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For those visitors just joining us here in the Bible room, you are encouraged to go back to where we started last June with this weekly presentation we’re calling a “Getting Started Bible.’ These reading sessions feature summaries of each Bible book, chapter by chapter, the intention being to help readers in getting started reading the entire Book.

Today’s stop in the Bible room brings us to a story by one of the great heroes and historians in the saga of God’s People. We will read the entire summary of Ezra in one session.

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Ezra

Introduction to Ezra:

Writer: Ezra, a scribe by trade, historian, priest of the family of Aaron, is credited with writing this book. He was born in Babylon during the seventy-year exile of the Jews in that city.  Under Persian kings, Cyrus, and Darius, many of the exiles have returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the Altar.

Scope:  In his earlier writings of the Chronicles, Ezra describes the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. by King Nebuchadnezzar, and the taking of many Jews into exile at Babylon.

In this book bearing his name, Ezra documents his research from the historical archives of the people who were involved in the first return of exiles during the reign of King Cyrus in 537 b.c. He writes about the beginning of the rebuilding of the Temple. Then, around 440 b.c. the new Persian King, Artaxerxes, allows Ezra to go to Jerusalem as a spiritual leader to teach the Torah to returned exiles.

Chapter 1. Fulfilled

The prophecy of Jeremiah is fulfilled that the exiles from Jerusalem would serve seventy years in Babylon, then be allowed to go home:

  • Persian King Cyrus decrees that the people of God may leave Babylon and go back to Jerusalem to build a new temple for the worship of their God;
  • Volunteers are recruited from among those who wish to go;
  • Not everyone wants to leave Babylon;
  • Jews in and around Babylon finance the expedition;
  • King Cyrus retrieves the sacred articles that were stolen by King Nebuchadnezzar during the destruction of Jerusalem;
  • There are 5,400 gold and silver items-dishes, bowls, etc.

Chapter 2. Returned

From the records, Ezra lists the families who made the first return:

  • Families listed include: priests, other Levites;
  • Singers, gatekeepers, and servants of the temple;
  • Descendants of Solomon’s servants;
  • Group totals 42,360 men plus women and children;
  • Plus 7,337 men and women servants;
  • Plus 200 men and women singers;
  • 736 horses; 245 mules; 435 camels; 6,720 donkeys;
  • The Temple and the Altar will be built on the original site;
  • Returning families will resettle in their hometowns.

Chapter 3. Rebuilding

The Altar will be rebuilt first; then the Temple:

  • Seven months back in Israel, the people start rebuilding;
  • Everyone assembles in Jerusalem;
  • Building of the Altar is led by the priest Jeshua;
  • His lead builder is Zerubbabel with his associates;
  • The Altar is rebuilt, days of celebrating follow;
  • Many ungodly neighbors hate God’s people;
  • They do not approve of the building project in Jerusalem;
  • Fourteen months after their return to Jerusalem, the Temple building project begins;
  • Cedar logs are purchased from Lebanon;
  • A great ceremony marks the laying of the foundation;
  • Younger people shout and sing for joy;
  • Older people weep aloud;
  • Shouting, singing, and weeping heard all around.

Chapter 4. Hatred

Ezra finds records showing the opposition to the rebuilding project is borne out of centuries of hatred for the Jews, and their God:

  • Enemies surrounding Jerusalem approach Zerubbabel;
  • They ask if they can join in the building project;
  • Zerubbabel will have nothing to do with Israel’s enemies;
  • They start a coordinated effort to intimidate the builders;
  • Fearful for their lives, the workers stop construction;
  • No work is done during the remaining years of Cyrus;
  • The next king, Xerxes, decrees there will be no work;
  • After Xerxes, King Artaxerxes receives a letter from the opposition asking the king to keep the ‘stop work’ order;

Note: The opposition, Jewish haters, are the leaders in the area known as Trans-Euphrates lying West of the Euphrates River, extending East and North of Israel.

  • They recount years of previous ‘trouble’ caused by the ‘rebellious’ Jews at Jerusalem;
  • The king responds to this ‘hate letter’ with his agreement that there will be no work on the Temple;
  • Construction stops until the second year of King Darius.

Chapter 5. Inquiry

Ezra sees the records of when Zerubbabel had started work on the new Temple walls, aided by prophets Haggai and Zechariah:

  • Haters from the Trans-Euphrates opposition show up;
  • They begin asking for the names of the workers;
  • And who gave them authority to proceed with this work;
  • The Jews do not furnish any of the workers’ names;
  • They explain that King Cyrus had authorized this work;
  • The enemy leaders send a letter to King Darius asking him to determine whether King Cyrus had issued such a decree.

Chapter 6. Directive

The archives produce a scroll signed by King Cyrus that the Jews may return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, the Altar, and the city walls:

  • King Darius issues a directive to the Trans-Euphrates leaders to leave the Jews alone while they rebuild;
  • And, the Trans-Euphrates leaders shall pay all costs associated with this construction;
  • And further, the Trans-Euphrates governors shall furnish to the Jews all the animals needed for their daily sacrifices;
  • And further, everything requested by the priests shall be provided to them daily by the Trans-Euphrates leaders;
  • And further, if anyone changes the King’s decree, that person shall be killed and his house reduced to rubble;
  • And so, Israel’s enemies obeyed the order of Darius to help the Jews build their new Temple;
  • Under the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews continue to build, and to prosper,
  • Finally, Temple construction is completed;
  • The dedication is celebrated with the sacrificial offerings of hundreds of animals, all furnished by Israel’s enemies;
  • They celebrate the Feast of the Passover;
  • They celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Chapter 7. Journey

Ezra, a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, will go to Jerusalem:

  • He receives permission from Artaxerxes to lead the second expedition of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem;
  • The dangerous 900-mile journey will take four months under the protective hand of God;
  • He receives a letter of authorization from King Artaxerxes;
  • Ezra is instructed to collect free will offerings of gold and silver from Jews and non-Jews to pay for his trip;
  • Anything else Ezra needs shall be paid from the royal treasury of Babylon;
  • Further, all the needs of the Temple, the priests, shall be furnished to Ezra by the leaders in Trans-Euphrates;
  • Further, the King’s letter states that Ezra shall be the worship leader for all of Trans-Euphrates, who shall obey his teachings;
  • Failure of anyone to follow the teaching of Ezra, the Law of his God, shall be subject to the death penalty;

Chapter 8. Families

Ezra describes this small group who goes with him to Jerusalem:

  • 15 families, roughly 1,500 men plus women and children;
  • Also 40 Levites and 220 temple servants;
  • Ezra assembles his group for three days to get organized;
  • He holds a fast with prayers for God’s protection:
  • He declines to ask the King for military escorts;
  • Ezra selects twelve priests to oversee the collected funds;
  • He distributes over a million dollars in gold and silver objects to the care of the priests for use at the new Temple;
  • He orders twelve sacrifices before the trip is started;
  • God protects them from bandits and other hazards;
  • They arrive at Jerusalem safely, then rest for three days;
  • The funds and sacred articles are accounted for;
  • 200 animals are burnt offerings to God;
  • Ezra delivers the King’s orders to the governors of Trans-Euphrates who give their assistance as needed.

Chapter 9. Ashamed

Moral failure among the exiles causes deep shame for Ezra:

  • He learns the exiles have not kept the commandment of God to keep themselves separate from the Canaanites;
  • Even the priests and Levites are guilty of intermarrying;
  • Ezra is so ashamed he rips his clothes, pulls hair from his head and beard;
  • On the ground, he is too ashamed to face toward God;
  • He remembers how God has kept them, protected them, provided for them, and led them to this place they are celebrating;
  • He remembers the command of God: Do not marry the women of Canaan, don’t even make friends with them;
  • He wonders now if God will destroy the surviving remnant among His People.

Chapter 10. Repentance

Ezra is on his face, praying to God with confession and weeping:

  • A crowd gathers around him in agreement with his prayers;
  • They confess their sin in marrying women of Canaan;
  • They commit themselves to divorce all the foreign wives;
  • Ezra puts them under oath to follow through with it;
  • He calls for a mandatory general assembly;
  • He appoints leaders to determine who had intermarried;
  • About 110 men are listed as having foreign wives;
  • All the foreign wives are divorced, sent away, including their children with them.

END OF THE BOOK OF EZRA

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