Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 67:4 (Dec 2024)
Article: The Temple, The Spirit, And The Transformation Of The People: Thematic Trajectories In Haggai–Zechariah And Ezra-Nehemiah
Author: J. Michael Thigpen

JETS 67:4 (December 2024) p. 671

The Temple, The Spirit, And The Transformation Of The People: Thematic Trajectories In Haggai–Zechariah And Ezra-Nehemiah

J. Michael Thigpen*

* J. Michael Thigpen is professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary. He can be contacted at [email protected]. I am grateful to Mark Boda for his insightful feedback on an early draft of this article and to JETS peer reviewers for detailed suggestions that helped improve the article.

Abstract: Ezra-Nehemiah uses allusions to and echoes of Haggai and Zechariah to highlight a thematic progression that moves the literary focus from the task of rebuilding the temple to the ethical reform of the postexilic society. The same literary progression is found in Haggai and Zechariah, and particularly in Haggai 1–Zechariah 8. Key aspects of this literary trajectory include the wilderness tradition, the eclipse of Zerubbabel and Joshua by the prophets, and the presence of God via the Spirit-given prophetic word. This study begins by assessing eight potential allusions. Next, the allusions and echoes are assessed in view of their placement in the literary structure of Ezra-Nehemiah. The study concludes by surveying the parallel thematic progressions highlighted by the allusions and echoes.

Key words: Spirit, divine presence, prophetic word, temple, rebuilding, Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, postexilic, allusion, wilderness tradition

The study of Ezra-Nehemiah has been dominated by two questions. The first concerns its relationship to Chronicles, and the second is whether Ezra and Nehemiah are two separate books. The majority view today is that Ezra–Nehemiah is a single composition that is not part of the Chronicler’s work.1 Following paradigm-shifting work epitomized in Eskenazi’s In an Age of Prose, the focus of study has shifted to the structure and themes of Ezra-Nehemiah.2 However, more attention needs to be given to Ezra–Nehemiah’s relationship to the early postexilic prophetic books. The common attention given to the rebuilding of the temple, the restoration of the people, the primary leaders Joshua and Zerubbabel, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah suggest that Ezra-Nehemiah should be read in view of Haggai and Zechariah. The presence of literary allusions and echoes in Ezra-Nehemiah to Haggai and Zechariah confirms this need.

JETS 67:4 (December 2024) p. 672

This study explores potential allusions and echoes3 in Ezra-Nehemiah