Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(help). The famous scribe and priest, resident at Babylon, who returned to Jerusalem with his countrymen, B. C. 458, where he began instant reforms. He collected and revised the previous O. T. writings and largely settled the O. T. canon. His book, 15th of O. T., tells the story of the return and the establishment of a new order of things at Jerusalem and in Judea.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This is an historical book which follows the second book of Chronicles. The last two verses of Chronicles are almost word for word like the opening of Ezra. God had charged Cyrus to build Him a house at Jerusalem. A proclamation was made by the king, and the Spirit of God stirred up the people to go, resulting in nearly 50,000 returning to Jerusalem. The king gave up the sacred vessels, of which there were 5,400. Zerubbabel was leader in the undertaking: his Persian or Chaldean name was Sheshbazzar.
Ezra 3. The altar was erected and sacrifices offered; but the foundation of the temple was not laid till the next year. On that occasion some of the aged men who had seen the magnificence of the former house wept, and others shouted for joy that the temple was being built.
Ezra 4. Some asked to have fellowship in the building: they called themselves “worshippers,” but God called them “adversaries.” The refusal of the leaders to accept their help stirred up their hatred and antagonism. Apparently the Jews, losing faith in God, and being harassed by their enemies, neglected the building of the temple before they were stopped by authority. The opposition extended from the days of Cyrus until the reign of Darius: (Ezra 4:5). Two kings intervened between Cyrus and Darius. Ahasuerus (Cambyses) succeeded Cyrus. A letter was written to him (Ezra 4:6), but no answer is recorded. Another was sent to Artaxerxes (Pseudo-Smerdis), and both the letter and the reply are recorded. A difficulty is presented in these, that the city only is mentioned, and nothing said of the temple. Apparently this was a ruse of the enemy (though Haggai 1 shows that the Jews were building their houses), for immediately the answer was obtained, the building of the temple was stopped, now by authority: (Ezra 4:23-24. Ezra 4:6-23 are a parenthesis).
Ezra 5-6. The prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah come in here. The Jews were charged with saying “The time is not come for the house of the Lord to be built,” whereas they were building their own houses. Their faith had failed; but it now revived and they re-commenced to build without permission; and when asked who commanded them to build the house of the Lord, they courageously answered, “We are the servants of the God of heaven.” Their trust was now in God, and He blessed them. Darius being appealed to, the records were searched and the decree of Cyrus was found. Darius commanded his rulers in Palestine not only to let the work of the house alone, but to aid it by contributing to the expenses out of the king’s revenues. He even asked prayer for himself and his sons. Thus, through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, under God, the house was built and dedicated; the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread were kept with joy; for “the Lord had made them joyful.”
Ezra 7-8. There is a long break, historically, of about sixty years, between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7, to which period the Book of Esther belongs if the general opinion is correct that the Ahasuerus of Esther was the king Xerxes. Ezra 7 records what occurred in the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and here Ezra, “a ready scribe in the law of Moses” appears for the first time, and is God’s agent for blessing: he is elsewhere spoken of as priest and scribe. Ezra made a request unto the king, and God so wrought upon his heart that he granted all that was asked, and was himself liberal in giving gold and silver for the service of the temple. The king also wrote a letter, stating what his will was, and that his treasurers in the land should help Ezra. Then follows a list of the chief men who went up from Babylon with Ezra, and the weights of the gold and silver that they carried with them. They had to cross the desert, and having spoken to the king of the power and goodness of God they would not ask of the king an escort. The good hand of God was upon them and all arrived safely.
Ezra 9-10. Ezra suffered deeply on finding that many even of the priests and princes had married “strange” wives. A list of many of those who had thus transgressed is given. They agreed to confess their sin, and to separate themselves from their heathen wives and the children born of them.
The Book of Ezra is occupied with the house of God, whereas Nehemiah is concerning the city of God, Jerusalem. Both books may be considered as one, as they are regarded by the Jews, and stand as the last of the historical books. They foreshadow how God will in the future cause Gentile kings to favor Israel, and give of their wealth to them. For a list of the kings mentioned see PERSIA.
Bible Handbook:
536 B.C. – 10 Chapters – 280 Verses
The return of a portion of Judah to her land, after a lengthened and sore captivity of 70 years in Babylon, was according to the prophecies of Jeremiah (Ezra 29:10), and in answer to the confession of sin and intercession of Daniel (ch. 9). The name of the deliverer and destroyer of Babylon is pointed out by Isaiah (Isa. 44:28; 45:1).
The exile of Judah was effected on three separate occasions; under the reign of Jehoiakim, also under Jehoiachin, his son (2 Kings 24), and again under the reign of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25). We have also recorded two returns of the people to Jerusalem; first, during the reign of Cyrus (Ezra 1:2); second, during the reign of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7-8). Scripture also notes two future returns of Judah to her land; first, a national return in unbelief (Isa. 18); second, an individual restoration (Isa. 27:12-13).
There are four commandments or decrees recorded in this book, but all of them have reference to the temple. This is important to note, as the commandment about the building of Jerusalem, and which has an important bearing as fixing the commencement of the prophecy of the 70 weeks, or 490 years (Dan. 9:24-27) is not found here, but in Nehemiah 2. The first company who assembled in the deserted city of Jerusalem numbered about 50,000; the second company, conducted by Ezra many years afterward, was a small but select one (Ezra 8). The foundation of the temple was laid by the first company of returned captives under Zerubbabel (Ezra 3), amidst mingled weeping and rejoicing, and its completion and dedication was celebrated with joy (Ezra 6). Sometime after the house of the Lord was finished, Ezra was commissioned to beautify the house, and conducted the second return to Jerusalem after a four months’ journey. Considerable energy of faith and devotedness to God, along with strict adherence to the written law of Moses characterized these remnants. They observed the Feast of Tabernacles, which had not been kept since the days of Joshua, even during the palmy days of Solomon; the authority of God and of the law are once again established amongst the people; unholy fellowships, sacred and domestic, are sternly rejected; the priesthood is again set up, and all regulated according to the law and genealogy, which was carefully verified. Idolatry — of which the land was purged, from the deportation to the coming of Christ — and the ways and uncleanness of the heathen were carefully shunned.
Ezra, being a priest and a scribe, unfolds the religious side, or history of returned Judah, and that for about 80 years. This distinguished scribe and ecclesiastical historian is generally regarded as the compiler of the books of the Old Testament, and his memory is still held in great reverence by the Jews. Work and worship are characteristic features of the book.
It may be worth noting by the reader that, from Ezra 4:8 till Ezra 6:18, and from Ezra 7:12 Till 26, are portions written in the Chaldee or Aramean language — the tongue of the Babylonians and Assyrians.
General Divisions
Chapters 1-6 — The return to Jerusalem of Zerubbabel’s company, and the energy of faith which, spite of all obstacles and opposition, completed the building of the temple, established the priesthood, etc. according to the law of Moses.
Chapters 7-10 — The second return from Babylon under Ezra the priest, and the holiness of priests and people maintained.
Related Books and Articles:
Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Duration:
3hr 26min
Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Duration:
2hr 53min