The last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order. This book reminds us that it is through instruction in gods word that his people are strengthened, for ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in israel ezra 7. Nehemiah wrote it to records the events of returning to jerusalem and rebuilding the walls in 445 b. Other historians place the return under zerubbahel. Summary of the books of ezra the story of the bible. The books in the bible devoted to those historical events are named for these brave and mighty men and women.
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. Ezra, the high priest, is the one person who is notable in the books of ezra and nehemiah. Book of ezra and nehemiah covers the events of the jews returning from the babylonian captivity. Near 520 bc after the takeover by nebuchadnezzar, ultimately king cyrus of persia arose to power, and he decided to aid the jews to return to jerusalem. Ezra was a scribe and priest sent with religious and political powers by the persian king artaxerxes to. At one time, however, ezra and nehemiah followed 1 and 2 chronicles and were generally considered to be the work of one and the same author known as the chronicler.
From its contents we especially learn, that every good work will meet with opposition from enemies, and be hurt by the misconduct of friends. The book contains several documents presented as historical inclusions, written in aramaic while the surrounding text is in. God had totally given up on his people after the babylonian conquest in circa 587 bce, allowing the babylonians destroy jerusalem and his temple, just like the prophets predicted. Ezra was the second of three key leaders to leave babylon for the reconstruction of jerusalem. Intermarriage in israel 14 ezra s prayer of confession 515 10. Haggai was the main prophet in the day of ezra, and zechariah was the prophet in the day of nehemiah. This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the. It is interesting to note that once ezra appears on the scene in chapter 7, the author of the book of ezra switches from writing in the third person to first person. Like the books of ezra and esther, nehemiah tells us what happened after the jewish exile to babylon. They are to rebuild the temple and restore their religious practices and worship.
Overview of the book of ezra third millennium ministries. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ezra in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Ezra and nehemiah the next book of the bible were originally considered two parts of one book. Ezra overview james burton coffman commentaries on the bible. The prophets haggai and zechariah also played important roles in encouraging the people of judah and their leaders zerubbabel, the. Scholars differ as to the chronological order of the books, some maintaining that the events of nehemiah occur before those of ezra. Israel has been disciplined, and is now being restored to her land and her god. Ezra dedicated the temple but was not happy with the jews marrying pagan foreign wives.
Ezra summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ezra for bible study or sunday school lessons. An initial group returned to jerusalem with sheshbazzar, the prince of judah 1. Ezra 1 niv cyrus helps the exiles to return bible gateway. The books of ezra and nehemiah were originally combined into a single book. Nehemiah led the third 3rd exodus back to jerusalem, 94 years after zerubbabel 1st exodus of approx. This account weaves together several categories of. The revelation of christ is an important distinctive in the book of ezra nehemiah. Jerusalem had a temple but there was no protection for the city from further attack. Babylon was a long way from their own country, called judah. In hebrew manuscripts you will find these two books recorded as one. Although the books bear different names they follow each other without paragraph and the numeration of the masorah is listed at the end of nehemiah for both books. All 1,189 summaries now available in paperback and on kindle. Book of ezra overview insight for living ministries. 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.
The jews are counted and are permitted to return to judah to rebuild the temple. Summary of the prayers of ezra praying through the bible. The lord, the god of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has. The book of ezra provides an account of the jews regathering, of their struggle to survive and to rebuild what had been destroyed. The book of ezra covers the return from captivity to rebuild the temple up to the decree of artaxerxes, the event covered at the beginning of the book of nehemiah. Nehemiah focuses on rebuilding the city of jerusalem. Nehemiah, who was a contemporary or served around the same time as ezra, was a cupbearer to the king in the persian empire. The book is a first person account of the events from the perspective of nehemiah.
Then there is the return led by ezra in chapters 710, and about two thousand people followed ezra. The edict tells the people that god has appointed cyrus the new ruler of this empire, and ordered him to build him a new temple in jerusalem. Key personalities include nehemiah, ezra, sanballat, and tobiah. He allowed the king of babylon and his army to defeat them. Ezra and nehemiah provided faithful leadership as the restoration of israel faltered.
The book of ezra the name ezra meaning help therefore is the sequence to the chronicles in regard to history. The king of babylon ordered most jews to live in babylon. The events take place in the second half of the 5th century bc. Watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each books flow of thought. In fact, ezra and nehemiah were originally regarded as one book by ancient jewish and early christian scribes.
The book of ezra also references other biblical prophets, namely haggai. There is the return of the captives from babylon led by zerubbabel in the first six chapters. The books of ezra and nehemiah one book in the hebrew bible trace the story of the return of the people of god to the land of israel after the 70year captivity in babylon. It is, however, believed that ezra did write that book and its known that it originally was part of a larger book that included the books of nehemiah and chronicles. The book of ezra offers hope and comfort for the people of god today as well. The temple and jerusalem played a central role in bringing gods blessing to. Ezra in the picture study bible the book of ezra with. The history of this book is the accomplishment of jeremiahs prophecy concerning the return of the jews out of babylon. Since the history is so closely related, and even overlapped, this overview and summary of the books of ezra and nehemiah are offered together. The book of ezra nehemiah reveals christ in at least five ways. Ezra and nehemiah introduction theyre baack as the second book of kings ended, you thought it was all over for god and israel. In the hebrew bible the book of nehemiah comfort of jah forms a unity with the preceding book of ezra compare with the notes on ezra. The hebrew traditions treated the books of ezra and nehemiah is one book, although they were probably separated in the bible. The book of ezraa brief outline sermons by art davison.
Many years later, the army from persia defeated the army from babylon. Listed together with the book of ezra as ezra nehemiah, it represents the final chapter in the historical narrative of the hebrew bible the original core of the book, the firstperson memoir, may have been combined with the core of the book of ezra around 400 bc. This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ezra. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Jewish tradition has long attributed authorship of this historical book to the scribe and scholar ezra, who led the second group of jews returning from babylon to jerusalem ezra 7. The books of ezra and nehemiah are the key literary sources for the period of the restoration, the formation of the jewish religious community after the babylonian captivity. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. T hough no author is claimed in the book of nehemiah it is believed that ezra or nehemiah wrote the book. As the book begins, god inspires king cyrus of persia who has just conquered babylon to send out a herald and a written edict throughout his new empire. The prayers found in the book of ezra take place during a unique time in the history of israel.
Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah, darius i, artaxerxes i, and zerubbabel. Ezra, the first of the postcaptivity books ezra, nehemiah, esther, haggai, zechariah, and malachi, records the return to palestine under zerubbabel, by decree of cyrus, of a jewish remnant who laid the temple foundations b. List of those returning with ezra 114 preparations for the journey 1530 departure from babylon and arrival in jerusalem 36 9. Overview of the biblical book of ezra zionlutheranchurch.
Ezra 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Ezra comes to jerusalem 110 artaxerxes letter to ezra 1126 ezra praises jehovah 27, 28 8. Haggai was the leading prophet in the day of ezra, and zechariah was the prophet in the day of nehemiah. Book of ezra read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Cyrus helps the exiles to return in the first year of cyrus king of persia, in order to fulfill the word of the lord spoken by jeremiah, the lord moved the heart of cyrus king of persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing. Both form the story of how god reestablishes israel in the land he promised to her. Nehemiah chronicles gods covenant relationship with israel, and even provides a sweeping overview of the relationship in nehemiah chapter 9.
In such a unique period, we might think the prayer would be so specific that they would offer us little to. The book of ezra is part of the historical books of the bible. Further editing probably continued into the hellenistic. Ezra 110 the bible from 30,000 feet skip heitzig flight ezr01 duration. If we compare the last verses of 2 chronicles chap. The book of nehemiah jerusalem walls summary overview. Summary of yahwehs mercies to yisrael ezra 4 esdras 1. Nehemiah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
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