This volume offers a substantive and useful commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah and explores its contemporary significance.

Respected Old Testament scholar Gary Edward Schnittjer explains that the Ezra-Nehemiah narrative begins well but ends in disappointment for the returning exiles. From the first verse to the last, this commentary takes seriously the faithfulness of Yahweh as it crashes into the unfaithfulness of God's people. Schnittjer pays special attention to the biblical connections and narrative coherence of Ezra-Nehemiah, opening it up for study, teaching, and preaching.

In addition to paragraph-level commentary, all volumes in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament (BCOT) series feature

· a fresh translation of the Hebrew text;
· incisive comments based on the author's translation;
· linguistic, historical, and canonical insights;
· concluding reflections; and
· footnotes addressing technical matters.

Ezra-Nehemiah is the second volume on the historical books in the BCOT series, following Joshua by John Goldingay. Series editors are David G. Firth (Trinity College, Bristol) and Lissa M. Wray Beal (Wycliffe College, University of Toronto).