Ezra
Quick Overview of Ezra. – –1-6 – –The return of the Jews to
the land of Israel under the leadership of Zerubbabel, to the
rebuilding of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. – –7-10 – –
The arrival of Ezra in Jerusalem, Ezra reforms religion and
government, (note the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah
correspond with this time period).
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
The Hebrew traditions treated the books of Ezra and Nehemiah
is one book, although they were probably separated in the
Bible. The book of Ezra bears the name of an individual who
was a descendent of the priest Hilkiah who had helped
initiate reforms in the time of Josiah (2 Kings 22:8). Ezra
returned from the Babylonian captivity in 457 BC which was
80 years after the first group of Jews had returned to
Israel under the leadership of Zerubbabel (13 years before
Nehemiah). Ezra was both a priest and a scribe and he had a
single purpose, to purify the worship of the Lord among the
Hebrews based on the law of Moses. The Jews have regarded
Ezra as the second greatest hero in the history of Israel,
after Moses. The most important observation about the book
of Ezra is to see how God fulfills his Word, and the
prophets spoke continually about the restoration of the
people of Israel to the land of their inheritance, after
the captivity. God did miracles in the hearts of foreign
monarchs like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and Cyrus, Darius,
and Xerxes. He fulfilled his purposes through great leaders
like Joshua, Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and
Nehemiah to bring about the rebuilding of the wall in
Jerusalem, and the Temple of Solomon, and the
reestablishment of the law of Moses. The book of Ezra along
with Nehemiah provide for us all the history among the Jews
between 536 BC and 430 BC. The accomplishments of Ezra
focuses on the period from 536 two 456 BC, and Nehemiah
begins his mission in 445 BC with a detailed description of
12 years of events.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
The Book of Ezra covers events in later Jewish Biblical
history, for example the return of the Jews from exile under
Zerubbabel, and the rebuilding of Solomon's Temple in
Jerusalem. It also covers the arrival of Ezra in Jerusalem,
Ezra reforms religion and government, (note the prophecies of
Haggai and Zechariah correspond with this time period). The
main events include: 1) The return of the exiles to Jerusalem
at the decree of Cyrus, 546 BC (Ezra 1-2 ).
2 ) The work of rebuilding the temple begun, brought to a
standstill through the efforts of heathen neighbors, and
finally completed at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra
3-6).
3 ) Ezra's return to Jerusalem for the purpose of restoring
the temple service (Ezra 7-8).
4 ) The problem of mixed marriages, which threatened to plunge
the Jews into the same course of idolatry which had brought
about their original downfall (Ezra 9-10).
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Study Bible with information, images, and notes on many
important subjects from the ancient world. Archaeological
notes, geographical notes, ancient documents and manuscripts,
cultural notes, theological notes, articles from scholars,
information about ancient history, ancient customs, ancient
temples, ancient monuments, and a close look at people,
places, and events from the ancient world that are explained
in an easy to understand format.
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Ezr...
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible. It is the
record of events occurring at the close of the Babylonian
captivity, especially The Return to Zion. At one time, it
included the Book of Nehemiah, and the Jews regarded them as
one volume. The two are still distinguished in the Vulgate
version as I and II Esdras.
The book is divided into two principal parts:
The history of the first return of exiles, in the first year
of Cyrus the Great (536 BCE), till the completion and
dedication of the new Temple in Jerusalem, in the sixth year
of Darius (515 BCE). From the close of the sixth to the
opening of the seventh chapter there is a period of about
sixty years.
The history of the second return under Ezra, in the seventh
year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and of the events that took
place at Jerusalem after Ezra's arrival there.
The book thus contains memorabilia connected with the Jews,
from the decree of Cyrus to the reformation by Ezra (456
BCE), extending over a period of about eighty years. A more
literal understanding does not have the sixty-year gap and
the seventh year of 'Artaxerxes' is really the seventh year
of Darius...
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ez...
ez'-ra (Aramaic or Chaldee, `ezra', "help"; a
hypocoristicon, or shortened form of Azariah, "Yahweh has
helped." The Hebrew spells the name `ezrah, as in 1 Ch 4:17,
or uses the Aramaic spelling of the name, as in Ezr 7:1. The
Greek form is Esdras):
(1) A priest who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon (Neh
12:1). In Neh 10:2, Azariah, the full form of the name, is
found.
(2) A descendant of Judah and father of Jethro and other
sons (1 Ch 4:17).
(3) The distinguished priest who is the hero of the Book of
Ezra and co-worker with Nehemiah.
1. Family:
The genealogy of Ezra is given in Ezr 7:1-6, where it
appears that he was the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Ahitub,
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the
son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the
son of Aaron, the high priest. Since Seraiah, according to
the Book of Kings, was killed by Nebuchadrezzar at Riblah (2
Ki 25:18-21), and since he was the father of Jehozadak, the
high priest who was carried into captivity by Nebuchadrezzar
(1 Ch 6:14,15 (Hebrew 5:40), etc.) in 588 BC, and since the
return under Ezra took place in 458 BC, the word "son" must
be used in Ezr 7:2 in the sense of descendant. Since,
moreover, Joshua, or Jeshua, the high priest, who returned
from Babylon with Zerubbabel, was the son of Jehozadak and
the grandson of Seraiah, Ezra was probably the great-
grandson or great-great-grandson of Seraiah. Inasmuch as
Jehozadak is never mentioned as one of his forefathers, Ezra
was probably not descended from Jehozadak, but from a
younger brother. He would thus not be a high priest, though
he was of high-priestly descent as far as Seraiah. For the
sake of shortening the list of names, six names are omitted
in Ezr 7:2-7 between Azariah and Meraioth, and one between
Shallum and Ahitub from the corresponding list found in 1 Ch
6:4-14 (Hebrew 5:30-40).
Being a priest by birth, it is to be supposed that Ezra
would have performed the ordinary functions of a member of
his order, if he had been born and had lived in Israel...
Link: https://bible-history.com/isbe/E/EZRA/...
("the helper," as Nehemiah means "the comforter".)
1. A "ready scribe in the law of Moses" (Ezra 7:6;
Ezra 7:11-12); "a scribe of the words of the commandments of
the Lord and of His statutes to Israel"; "a scribe of the
law of the God of heaven"; "priest"; a worthy descendant of
Hilkiah the priest under Josiah, who "found the book of the
law in the house of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 34:14-15); son
or descendant of Seraiah (not the high priest. Seraiah, Ezra
7:1). See Ezra 7-10; also Nehemiah 8; Nehemiah 12:26.
Resided in Babylon under Artaxerxes Longimanus. His
qualification for his work was "he had prepared his heart to
seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in
Israel statutes and judgments." By the king's leave, in the
seventh year of his reign, he took to Jerusalem 1,754
persons, including Israelites, priests, Levites, singers,
porters, and Nethinim (Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8).
The journey occupied four months. They brought free
will offerings, gold, silver, and vessels, from the king and
his counselors, as well as from the Jews abroad. Artaxerxes
empowered him also to draw upon the royal treasurers beyond
the river for further supplies if necessary; also the decree
added. "thou Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in
thine hand, set magistrates and judges which may judge all
the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the
laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not." He
committed for safety the charge of the gold and silver to 12
priests and 12 Levites (Ezra 8:24 translated "I separated 12
of the chief priests in addition to Sherebiah, Hashabiah,
and ten of their brethren with them": compare Ezra 8:18-19).
These delivered them up "to the chief of the priests,
Levites. and fathers at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the
house of the Lord."...
Link: https://bible-history.com/faussets/E/Ezr...
Hilary of Poitiers calls Ezra a continuation of Chronicles.
The first part of Ezra (Ezra 1-6) describes the return from
the captivity under Joshua and Zerubbabel, and the building
of the temple; the enemy's obstructions; its advance through
the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-2; Ezra 6:14),
and its completion in Darius Hystaspes' sixth year, 516 B.C.
(Ezra 6:15.) A long interval follows; and the second part of
the book (Ezra 7-10) passes to Ezra's journey from Persia to
Jerusalem in Artaxerxes Longimanus' seventh year, 458-457
B.C. (Ezra 7:1; Ezra 7:7); the details are given in Ezra 7;
8. Ezra's numerous caravan bringing fresh strength to the
weak colony (Ezra 8). And his work in Ezra 9-10, restoring
the theocratic nationality and removing foreign wives. The
book ends with the names of those who had married them.
The second part combined with Nehemiah is a complete
historical picture. But the distinct title to Nehemiah shows
it is a separate book. ESTHER fills up the interval between
Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. The first part (Ezra 1-6) period (536-516
B.C.) is the time of prince Zerubbabel and the high priest
Joshua aided by Haggai and Zechariah. The second (Ezra 7-10)
is that of the priest Ezra and the governor Nehemiah, aided
by the prophet Malachi. In both royal, priestly, and
prophetical men lead God's people. The first is the period
of building the temple, a religious restoration; the second
that of restoring the people and rebuilding the city, a
political combined with a religious restoration. The things
of God first, then the things of men. Only 50,000 settled
with Joshua and Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:64, etc.); and these
intermingled with the pagan, and were in "affliction and
reproach" (Ezra 9:6-15; Nehemiah 1:3).
Hence the need of restoring the holy nationality, as
well as the temple, under Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra the priest
took charge of the inner restoration, by purging out
paganism and bringing back the law; Nehemiah the governor
did the outer work, restoring the city and its polity. Ezra
is therefore rightly accounted by the Jews as a second
Moses. Ezra received permission to go to Jerusalem in the
seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus (Ezra 7:6-26);
Nehemiah in the 20th year (Nehemiah 2:1). Ezra is supposed
by some to have used the Babylonian era, Nehemiah the
Persian. The 70 weeks (490 years) of Daniel 9:24-25 probably
date from this seventh year of Artaxerxes, when Ezra
received leave to restore the temple and the people and the
holy city (457 B.C.), because the re-establishment of the
theocracy then began, though the actual rebuilding was not
until 13 years later under Nehemiah...
Link: https://bible-history.com/faussets/E/Ezr...
help. (1.) A priest among those that returned to Jerusalem
under
Zerubabel (Neh. 12:1).
(2.) The "scribe" who led the second body of exiles
that
returned from Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459, and
author of the
book of Scripture which bears his name. He was the
son, or
perhaps grandson, of Seraiah (2 Kings 25:18-21), and
a lineal
descendant of Phinehas, the son of Aaron (Ezra 7:1-
5). All we
know of his personal history is contained in the
last four
chapters of his book, and in Neh. 8 and 12:26.
In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes
Longimanus (see
DARIUS -T0000975), he obtained leave to go up to
Jerusalem and
to take with him a company of Israelites (Ezra 8).
Artaxerxes
manifested great interest in Ezra's undertaking,
granting him
"all his request," and loading him with gifts for
the house of
God. Ezra assembled the band of exiles, probably
about 5,000 in
all, who were prepared to go up with him to
Jerusalem, on the
banks of the Ahava, where they rested for three
days, and were
put into order for their march across the desert,
which was
completed in four months. His proceedings at
Jerusalem on his
arrival there are recorded in his book.
He was "a ready scribe in the law of Moses," who
"had prepared
his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it,
and to teach
in Israel statutes and judgments." "He is," says
Professor
Binnie, "the first well-defined example of an order
of men who
have never since ceased in the church; men of sacred
erudition,
who devote their lives to the study of the Holy
Scriptures, in
order that they may be in a condition to interpret
them for the
instruction and edification of the church. It is
significant
that the earliest mention of the pulpit occurs in
the history of
Ezra's ministry (Neh. 8:4). He was much more of a
teacher than a
priest. We learn from the account of his labours in
the book of
Nehemiah that he was careful to have the whole
people instructed
in the law of Moses; and there is no reason to
reject the
constant tradition of the Jews which connects his
name with the
collecting and editing of the Old Testament canon.
The final
completion of the canon may have been, and probably
was, the
work of a later generation; but Ezra seems to have
put it much
into the shape in which it is still found in the
Hebrew Bible.
When it is added that the complete organization of
the synagogue
dates from this period, it will be seen that the age
was
emphatically one of Biblical study" (The Psalms:
their History,
etc.).
For about fourteen years, i.e., till B.C. 445, we
have no
record of what went on in Jerusalem after Ezra had
set in order
the ecclesiastical and civil affairs of the nation.
In that year
another distinguished personage, Nehemiah, appears
on the scene.
After the ruined wall of the city had been built by
Nehemiah,
there was a great gathering of the people at
Jerusalem
preparatory to the dedication of the wall. On the
appointed day
the whole population assembled, and the law was read
aloud to
them by Ezra and his assistants (Neh. 8:3). The
remarkable scene
is described in detail. There was a great religious
awakening.
For successive days they held solemn assemblies,
confessing
their sins and offering up solemn sacrifices. They
kept also the
feast of Tabernacles with great solemnity and joyous
enthusiasm,
and then renewed their national covenant to be the
Lord's.
Abuses were rectified, and arrangements for the
temple service
completed, and now nothing remained but the
dedication of the
walls of the city (Neh. 12).
Link: https://bible-history.com/eastons/E/Ezra...
This book is the record of events occurring at the close of
the
Babylonian exile. It was at one time included in
Nehemiah, the
Jews regarding them as one volume. The two are still
distinguished in the Vulgate version as I. and II.
Esdras. It
consists of two principal divisions:
(1.) The history of the first return of exiles, in
the first
year of Cyrus (B.C. 536), till the completion and
dedication of
the new temple, in the sixth year of Darius Hystapes
(B.C. 515),
ch. 1-6. From the close of the sixth to the opening
of the
seventh chapter there is a blank in the history of
about sixty
years.
(2.) The history of the second return under Ezra, in
the
seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and of the
events that
took place at Jerusalem after Ezra's arrival there
(7-10).
The book thus contains memorabilia connected with
the Jews,
from the decree of Cyrus (B.C. 536) to the
reformation by Ezra
(B.C. 456), extending over a period of about eighty
years.
There is no quotation from this book in the New
Testament, but
there never has been any doubt about its being
canonical. Ezra
was probably the author of this book, at least of
the greater
part of it (comp. 7:27, 28; 8:1, etc.), as he was
also of the
Books of Chronicles, the close of which forms the
opening
passage of Ezra.
Link: https://bible-history.com/eastons/E/Ezra...
(help), called ESDRAS in the Apocrypha, the famous scribe
and priest. He was a learned and pious priest residing at
Babylon in the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus. The origin of
his influence with the king does not appear, but in the
seventh year of his reign he obtained leave to go to
Jerusalem, and to take with him a company of Israelites.
(B.C. 457.) The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took just
four months; and the company brought with them a large
freewill offering of gold and silver, and silver vessels. It
appears that Ezra's great design was to effect a religious
reformation among the Israel Jews. His first step was to
enforce separation upon all who had married foreign wives.
Ezr 10:1 ... This was effected in little more than
six months after his arrival at Jerusalem. With the detailed
account of this important transaction Ezra's autobiography
ends abruptly, and we hear nothing more of him till,
thirteen years afterwards, in the twentieth of Artaxerxes,
we find him again at Jerusalem with Nehemiah. It seems
probable that after effecting the above reformations he
returned to the king of Persia. The functions he executed
under Nehemiah's government were purely of a priestly and
ecclesiastical character. The date of his death is
uncertain. There was a Jewish tradition that he was buried
in Persia. The principal works ascribed to him by the Jews
are--
1. The instruction of the great synagogue;
2. The settling the canon of Scripture, and
restoring, correcting and editing the whole sacred volume;
3. The introduction of the Chaldee character instead
of the old Hebrew or Samaritan;
4. The authorship of the books of Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, and, some add, Esther; and, many of the Jews say,
also of the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve
prophets;
5. The establishment of synagogues.
Link: https://bible-history.com/smiths/E/Ezra/...
is a continuation of the books of Chronicles. The period
covered by the book is eighty years, from the first of Cyrus,
B.C. 536, to the beginning of the eighth of Artaxerxes, B.C.
456. It consist of the contemporary historical journals kept
from time to time, containing, chs. 1-12, and account of the
return of the captives under Zerubbabel, and the rebuilding of
the temple in the reign of Cyrus and Cambyses. Most of the
book is written in Hebrew, but from chs. 4:8 to 6:19 it is
written in Chaldee. The last four chapters, beginning with ch.
7, continue the history after a gap of fifty-eight years --
from the sixth of Darius to the seventh of Artaxerxes--
narrating his visit to Jerusalem, and giving an account of the
reforms there accomplished, referred to under EZRA. Much of
the book was written by Ezra himself, though the first chapter
was probably written by Daniel; and other hands are evident.
Link: https://bible-history.com/smiths/E/Ezra,...
