As a theologian these videos are great for quick lessons without religious fervor but with an educational emphasis and historical context
Such a remarkable work. God bless Bible Project mission. My 7 year girl enjoys watching it as much as I do. Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you for this explanation. I'm teaching this book to the kiddos. The divorce part has always tripped me up because although I understand the transgression of them taking foreign wives they still have started families with these wives. To understand that Ezra's reform was his own way of handling it really helps me see this book properly.
This is so prophetic for today.
Israel have been back in their land since 1948, but they are far from God. One day they shall “look upon him whom they pierced” and have the ultimate feast of booths. Praise Jesus
It’s like how just because God gifted his people Jerusalem again, doesn’t mean they will be happy and sinful. We are gifted things from God yet are still unhappy or sinful. The circumstances around us might change but we never will unless we truly seek God. I believe that is another theme of these books: It was never the loss of Jerusalem that caused Gods people to stay, but instead it was Israel’s heart that was lost and the people never truthfully repented to receive their forgiveness again. Great job!
these bible project videos are so much better than my professors' powerpoint presentations
The way you guys summarise the Bible one might think youre the author of that book. I mean its so plain that we're all able to get something, youre doing amazing Job.
Just like few many comments have alluded, the work of mankind without God is in vain. You saw Nehemiah at the end of the book Prays to God because in his humananity he failed, people opposed his ideas.
It is the same with us today, we face challenge after challenge in our way of life lets pray that our GOD go before us because we cant do without HIM. May He remain big and us small in Jesus name Amen.
God bless us all as we unite on this blog to support the ministry of our lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Wow, just wow. Your work is so beautifully designed and organized. Paints a clear picture. Thank you very much for all your hard work!
Thank you Bible project authors, a brief but very through insight in a much needed format! God bless you abundantly!
While I have been blessed by the Bible project, I feel that they have missed the entire point of Ezra 4. There are strong reasons that the offer for help was refused. The despised Samaritans of Jesus' time were descendants of the people identified in II Kings 17, who combined their worship of God with those of idols.
I’m so grateful for these videos as they are helping me understand the bible a lot more than I would had I not watched them. What I do is after reading each book in the bible I then watch the corresponding video and it’s great! Thank you and God bless you 🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇🙏🏻❤️😇
That's a high five emoji, not a praying one. :v
@@pulsar2049 Uh no, actually the high five emojis that pop up when you type in the words high five are 🙌🏻✋🏻🖐🏻. Prayer is 🙏🏻. But thanks anyways, God bless you🙏🏻🙂.
AMEN BEAUTIFULLY EXPLAINED... BLESSINGS TO ALL INVOLVED IN THIS VISUAL HOLY WORD...
Very good. Another huge point of the book is that although we may try our best, we can never keep God's Law faithfully, as seen in these books. This is what points us to our and their need of a Savior. Matthew 1:21. This will continue until One day he will return and fully enact his promise in Jerimiah 31, and thereby bring to pass the prophecy of Revelation 22.
Thanks for explaining the message of these Old Testament books!
I do love and appreciate your insight, Tim, but there are times I would love to sit with you and chew the theological cud. This is one of those.
I do appreciate how you compared this rebuilt Temple and rebuild Jerusalem with the promised Messianic Temple and Messianic Jerusalem - and showed how this isn't it.
However, I believe you misrepresented the hearts and intentions of the three leaders.
1) What does the Torah state about who and who cannot build the Temple? What does Torah state about who only can cut the stones of the Temple? This is key to recall when it comes to the people asking to help build the Temple.
2) Ezra 4 - "1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
The text states thee people were enemies, not the grandchildren of the Israelites left behind from being exiled. In fact, if you read back in 2 Kings, people from the surrounding nations had been brought in to resettle the land. So why are you stating that the people asking to help build the Temple were Israelites?
3) The pre-exile Israelites fell into sin when they married foreigners and kept the religious practices of these foreign nations. I do not understand why you neglected to consider this consequence in your evaluation of Ezra's actions in forcing the foreign wives and their children away. Please recall that the people were still under the Covenant of Sinai and were still required to abide by *this* Covenant, not the one that had not come yet. Now we could debate about whether or not the wives and their children should have been given the chance to renounce their foreign gods et al, but it is still improper to leave out this key point of information with regards to the people needing to keep themselves holy (set apart).
4) The surrounding people becoming hostile to being rejected happened with Zerubbabel, not with Nehemiah. With Nehemiah, the surrounding people were hostile first. I do not understand why this was presented inaccurately.
That said, I do appreciate the conclusion about change needing to come from the heart. In fact, Ezra-Nehemiah is the perfect set-up for what we see in the Gospels.
1) The hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans - the Israelites who were left behind intermarried with the Gentiles who were brought into the land.
2) The additions of strict laws to force people into obeying Torah. We can see in this book the foundation for why the religious leaders found it necessary to clamp down on the rules to help keep the people from falling into sin and rebellion.
I generally really like The Bible Project; however this video really misrepresents Ezra-Nehemiah! Zerubbabel's story doesn't end on a downer, but with JOY! (Ezra 6:19-22) It was BECAUSE the Israelites separated from the surrounding nations' sinful practices that they were able to experience this joy. And it wasn't just the returning exiles who celebrated, but also other's who purified themselves from those practices. The whole point of the book of Ezra is to encourage them to remain faithful in the midst of hostility by their enemies... and such hope is vindicated in the book of Nehemiah. This video really misses the point.
Exactly Neh 8:10 my favorite verse . Sad they missed the point
Though many of the Bible Project videos are solid and clarifying, the presenters blew it with this one! I recommend a redo of this particular video. The graphics can stay the same, but the narrative needs to change. Confusion of prophecies concerning nearby times and the last days, mistaken facts, arbitrary interpretations, calling parts of the story "odd" and "very strange", and finally, what's actually the purpose of these books?...... I find many things in this video odd and strange and feel sad about it because many will just accept what it says and it's God's Word and it needs to be truthful.
Great work with what I've seen so far, but not with this one.
I was surprised and confused as why the words “odd, confusing” was used.
The conclusion of Zerubbabel actually ends on a high note, the temple is completed by the hand of God they celebrate and observe the Passover.
yes... some of this video doesn’t seem to align with what i read in my Bible, though i do generally still like the Bible project videos i find some discrepancies here and there. perhaps the whole “anti climax” theme is a take on by the content author of this video..
I agree that there is nothing seemingly off here. Many rejoice, they celebrate and observe the passover. However, when compared to the other stories of God's temple being built and dedicated (lev 9, 1 kings 8) there seems to be something lacking in this story. Mainly, it mentions the work and celebrations of humans, but not the work and presence of God.
This story is also surrounded by narratives of "deconstruction" like, "you can't help us build this" and "the men must divorce and the women and children must leave" (also a human decision: "let us make a covenant"). All of this is curious when especially when compared to the immediate surrounding abundance of God and His blessing in 1 Kings 8. Basically, although Israel is celebrating and observing the law, there is no mention of God being pleased, or really even showing up to the party which is the real "anti-climax" of the story.
@@Rebecca-asdf I agree! They’ve somehow added a lot of “personal views” that don’t align with the actual story at all! I also noticed when I recently read it in the Bible.
I honestly have some doubts on the section that depicts the elders crying. Are they crying for joy or sadness? The text is pretty open for interpretation but this analysis makes a lot of sense.
@@RudeSnipe Well.. when I read that part I interpreted as they cried because they were nostalgic and because of what they suffered since the last time the saw the temple... maybe I was projecting myself because I read the chapter just when my church reopened after covid restrictions were lift and we all cried
I just finished learning about Mesopotamia and Babylon and Sumer and this made so much more sense because I understood their advances and where they were located
If you are still here, can you suggest resources?
i trust You Lord that you will Lead me to your best plans for my life amen
It tells us that until Christ comes earth will not be like heaven. When Christ says it is finished the final time then it will be. It won't fully be until the King takes us home but we strive to understand why earth is not our final home and why we were unable to get it right. First as a defiled man then on land unintended to sustain eternal life in God's image. ❤ Anyone who is looking for earth to be an everlasting home hasn't had the full revelation of what God is trying to do. We are human. Still working towards this great gift and what it truly means to settle in our hearts. ❤❤❤
Love all of your videos. Such a blessing to watch before starting a study. Gives a great back story!
U guys are a gift from god doing grate. U have tought me so much and I have become a better follower of god overtime thank you
All of your videos are excellent! I appreciate the comic relief too. ☺️ Thanks for doing God’s work!
You guys are building the kingdom big time through your videos!! Motivates me so much to read and really understand my Bible and its context. THANK YOU and greetings from Germany!! :)
Super good, just got done reading Ezra and was confused about why Ezra would demand the people to divorce their wives and send out wives and children away, and in general what the book was trying. This video was very helpful, thanks.
Thank you for this brilliant Video! It truly helps people integrating studying the bible specifically for the newbies in the faith. ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Keep creating!