CONTENTS: Foreword Preface Abbreviations Chapter 1: General Introduction 1. The Problem 2. Research Questions 3. Importance of the Study 4. Method of Study 5. Previous Research 6. Scope and Limitation 7. Chapter Outline Chapter 2: Political, Socio-Economic and Religio-Cultural Context of the Early Postexilic Israel 1. Introduction 2. Political Context 3. Socio-Economic Context 4. Religio-Cultural Context 5. Conclusion Chapter 3: Political and Socio-Historical Milieu of the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah 1. Introduction 2. Political Milieu of the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah 3. Sources 4. Composition 5. Structure 6. Date 7. Authorship 8. The Relationship between Ezra and Nehemiah 9. Issues on the Chronological Order of Ezra and Nehemiah 10. The Relationship between the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah and the Chronicler’s History 11. Conclusion Chapter 4: Ethnic Identity of the Early Postexilic Israel in the Book of Ezra 1. Introduction 2. The Edict of Cyrus and the Return of the People of Israel in Ezra 1:1-8 3. The Rebuilding of the Altar, the Celebration of the Festival of Booths and the Resumption of the Sacrifices in Ezra 3:1-6 4. The Rejection of Others from the Rebuilding of the Temple and the Reaction of their Opponents in Ezra 4:1-7 5. The Completion and Dedication of the Temple, and the Celebration of the Festivals of Passover and the Unleavened Bread in Ezra 6:13-22 6. Ezra’s Reaction to the Practice of Mixed Marriage in Ezra 9:1-5 7. Major Findings of the Exegetical Study 8. Concluding Remarks Chapter 5: Ethnic Identity of the Early Postexilic Israel in the Book of Nehemiah 1. Introduction 2. Nehemiah’s Prayer and His Identity as a Cupbearer to the King in Neh 1:4-11 3. The Reconstruction of Jerusalem in the Face of Hostilities in Neh 3:33-4:3 4. Nehemiah’s Works for Social Justice in Neh 5:6-13 5. The Reading of the Law by Ezra to the Hearing of the People in Neh 8:1-8 6. Nehemiah’s Works on Sabbath Reforms, Mixed Marriage, Language and Priesthood in Neh 13:15-31 7. Major Findings of the Exegetical Study 8. Concluding Remarks Chapter 6: Ethnic Identity in the Present Indian Context: The People of Mizo in the State of Mizoram as a Point of Focus 1. Introduction 2. Ethnic Identity in the Present Context 3. Ethnic Identity of the People of Mizo in the State of Mizoram 4. Concluding Remarks Chapter 7: General Conclusion Bibliography.