Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Ezra was written approximately 460 to 440 B.C. The time covered by the book is about a century and includes a genealogical record of which Israelites were returning to the Land. The returning Jews were led by Zerubbabel as civic leader and Jeshua as high priest. Ezra the scribe later got permission from Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, to check on the Jews in Jerusalem and set up a proper governmental system. When he arrived, he also called them to godly living and a holding to the commands of the Law – which they were NOT following.

Chapters 1-6 deal with the 50,000 exiles returning by command of Cyrus in 538 B.C. to rebuild the Temple. It covers the time up to the completion of the Temple in 515 B.C. Chapters 7-10 deal with Ezra’s personal return in 458 B.C. – in the seventh year of Artaxerxes) with a contingent of priests and Levites to teach Torah to the Jews in Jerusalem. Ezra includes a genealogy of the Levites to prove their right to stand as priests in the Temple and lead the people in worship.

Chapter one is about Cyrus’ decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) and how they went. Cyrus gave the dimensions of the Temple AND pledged to pay for it (Ezra 6:3-4; 5:13-14). The king even gave back to the Jews the treasures that had been taken from the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar. The leader of the group is Zerubbabel or Sheshbazzar (their names are for the same man).

Chapter two is a list of those who returned to Jerusalem, and it mirrors the list given in Nehemiah 7:6-64. It also gives a short list of the money and goods Jews who were NOT returning gave to those who were. It included money and priestly garments for when the Temple was completed.

“The priests, the Levites, and some of the people lived in Jerusalem, and the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.” (Ezra 2:70)

Chapter three is a record of what happened when they completed their seven month journey back to Jerusalem. The immediately restored worship of God. They also started rebuilding the Temple itself, dedicating it with song when they completed the foundation. Although there was much joy, there was also some sadness in some of the elders of the people because this Temple would not be as big or as magnificent as Solomon’s Temple. Overall, it was a happy celebration.

Summary

Key Players: God, Ezra, Zerubbabel, Jewish Exiles.

Key Verse(s): Ezra 1:2-4; 2:68-70; 3:1-2, 11-13