EZRA
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book is named after the main character of its second part.
The book of 2 Chronicles ended with an official message that King Cyrus of Persia sent in
538 B.C., which allowed the Jews to return to their land and to rebuild the Lord's temple.
The first part of the book of Ezra (1–6) begins with that same message and then tells
how many of the Jews returned to Jerusalem and began work on the temple. But the people in
nearby areas caused a lot of trouble for them, and so the work went slowly and even
stopped for several years. But the temple was finally finished in 515 B.C.
The first part of the book also tells about problems at a later time, when the Jews had to
stop rebuilding the city walls during the rule of Artaxerxes (4.6-23).
The second part of the book (7–10) begins with Ezra arriving in Jerusalem to teach
God's laws to the people of Judah. Ezra was horrified to learn that the people of Israel
were committing the same sins as other nations. Israel was in serious danger of being
punished or even destroyed by the Lord. So Ezra prayed and confessed Israel's sins, and
the people agreed to begin obeying God's laws. The book of Nehemiah reports other things
that Ezra did.
God's people were no longer an independent nation, but Ezra realized that God was in
control, no matter what empire ruled over them. And so Ezra said:
"Praise the Lord God of our ancestors He made sure that the king honored the Lord's
temple in Jerusalem. God has told the king, his advisors, and his powerful officials to
treat me with kindness. The Lord God has helped me, and I have been able to bring many
Jewish leaders back to Jerusalem." (7:27-28)
A QUICK LOOK AT THIS BOOK
The Jews Return Home from Exile (1.1—2.70)
The Altar Is Rebuilt, and Work on the Temple Begins (3.1—4.5)
Later Trouble Rebuilding Jerusalem (4.6-23)
The Temple Is Rebuilt (4.24—6.22)
Ezra Leads Many Jews back to Jerusalem (7.1—8.36)
Ezra Forces Men To Divorce Their Gentile Wives (9.1—10.44)
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