The Diaspora in Zechariah 1–8 and Ezra–Nehemiah: The Role of History, Social Location, and Tradition in the Formulation of Identity

The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah

“…The writers of the last chapters of Ezekiel even envision reset boundaries, a realignment of the various tribes within the land, a new temple, and a new Jerusalem (47:13-48:35). It is important to recall that this prophetic hope did not disappear in the Persian period, after some had already returned to the land (Kessler 2009). Quite the contrary, one finds a continuing emphasis on a future return from exile in the prophecies of Zechariah (8:1-12), and Deutero-Zechariah (e.g., 10:6-12).…”