THE BOOK OF EZRA

INTRODUCTION:

1.The last three Historical Books (Ezra. Nehemiah and Esther, sometimes called THE RESTORATION BOOKS) tell of the dealings of God with the Jews while they were in Captivity; then they describe the return of a remnant of the Jews to their homeland after the Captivity (606-536 BC).

2.The BOOK OF EZRA shows the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring His people back home - Jer 25:11-12; 29:10-14.

a.Jeremiah’s prediction was fulfilled in two ways:

1)They were delivered from Political Captivity, in which Jerusalem was overcome (606-536 BC).

2)And from Religious Captivity, which extended from the destruction of the Temple to its rebuilding (586-516 BC).

b.In 539 BC Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians.

c.The Persians decreed the return of the Jews in 538 BC; The Temple was begun
in 536 BC.

d.In times of trouble and crisis, God can rule / overrule in affairs of His people,
1:1; cf Jer 18:1-6 (Sovereignty of God).

3.Jews were led in the period from 538-420 BC by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

4.We have few details of the 70 years Captivity, but the Books of EZRA and NEHEMIAH pick up the story of God’s chosen people with the event of their
return home.

a.The Temple was central to the keeping of the covenant.

b.EZRA shows the circumstances under which it was rebuilt following the return
from Exile.

5.AUTHOR: Jewish tradition says EZRA.

6.DATE: Written between 457 BC and 444 BC (between Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s arrivals in Jerusalem).

7.The Book covers two historical periods, separated by 60 years:

a.536-516 BC, twenty years; Under Zerubbabel the Governor, the Temple was rebuilt - Chapters 1-6; To this period belong the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

**(ESTHER’S story comes in between the two periods -- There is a sixty year gap in EZRA, between Chapters 6 and 7.)

b.457 BC (sixty years after the first period), 1 year; Under Ezra there was a period of spiritual reform - Chapters 7-10; To this period belongs the last prophet, Malachi.

1.THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL; REBUILDING THE TEMPLE; RESTORATION (TWENTY YEARS - 536-516 BC) -- CHAPTERS 1-6.

A.COMMISSION OF THE TEMPLE BUILDERS -- CHAPTERS 1-2.

1.Chapter 1, CYRUS DECREED THE RETURN, AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE, Verses 1-3 (cf Jer 25:11-12; 29:10-14).

a.150 years before, Isaiah predicted the role of Cyrus (by name!) in having the Temple rebuilt - Isa 44:28; 45:4 (Isaiah was guided by the Omniscient Mind).

b.SHESHBAZZAR (Verse 8) seems to have been the Babylonian name for ZERUBBABEL, cf 2:2.

1)Zerubbabel was governor, 5:14; Hag 1:1.

2)He was grandson of Jehoiachin, who was carried to Captivity - 1Chapter 3:17-19.

3)So he was the one who would have been king, if Judah had continued to be a kingdom.

4)It was tactful diplomatic courtesy on the part of Cyrus to appoint him as Governor of Judah.

2.Chapter 2, THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWS RETURNED UNDER ZERUBBABEL, Verses 1-2a.

a.The number in Verse 64 is 42,360. Family genealogies are given first; Others are mentioned in Verse 65, and we assume there were children also, thus it is estimated there were possibly 50,000 who returned.

b.The returned remnant is called ALL ISRAEL in Verse 70. This and similar terms are used several times in EZRA.

1)This looks as if the exiles of Judah, in their homeward journey, up the Euphrates Valley, through the region where exiles from the Northern Kingdom had been settled, gathered in some representatives of the 10 Northern Tribes who wanted to go back home (Ephraim and Manasseh are named in 1Ch 9:3).

2)Also, Babylonia earlier had conquered Assyria, and many of the Israelites would have been moved to Babylonia.

3)Therefore, in the New Testament the Jews could still be spoken of as TWELVE TRIBES - Ac 26:7; Jas 1:1.

4)So the 10 Tribes were not entirely lost, and there is no such idea in the Bible as “the lost 10 Tribes” (a figment of premillennialism’s imagination).

5)So the BOOK OF EZRA disproves “Anglo-Israelism” by showing that some from Israel as well as Judah were in the return (for a discussion, see EXPLORE THE BOOK, by J. Sidlow Baxter, pages 208-209).

c.It is estimated the Jewish population at this time was from one to three million; So, why would fewer than 100,000 take advantage of the offer of Cyrus? Perhaps only the most committed would be willing to leave a comfortable life in Babylonia, walk 900 miles, and then rebuild a destroyed Temple and City.

d.And so Zerubbabel led the faithful remnant back to Judea and to the City
of Jerusalem.

B.COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE PROJECT -- CHAPTERS 3-6.

1.Chapter 3, BEGINNING OF THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

a.Zerubbabel’s priorities were right: After arriving at Jerusalem, he first restored the altar and the religious feasts before beginning work on the Temple, Verses 1-6.

b.In the second year of the return, work started on the Temple, Verse 8;
cf Zech 4:9.

c.When the foundation of the Temple was laid, the people sang for joy,
Verse 11.

d.But those who had seen the glory of the first Temple wept as they compared
it to the new one, Verse 12; cf Hag 2:3-4.

2.Chapter 4, THE WORK IS STOPPED.

a.Samaritans asked permission to join in the work, but Zerubbabel would not make an alliance with the mixed race and the polluted religion, Verses 1-3;
cf Eph 5:11.

b.When God’s people will not compromise, and have fellowship with all, Satan will rage and the gates of hell will fight against the way of truth, Verses 4-5.

c.The adversaries used their influence at the Persian court to stop the work (They wrote the king of Persia to check the REBELLIOUS City), Verses
6-22,12,23-24.

3.Chapter 5, WORK ON THE TEMPLE IS RESUMED.

a.God sent Haggai and Zechariah to stir the people to the performance of their duty, Verses 1-2.

b.The work was resumed, but with frustration, Verses 3-5.

c.Tatnai was the Persian governor west of the Euphrates. He wrote King Darius protesting the Temple building, challenging the authority of the Jews to continue, and requesting the king’s attention to the matter, Verses 6-17.

d.From this time to the time of Christ there was bitterness between the Jews and the Samaritans - cf Jn 4:7-9.

4.Chapter 6, THE TEMPLE IS COMPLETED.

a.Darius found the decree of Cyrus and confirmed it, even ordering Tatnai to provide whatever was needed to complete the work, Verses 7-8,12.

b.The Temple was completed in the sixth year of King Darius (515 BC),
Verse 15; cf Zech 4:9.

c.The Temple was then dedicated with joy, and Passover was observed, Verses 14,16,19.

d.For some reason unknown to us, after the Temple was completed, the work
of restoring the City went no further for about 60 years.

e.The story is now suspended for 60 years between Chapters 6 and 7 (The BOOK OF ESTHER occurs early in this gap).

2.THE RETURN UNDER EZRA; REBUILDING THE PEOPLE; REFORMATION (ONE YEAR - 457 BC) -- CHAPTERS 7-10.

A.COMMISSION OF THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS -- CHAPTERS 7-8.

1.Chapter 7, EZRA’S AUTHORITY TO GO TO JERUSALEM.

a.Skipping 60 years, the BOOK moves forward to the time of Ezra and the rebuilding of the people.

b.This return under Ezra took place in 456 BC, 80 years after the first return under Zerubbabel (And 60 years after completion of the Temple).

c.Ezra was a priest and scribe (7:1-6) who wanted to go to Judah to teach the Law of God and reform the people, to beautify the Temple, and to restore the Temple service, Verses 6,9-10.

d.He was given authority by King Artaxerxes (Queen Esther’s stepson) to
bring people and contributions from Persia to Jerusalem and the Temple, Verses 1,12-15.

e.Ezra gave thanks for his privilege, Verses 27-28.

2.Chapter 8, THOSE WHO RETURNED WITH EZRA.

a.Ezra took about 1750 males, with gold and silver, including offerings from the king of Persia, Verse 25.

b.It is not stated whether women went, but the reference to OUR LITTLE ONES (Verse 21) implies that entire families were included.

NOTE: The “Nethinims” of Verse 20 may have been foreigners who were used to maintain the Temple.

c.God protected this small band through four months travel (7:9); They arrived safely at Jerusalem with their gifts for the Temple, Verses 31-32.

d.Many of the early returnees must have been dead by now.

B.COMPLETION OF THE SPIRITUAL REFORMS -- CHAPTERS 9-10.

1.Chapter 9, EZRA FINDS SPIRITUAL CONFUSION IN JERUSALEM.

a.During the 60 years between Chapter 6-7 the Jews had intermarried with the idolatrous Samaritans, and were neglecting the Law of Moses, Verses 1-4.

b.This intermarrying was a thing God had repeatedly forbidden the Jews to do. It helped lead them into idolatry, and finally into Captivity.

c.During the times of the Kings, God had sent prophet after prophet and judgment after judgment; Then at last He resorted to the Captivity, almost wiping the Nation out of existence, trying to salvage their faith.

d.Now a little remnant had come home, apparently cured of idolatry, and in less than 60 years they were right back into this sin of marrying idolaters.

e.Ezra identified with the sin of his people and offered a great intercessory prayer on their behalf, Verses 5-15.

2.Chapter 10, MIXED MARRIAGES ARE DISSOLVED.

a.God used Ezra to rebuild the people morally and spiritually, so they would again be separated to God, Verse 1.

b.They quickly responded to Ezra’s confession and weeping by making a covenant to put away their foreign wives and live according to God’s law, Verses 2-5.

c.There is hope for people when they are convinced not only that it is GOOD
to quit sinning, but absolutely NECESSARY if they are to be saved, Verses
6-12,9; Note especially Verse 9.

d.This really did “change lifestyles,” and may seem severe, but it truly
was effective -- from that day to this, the Jews have generally been cured
of idolatry.

e.The sympathetic question “But what if there are children in the bad marriage?” is answered, Verses 44, cf Verse 3.

f.The Book closes with a list of the priests who had sinned in unholy marriages.

**EZRA IN EIGHT WORDS:

The Return Under Zerubbabel; The Return Under Ezra.

**EZRA IN SIX WORDS:

Rebuilding The Temple; Rebuilding The People.

**EZRA IN TWO WORDS:

Restoration; Reformation.

**EZRA IN TWO WORDS:

Temple; People.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF EZRA TO THE BIBLE:

1.Helps us to know Ezra: A godly man marked by strong trust in God, moral integrity, grief over sin.

2.Shows how the people were cured of idolatry: Shows their social, moral, and spiritual restoration to separateness.

3.God’s compassion and faithfulness is seen in the BOOK:

a.He protected His people by a powerful empire (Persia) while they were
in Captivity.

b.He prospered them in Exile; Raised pagan kings sympathetic to their cause.

c.He also provided zealous and capable spiritual leaders to direct them.

d.We see Him as a Promise-Keeper to His people.

4.Emphasizes the duty of God’s people to holiness.

5.Shows God’s Word to have a place in the social, civil, and religious life of
His people.

6.Disproves “Anglo-Israelism” by showing some from Israel were in the return, along with those from Judah.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF EZRA:

1.God’s promise to David to keep his descendants alive continues to be fulfilled: Zerubbabel was in the Messianic line as the grandson of Jehoiachin.

2.The Remnant returned to the Land of Promise, where Messianic promises would be fulfilled:

a.Christ would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2), not Babylon.

b.The church would begin in Jerusalem (Isa 2:2-3), not Babylon.

3.The Book as a whole typifies Christ’s work of forgiveness and restoration of a few.

**Are you concerned about your spiritual condition? Are there problems in your life that need correcting? Time is flying away!

**Christ is the offering; His blood will cleanse - Rev 1:5; Rom 6:4; 1Jn 1:9.