Ezra
Purpose
Ezra records two waves of Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to the land of their ancestors, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy that the exile would last seventy years and Cyrus's own decree that God had appointed him to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The first return under Zerubbabel the governor and Jeshua the priest (c. 538 BC) faced fierce opposition from the people of the land, who first offered to help and then actively obstructed the work until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah stirred the community to renew construction in 520 BC; the temple was completed in 516 BC with great celebration. Ezra himself arrives with a second company of exiles under Artaxerxes (c. 458 BC), a priest and scribe "skilled in the Law of Moses" who had set his heart to study the Law, to practise it, and to teach it in Israel — a model of the teacher whose life matches his words. His anguished discovery that Jewish men had intermarried with surrounding peoples and his public mourning, confession, and prayer lead to a difficult but voluntary act of covenant renewal by the community.
Author
Traditionally Ezra
Time Period
Written c. 440-400 BC; events c. 538-458 BC
Key Themes
- Return from exile
- Temple rebuilt
- Law restored
- Covenant renewal
- Separation
Outline
The first return under Zerubbabel (ch. 1–2): Cyrus's decree; the restoration of the temple vessels; a detailed list of 49,897 returned exiles by family and town. The altar rebuilt and temple foundations laid; opposition mounts (ch. 3–4): the altar erected immediately upon arrival; the foundation celebrated with weeping and shouting; local enemies offer to help and are refused; they write to successive Persian kings and halt the work for years. The temple completed under Darius I (ch. 5–6): Haggai and Zechariah prophesy; Tattenai the governor investigates; Darius finds Cyrus's original decree and orders the work funded from the royal treasury; the temple dedicated in 516 BC and Passover celebrated. Ezra's return and commission (ch. 7–8): Artaxerxes's generous decree giving Ezra authority and funds; the journey and fasting by the Ahava canal; safe arrival. The crisis of intermarriage (ch. 9–10): the leaders report widespread intermarriage; Ezra's public mourning and prayer; a great assembly; the foreign wives sent away.