Ezra

This book contains almost everything that is known about the history of the Jews from the year 538 BC, when Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon and the year 457 BC, when he came to Jerusalem. Note the connection 1: 1-3 with the end of the book of Chronicles.

It is observed that the hand of God is that King Cyrus let the Jews returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the ruined temple (1: 1-11). However, there were many Jews who preferred the comforts of Babylonian civilization to the vicissitudes of Judea beaten by poverty (2: 1-70). Those who returned, they began to give preeminence to God (3: 1-13), although they allowed the enemy did stop the rebuilding of the temple and the City (4: 1-24). After sixteen years, there has been a revival due to the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, and the temple was completed around the year 516 BC, despite new opposition (5: 1 - 6:22).

In the year 437 BC interrupted a silence of nearly sixty years, with the arrival of Ezra (7: 1-10), commissioned by the Persian king to teach Jewish law and put it into force (7: 11-28) . Ezra brought together a new generation of exiles to accompany him and made the perilous journey unescorted (8: 1-36). Almost immediately finds himself grappling with the problem raised by marriages between Jews and Gentiles, and after prayer and confession, could get the support of the majority of the people through a thorough examination of this scandal, inspiring people to make a new covenant with the Lord (9: 1 - 10:44).

The book demonstrates the way in which God uses the pagan rulers to fulfill their purposes, providing encouragement and at the same time warning the people of God. They may be frightened by the opposition, when God wants to move forward; They may be content with the living standards of the pagan world; or perhaps have the same faith shown by Ezra and the prophets.

 

Author:

Do not know the author or compiler of this book, but it could be the Ezra himself. Employed existing documents to make a chronicle of events that he did not witness personally. Two sections of the book are written in Aramaic (4: 8 - 6:18 and 7: 12-26). This Semitic language was commonly used throughout the Near East at that time.

 

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J. Stafford Wright

Degree in Theology

Ezra 1: Cyrus's Proclamation

4 -Ezra 4: Adversaries Hinder the Work 

Ezra 7: Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem 

Ezra 10: Reconciliation with God

Ezra 2: Number of Those Returning 

Ezra 5: Temple Work Resumed 

Ezra 8: People Who Went with Ezra                  

Ezra 3: Altar and Sacrifices Restored 

Ezra 6: Darius Finds Cyrus's Decree 

Ezra 9: Mixed Marriages