EZRA - Overview
BOOK ORIGIN
• The book, written by Ezra, tells the story of the two groups in 539 and 458 BC who resettled the Promised Land
• According to Jewish tradition, the scribe and priest Ezra wrote the book of Ezra
• Given the similarities of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles, it is possible that the same author wrote all three books
• Ezra’s authorship is widely accepted due to strong internal evidence <G72>
• The book of Ezra was written around 460 BC and chronicles events spanning from approximately 539 BC to 457 BC
• Ezra’s narrative captures the pivotal era when Jehovah’s people were released from Babylonian captivity, returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and restore pure worship <V205>
BOOK OUTLINE
• The outline of contents of Ezra is divided in three parts:
BOOK SEQUENCE
• The book of Ezra is considered a unified work with the book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible
• However, some commentators propose that they were initially two distinct books that were later joined together in the Hebrew canon
• In our Bibles, Ezra is a separate book that precedes Nehemiah
• This sequence makes sense, as Nehemiah can be considered a sequel to Ezra <G72>
BOOK COMMENTS
During the 70 years of exile, most of the Jews settled into a comfortable life in Babylon and other eastern cities. Then in 539 BC Cyrus the Persian issued a decree permitting any Jew to return to his ancient homeland to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Only a few responded. This enthusiastic group of settlers laid the temple foundation, but local enemies delayed its completion for 18 years.
In 458 BC another group of exiles, led by Ezra the priest, returned to Jerusalem. Ezra was a reformer, who taught God’s law in Judea and called God’s people to rededicate their lives to the Lord. <R1795>
The primary underlying message of Ezra and Nehemiah is that the sovereign hand of God is at work in perfect keeping with His plan according to His appointed times. The 70 years of captivity were complete, so God stirred up not only the spirit of Cyprus to make the decree, but His own people to go and build up Jerusalem and the temple. <M130>
Ezra 1:2-3 NIV
[2] “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. [3] Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
Ezra 1:5 NIV
[5] Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites---everyone whose heart God had moved---prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
Ezra Overview.
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