Explain the book of ezra in the bible

Jul 17, 2016 watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each book s flow of thought. The books of ezra and nehemiah are the only completely historical books in the third section of the hebrew bible, the ketuvim writings. Ezra with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Ezra 10 new international version niv the peoples confession of sin. The book of nehemiah is a book of the hebrew bible, thought to be a continuation of the book of ezra, and is sometimes called the second book of ezra. Haggai was the main prophet in the day of ezra, and zechariah was the prophet in the day of nehemiah. Ezras purpose was to accurately record the events of the return from the babylonian exile, after a seventy. Book of ezra overview insight for living ministries. The canonical book of ezra and book of nehemiah are the oldest sources for the activity of ezra, whereas many of the other books ascribed to ezra first esdras, 36 ezra are later literary works dependent on the canonical books of ezra and nehemiah. This language of gods hand being upon someone is a favorite of ezra, where it appears six times out of eight times in the whole bible ezra 7. The purpose of the sacred author was that of establishing the continuity of the nation of gods chosen people. Thats the first reason i often give for studying the old testament books of ezra and nehemiah. It would have been natural for the same author to continue the old testament narrative by showing how god fulfilled his promise by returning his people to the land after 70 years of captivity.

His story begins around 480 bc, which is where he appears on the amazing bible timeline with world history study companion. The account of his mission which is described in the last four chapters of this book proves the point. God was at work in and through ezra, and that explains his success in his endeavors. First esdras is part of what is considered the apocryphaldeuterocanonical scripture. The treatment of ezranehemiah as a single book by the earliest editors was undoubtedly due to the fact that in ancient times the two books were put under the one name, ezra.

This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, authors, date of. The book of ezra provides an account of the return of two groups of jews from babylon to. Ezra 710 picks up the story more than sixty years later, when ezra led the second group of exiles to israel 458 bc. Summary of the books of ezra the story of the bible. It is evident that the author of the book of ezra was personally present at the transactions recorded in it, the narrative being in the first person that the last four chapters of this book were written by ezra himself there can be no doubt, as he particularly describes himself. Ezra took courage and acted on the kings order because, as he said, the hand of the lord my god was upon me ezra 7. This is because both jewish and christian tradition attribute authorship to this famous scribepriest. Ezra, bible prophet amazing bible timeline with world history. When their king was dethroned and captured and the people exiled to babylon, judah as an independent nation ceased to exist.

The book of ezra relates the restoration of jerusalem and the building of the. Readers will learn to see christ in all aspects of scripture, and they will be encouraged by the devotional nature of each exposition. If we compare the last verses of 2 chronicles chap. Exalting jesus in ezranehemiah christian book distributors. The babylonians had defeated the people from judah. That these books constituted a single workreferred to as the chroniclers history, in distinction to the. The events in ezra are set in jerusalem and the surrounding area. In the hebrew bible ezra and nehemiah are regarded as one book. We have already read something about king xerxes and king artaxerxes in the book of ezra ezra 4. The revival began with the reading of the word of god by ezra. Not only did he teach the people as a ready scribe but he also humbled himself under their sins and shortcomings ch. There is no doubt that ezra, personally, was a great help to his people.

Read ezra commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The book of ezra opens with the same wording that closes the book of chronicles 2 chronicles 36. In english bibles, they are usually split into two, with the book of nehemiah appearing as a separate book from ezra, but in the hebrew tradition, they are one book, entitled ezra, and nehemiah is simply the second part of ezra. Books of ezra and nehemiah, two old testament books that together with the books of chronicles formed a single history of israel from the time of adam. 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.

For a broader view look at the comments in the right column. Ezra is believed to possibly be the author of the books of the chronicles. Biblical literature biblical literature ezra, nehemiah, and chronicles. Ezra is a scribe, a persian official and a levitical priest. They tell us about the time when the jews returned from babylonia to their own country, judah. Five great lessons from the book of ezra macland road. The book of ezra does not specifically name its author. The book of nehemiah introduction we may read the book of nehemiah and come away with a general appreciation for a mans conviction and spiritual energy to get work accomplished and move on to another story. Ezranehemiah can be a little confusing on first read.

Study the bible online using commentary on ezra and more. The jews are counted and are permitted to return to judah to rebuild the temple. Book of nehemiah simple english wikipedia, the free. Verses 15 the rules of king darius and king xerxes have finished and artaxerxes is the king of persia. 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.

Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah, darius i, artaxerxes i, and zerubbabel. The books of ezra and nehemiah are two parts of the same story. For personal study, i suggest you start at the beginning of a chapter or book. The books of zechariah and haggai were written during the lifetime of ezra see 5. Ezra commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. In the hebrew bible, the two books were considered one work, though some internal evidence suggests they were written separately and joined together in the. 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. The lord rasied up ezra and nehemiah to reestablish the nation by rebuilding the temple and city walls and by turning the people back to his word.

The central message of the book of ezra is found in ezra the scribes moving confession on behalf of his people ezra 9. The global message of ezra the big picture of ezra. Also, ezra was probably the writer of 1 and 2 chronicles and psalm 119 the longest chapter in the bible. From its contents we especially learn, that every good work will meet with opposition from enemies, and be hurt by the misconduct of friends.

And gave the sense the meaning of the hebrew words, which they expounded in the common language and caused them to understand the reading or that which they read, namely, the holy scriptures. The combined work ezranehemiah is our most important literary source for the formation of the jewish religious community in the province of judah after the babylonian exile. 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. 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. The first return and rebuilding under zerubbabel chaps. Ezra, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Except for some greek orthodox, episcopal, or lutheran bibles, 1 and 2 esdras do not. Yet if we do not pause and contemplate the historical events as a whole we may miss out on information that may encourages us today. The books of 1 and 2 esdras are not part of the biblical canon.

Book of ezra read, study bible verses online bible study tools. God had justly sent israel into exile for its sins, but, in his perfect timing, the jews who later returned to jerusalem have received gods grace to revive them. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Ezra 10 the peoples confession of sin bible gateway. The history of this book is the accomplishment of jeremiahs prophecy concerning the return of the jews out of babylon. It was at one time included in nehemiah, the jews regarding them as one volume. Not only did he teach the people as a ready scribe but he also humbled himself under. The techniques that distinguish ezras narrator are narratorial intrusion, shifts between third.

Ezra gathered the people of jerusalem and read before the assembly the book of the law of moses which the lord prescribed for israel nehemiah 8. Even though ezras name does not enter the account of judahs postexilic return to jerusalem until 7. The theological program of the book explains the many problems its chronological structure presents. The book of ezra reminds readers that discouragement and fear are two giant obstacles to doing gods work.

The books of ezra and nehemiah relate how gods covenant people were restored from babylonian exile to the covenant land as a theocratic kingdom of god community even while continuing under gentile rule. Biblical literature ezra, nehemiah, and chronicles. In all, more than 40 of these signs of time line the textual highway, and the text ends its story with yet another temporal pinpoint, and they finished upon the first day of the first month 10. Read your own bible, the bible as quoted on this site, and my comments. Ezra 1, new international version niv the bible app. The narrative effects of ezras presentational order have immediate theological ramifications. The documents are similar to contemporary nonbiblical documents of the persian period. It is evident that the author of the book of ezra was personally present at the transactions recorded in it, the narrative being in the first person that the last four chapters of this book were written by ezra himself there can be no doubt, as he particularly describes himself in the beginning of the seventh chapter, and. The last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order. It is difficult to describe the parties and politics of judea in this period because of the lack of historical sources, but there seem to have been three. Book of ezra covers the events of the jews returning from the babylonian captivity. Nov 27, 2012 ezra was an ancient jewish priest and scribe who was one of the primary leaders of israel when they returned from exile to rebuild jerusalem and solomons temple. 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. We can also read more about king xerxes in the book of esther in the bible.

Nehemiah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The journey between babylonia and judah took about 4 months to walk. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Roman catholics long associated the two, calling the. This book is the record of events occurring at the close of the babylonian exile. The book of ezra provides an account of the jews regathering, of their struggle to survive. The final books of the hebrew bible are the books of chronicles and ezranehemiah, which once formed a unitary history of israel from adam to the 4th century bce, written by an anonymous chronicler. The two became separated with the first printed rabbinic bibles of the early 16th century, following late medieval latin christian tradition. Ezra and nehemiah are a single book in the jewish canon. Ezra chapter 2 online bible study tools and resources.

Books of ezra and nehemiah old testament britannica. The book of ezranehemiah was always written as one scroll. Second esdras is an apocalyptic work and is considered pseudepigraphal. The tradition is that the prophet ezra wrote the book of ezra. Now in the first year of cyrus king of persia, that the word of the lord by the mouth of jeremiah might be fulfilled, the lord stirred up the spirit of cyrus king of persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying. Recommended sites bible info questions with answers in major world languages. Aug 17, 2016 this article is part of the why study the book. So they read in the book of the law to wit, ezra and his companions, successively. The book of ezra provides a muchneeded link in the historical record of the israelite people. The hebrew traditions treated the books of ezra and nehemiah is one book, although they were probably separated in the bible. In this 12week study, kathleen nielson shows readers gods mercy and faithfulness demonstrated in the books of ezra and nehemiah, encouraging christians toward sincere repentance and persevering hope.

It is about the return from exile and the rebuilding of jerusalem. The book of ezra was originally combined with the book of nehemiah and served as a continuation of first and second chronicles. God had brought many of his people, the jews, back to judah. Exalting jesus in ezranehemiah is written by jim hamilton. The book of ezra the name ezra meaning help therefore is the sequence to the chronicles in regard to history and in regard to contents. As thomas ice and ed hindson explain in their recent book, charting the bible chronologically. 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. Little is known of the biography of the author of the book of malachi, although it has been suggested that he may have been levitical. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies.

Study guide on the book of ezra, on line bible commentary for book of ezra, niv commentary ezra, free ezra commentary. The book of ezra is part of the historical books of the bible. The lord, the god of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at jerusalem in judah. Now while ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of god, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from israel.

Ezra 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The proclamation of cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple. Israel returns from exile macarthur bible studies macarthur, john f. Rehum the commanding officer and shimshai the secretary, backed by the rest of their associates, the judges and officials over the people from tripolis, persia, erech, and babylon, elamites of susa, and all the others whom the great and honorable ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of samaria and other places in the land across the euphrates. Aug 14, 2017 ezranehemiah tim mackie the bible project. Ezras compression of eighty years of opposition into the confines of chapter four intensifies the darkness of his picture.