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Ezra
Overview
Ezra's Unique Place in the Canon
Ezra's Authorship
Ezra's Date
Background and Themes
Historical Background
Characteristics
What to look for in Ezra
The Return of Captives to Jerusalem Under Zerubbabel
The Return of Captives to Jerusalem Under Ezra

Overview
Ezra


Ezra's Unique Place in the Canon

  • At one point in history Ezra and Nehemiah were one book in the Hebrew Bible. However, they probably began as separate books because Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 are virtually identical and such repetition is unlikely to occur in one book.
  • Ezra is a spiritual, or religious history.
  • Ezra shows that documents from secular sources (decrees, letters, etc.) can be arranged by the Holy Spirit to be made a part of the inspired record.
  • Breakdown of Ezra's 280 verses: 111 verses of registers, 109 verses of narrative, 44 verses of letters, 10 verses of prayer, 3 verses of proclamation, and 3 verses of excerpt. This is an unusual conglomoration of types of literature.

Ezra's Authorship

  • The book is anonymous.
  • The compilation of the documents is often ascribed to Ezra.
  • Whoever the author was may have also helped compile Nehemiah and perhaps 1 and 2 Chronicles.

Ezra's Date

  • Ezra is believed to have penned his book between the events at the end of chapter 10 (456 B.C.) and Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem (444 B.C.)

Background and Themes

  • As Ezra opens, the Babylonian Empie is passing away and Jeremiah's prophesy (Jeremian 29:10-14) of restoration of the Jews to their land is being fulfilled.
  • One of the main themes of Ezra is "begining again" - by building the second temple.

Historical Background

  • This book chronicles the restoration of Israel after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
  • Israel's restoration is accomplished through the help of three Persian kings (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes I).
  • The traditional view is that Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes I (458 B.C.) and Nehemiah in the twentieth year of the reign (445 B.C.).

Characteristics

  • This book weaves together various lists, the first-person and third-person memoirs of Ezra, and official documents.
  • God is shown using Persian kings and Jewish leaders both to bless and to discipline His people.
  • Ezra is often seen as the "father of Judaism" because he promotes a way of life renewed by and centered on unswerving allegiance to the Torah. Ezra's policies saved Judaism from oblivion in this crucial period of transition.

What to look for in Ezra

  • Ezra is filled with seven official documents or letters. Look for these documents and letters and ask yourselves the following questions: Who presented this document or letter? What are the major points of the document or letter? This information will help you keep track of the opposition the Jews faced and how God moved on their behalf.
  • The book of Ezra records when the temple construction began and when it was completed. Take note of this.


Last update: July 6, 2003

© 2002-2003 Greg Cohoon
greg@cohoon.name

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