Ezra - Introduction

PLUS

Introduction

Author

THOUGH THE BOOKS OF EZRA AND Nehemiah are separate writings in English Bibles, they were regarded as a single book in the Hebrew Bible and were not separated in Hebrew Bibles until the fifteenth century. The early Christian theologian Origen separated Ezra-Nehemiah into two books, and Jerome followed suit with the Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate.

Ezra is an anonymous work, but ancient Jewish sources attribute authorship to Ezra. Some scholars believe the book was written by “the chronicler,” the author of 1–2 Chronicles, because 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and much of Ezra 1:1-3 are identical. Thus, Ezra may have authored both 1–2 Chronicles and Ezra.

Historical Background

Ezra was a priest and scribe sent by Artaxerxes the Persian king to Jerusalem in 458 BC (that is, in “the seventh year of King Artaxerxes,” Ezra 7:7) to appoint magistrates and judges and to teach God’s law in Israel (see Ezra 7:1-28).

Message and Purpose

The book of Ezra is about spiritual restoration. It deals with the restoration of the temple by Israel’s people after their return from Babylonian captivity as a result of their persistent disobedience and idolatry. God had made a kingdom promise to them that if they would return to him, he would bring them back to their land.

The priest Ezra led the second group of exiles back to Israel. He focused on reestablishing the temple and its sacrificial system, making it clear that the worship of God’s people would only be effective if they dedicated themselves to obeying God’s law. He challenged them that if they would get serious with the Lord, they would experience his covenantal blessings. But, this required Israel to stop compromising with God’s enemies and to turn from idolatry. Israel needed to be people separated to God to experience his blessings and be restored to his kingdom promises.

The message of Ezra is that when we depart from God, we lose our experience of him. But, when we return to him, he will restore us to fellowship with him.

VIDEO INTRO

Outline

  1. The Return of the Exiles under Zerubbabel (1:1–6:22)
    1. The Decree of Cyrus (1:1-11)
    2. The Jews Who Returned to Jerusalem (2:1-70)
    3. The Altar Built and the Temple Begun (3:1-13)
    4. The Temple’s Construction Halted by Opposition (4:1-24)
    5. The Temple’s Construction and Completion (5:1–6:22)
  2. The Return of the Exiles under Ezra (7:1–10:44)
    1. Ezra: the Man and His Commission (7:1-28)
    2. The Return to Jerusalem (8:1-36)
    3. Sin of the People and Ezra’s Confession (9:1-15)
    4. Confession of the People (10:1-44)