Ezra (Bible)
Ezra is the 15th book of the Old Testament. It records the history of the Israelites who were freed from 70 years of captivity in Babylon (Neo-Babylonian Empire) by the decree of King Cyrus of Persia. They returned to their homeland, Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple and renew their faith.
| Ezra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | Ezr |
| Class. | Old Testament |
| Category | Book of History |
| Chapters | 10 |
| Record Related | |
| Writer | Presumed to be Ezra |
| Date (Approx.) | 440 BC |
| Location | Jerusalem |
Authorship and Date of Writing
The book is known to be written by Ezra. Since Ezra speaks in the first person in the text[1] and gives detailed explanations about the sacrificial system and the Law of Moses, it is believed that Ezra,[2] a priest and a scribe well-versed in the Law, wrote it.
The book of Ezra contains:
① The record of the first return from exile around 537 BC, led by Zerubbabel, and the list of returnees.[3]
② The record of the second return around 457 BC, led by Ezra himself, and the returnees.[4]
③ It also mentions Eliashib,[5][6] the high priest during the time of Nehemiah, who led the third return (around 444 BC).
④ After Nehemiah repaired the walls of Jerusalem, Ezra led a nationwide repentance movement.[7][8] From these events, it can be inferred that the book of Ezra was written after the third return from exile.
- Return From Babylonian Captives
| Return | Date | King | Prophets | Key Scripture |
| 1st Return | Circa 537 BC | 1st year of Cyrus | Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah | Ezra 1 |
| 2nd Return | Circa 457 BC | 7th year of Artaxerxes | Ezra | Ezra 7 |
| 3rd Return | Circa 444 BC | 20th year of Artaxerxes | Nehemiah | Nehemiah 2 |
Key Figures
- Cyrus: The king of Persia who conquered Babylon. He gave glory to the LORD, the God of heaven, who had given him all the kingdoms of the earth, and he freed the Israelites from Babylonian captivity.
- Zerubbabel: A grandson of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, who was taken captive to Babylon. As the leader of the first return of the captives, he led about 50,000 Jews back to Jerusalem. After returning, despite opposition from the Samaritans, he took the lead in rebuilding the temple. The temple rebuilt at this time is known as Zerubbabel’s Temple.
- Haggai and Zechariah: Prophets who ministered in Jerusalem during the reign of King Darius of Persia. They encouraged the returned exiles and helped resume the temple reconstruction, which had been halted for about 15 years.
- Ezra: A descendant of Aaron the high priest (16 generations later), Ezra was a scribe and priest well-versed in the Law. Motivated by a sense of mission to study the Law and teach it to the Israelites, he came to Jerusalem with the second group of returnees
Key Characteristics of the Book of Ezra
- While the latter part of 2 Chronicles records the fall of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the book of Ezra begins with King Cyrus of Persia freeing the Israelites.
- It describes how, 70 years after the Babylonian exile, God fulfilled His prophecy[9] by restoring the people of Judah.
- In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah are combined as one book.
Structure of the Book of Ezra
| Chapters | Content | Section |
| Chapter 1 | Decree of Cyrus and the First Return | 1st Return |
| Chapters 2–3 | 1st Return | |
| Chapter 4 | Opposition from the Samaritans to the Temple Rebuilding | |
| Chapters 5–6 | Resumption and Completion of the Temple Reconstruction | |
| Chapters 7–8 | 2nd Return | 2nd Return |
| Chapters 9–10 | Israel’s Repentance |
Decree of Cyrus and the First Return (Chapter 1)
King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree to free the Israelites who had been in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. He commanded them to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. He also returned all the temple articles that had been taken by Babylon.
The First Return (Chapters 2–3)
About 50,000 people returned with Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Jeshua, the high priest. They brought offerings for the rebuilding of the temple. In the seventh month, they gathered in Jerusalem, rebuilt the altar on its original foundation, and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles.
In the following year, under Zerubbabel’s leadership, they began rebuilding the temple.[10]
Opposition From the Samaritans to the Temple Rebuilding (Chapter 4)
However, construction was soon halted due to intense opposition from the Samaritans, who had been living in the land since before the return. They first asked to help with the building, but when refused, they bribed officials and intimidated the people, weakening their resolve.[11] As a result, the work was stopped, and only the foundation had been laid.
Resumption and Completion of the Temple Reconstruction (Chapters 5–6)
God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the discouraged people.[12] The rebuilding work, which had been stopped for many years, resumed. Zerubbabel and Jeshua led the project, supported by the prophets.
Governor Tattenai sent a letter to King Darius to verify whether the reconstruction was legally authorized. King Darius found Cyrus’s original decree and gave full support to the project.
Construction went smoothly, and the temple was completed on the 3rd day of Adar (12th month) in the 6th year of King Darius. All the people gathered to celebrate the dedication of the temple with joy. On the 14th day of the first month, they celebrated the Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, giving thanks to God who had moved the heart of a foreign king to accomplish His will.[13]
The Second Return (Chapters 7–8)
The second return from exile was led by Ezra, a scribe and priest well-versed in the Law of God. Ezra’s purpose in returning to Jerusalem was to teach God’s laws and statutes to the people of Israel.[2] King Artaxerxes permitted Ezra to return and issued a decree allowing any willing Israelites to go with him to Jerusalem. He also entrusted Ezra with offerings and temple articles and commanded him to carry out all that God required without fail.
Ezra gathered those among the people who were willing to return and set out for his homeland, carrying offerings and temple articles to be used in the service of the temple. Before departing for Jerusalem, Ezra and his company assembled by the Ahava River. There, Ezra sought out the descendants of Levi and brought them to join the return journey. About 2,000 people, including priests, descendants of King David, Levites, and common Israelites, set out with Ezra. They fasted and sought God's protection so that they could arrive safely in Jerusalem.[14]
Israel’s Repentance (Chapters 9–10)
The people who had returned in the first group had disobeyed God's word by marrying foreign women and adopting detestable practices from the surrounding nations. When Ezra heard that even the leaders and officials were involved in this sin, he was deeply dismayed and offered a tearful prayer of repentance to God. The people, moved by his prayer, also wept and repented. They then made a covenant to fully obey the Law of God and renewed their faith.