Also, a book of the bible telling of ezra, the return of the jews from babylon, and the rebuilding of the temple. Overview of the biblical book of ezra zionlutheranchurch. Ezra is the author of the book and is also the main character in the story starting in chapter 7 ezra 7. This 10 part expository study of ezra was preached at flagstaff christian fellowship in 2002. In keeping with this, there is stress laid on gods sovereignty over both his own people, but also foreign kings and peoples as well. 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. His memoirs are in the bible book bearing his name. 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. The book of ezra continues from where 2 chronicles ends, with cyrus, king of persia, issuing a decree that permitted the jews of his kingdom to return to jerusalem after seventy years of captivity. The american poet ezra pound 18851972 was a famous bearer. Extra verses are included which teach about what the bible does and who jesus is.
Ezra 1, new international version niv the bible app. The book of ezra niv audio bible non dramatized youtube. Inspired by gods spirit, he tells the israelites that they can head home and rebuild their temple. Ezra probably knew nehemiah though the bible doesnt specifically state this as fact. 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. Ezra, bible prophet amazing bible timeline with world. Both men went back to jerusalem during the reign of artaxerxes. All the people were attentive to the book of the law. Before that date, it had been included in the book of ezra. We can also read more about king xerxes in the book of esther in the bible. The book of ezra nasb audio bible non dramatized youtube. In the hebrew bible mt ezranehemiah is a single work.
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. If you enjoy the many free bible studies we have created for you, please support our site and the time spent on writing and uploading these studies by disabling your ad blocker and refreshing the page. Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. Nehemiah 8 is the eighth chapter of the book of nehemiah in the old testament of the christian bible, or the 18th chapter of the book of ezranehemiah in the hebrew bible, which treats the book of ezra and book. Home bible studies ezra studies ezra 3 these small group studies of ezra contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, teaching points, and applications. Ezra nehemiah can be a little confusing on first read. Later, ezra restored the mosaic law and the liturgical practices of judaism, while. He is a highly respected figure in judaism known for enforcing the torah. All the people could see him because he was standing above them. Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah, darius i, artaxerxes i, and zerubbabel. Though comprised of two smaller books, ezra and sefer nechemya were joined, as they concisely discuss the same general era, the final period included in the tanakh. This is why the author uses the first person singular from chap.
Ezra is a prophet of the old testament and the author of the book of ezra. The bible book of ezra with full chapters, footnotes and bible commentary to aid your bible search, reading, and study. 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. The oldest manuscripts of the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot also treat ezra and nehemiah as one book. Ezra the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. God had brought many of his people, the jews, back to judah. Ezra is also a book in the old testament of the bible. His story begins around 480 bc, which is where he appears on the amazing bible timeline with world history study companion. Ezra 1 niv cyrus helps the exiles to return in bible gateway.
See ezra book of instances in the king james version kjv. The book of ezra, in conjunction with nehemiah, records the fulfillment of gods promise to restore his people to their land after seventy years of babylonian captivity. Modern hebrew bibles call the two books ezra and nehemiah, as do other modern bible translations. The book of ezra the books of ezra and nehemiah are the key literary sources for the period of the restoration, the formation of the jewish religious community after the babylonian captivity. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament.
The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead urge students to study to understand scripture. An initial group returned to jerusalem with sheshbazzar, the prince of judah 1. Ezra is a book in the bible about a priest who led judean people from babylon back to their home in jerusalem. The later history of ezra is found in the book of nehemiah, which is a sequel to the book. This chapter is a genealogy chapter so it is less discussion and a bit slower compared to regular chapters as a disclaimer. We do not hear a word from them after they were captured until ezra picks up their history. First book of esdras, apocryphal work that was included in the canon of the septuagint the greek version of the hebrew bible but is not part of any modern biblical canon.
The book of ezra the last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order. Ezra 3 inductive bible study online study and obey. The book of ezranehemiah was always written as one scroll. Edition rcu17ss, revised chinese union version traditional script shen edition rcu17ts.
Ezra 6 the decree of darius king darius then bible. The book of ezra nehemiah was always written as one scroll. Information and translations of book of ezra in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Both form the story of how god reestablishes israel in the land he promised to her.
He reproduces the 24 books the ancient numbering of the 39 books of the hebrew bible, and is told that these books are to be made available to everyone. Ezra was a direct descendant of aaron the chief priest 7. Ezra the scribe has been considered author of the book for ages. The book of ezra does not name its author, but jewish tradition says ezra wrote it as well as the books of nehemiah and chronicles. The tradition is that the prophet ezra wrote the book of ezra. Ezra is a veteran jerusalemite from iraq, who came to the. Reading and studying the book of ezra with friends on zoom. Sefer ezra vnechemya is the penultimate book of the hebrew bible.
First and second esdras are books found in the collection of writings known as the apocrypha or deuterocanonical books. The book of ezra in the bible tells us that the king of persia allowed the jews to return to their own land. He returned to jerusalem with the second group of jews returning from captivity in ezra 7 around 458 bc. Babylonian sexagesimal system was 60 minas, with a mina being 60 shekels. Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah. When we conclude 2 chronicles, we see that the southern kingdom of judah went into captivity for seventy years. But the people who lived near them did not want the jews back in the land. The book of ezra is the last of the historical books, but they do not follow ad seriatum one right after the other. Ezra and nehemiah, books of jewish virtual library. The book of nehemiah has been, since the 16th century, a separate book of the hebrew bible. Ezra and nehemiah the next book of the bible were originally considered two parts of one book. As the curtain rises and the orchestra dramatically swells, king cyrus of persia has just defeated the babylonians. Though written a century later to help the jewish community in jerusalem understand their identity by describing the beginnings of second temple judaism, the book of ezra is situated in two separate historical settings that align with the two major sections of the book.
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 hebrew canon and separated again in english translations. 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. The jews started to build a temple house of god in jerusalem. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. We have already read something about king xerxes and king artaxerxes in the book of ezra ezra 4. The book of ezra was originally combined with the book of nehemiah and served as a continuation of first and second chronicles. Ezra 710 picks up the story more than sixty years later, when ezra led the second group of exiles to israel 458 bc. In the hebrew bible ezra and nehemiah are regarded as one book. Ezra is a hebrew name in the bible that means helper. Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the water gate, from early in the morning until midday in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. The events in ezra are set in jerusalem and the surrounding area. In love with the bible jewish world israel national news. Entry for ezra, book of cyclopedia of biblical, theological and ecclesiastical literature one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia, with its nearly 50,000 entries and 17 millin words, dwarfs modern bible encyclopedias with the depth of knowledge.
The books of ezra and nehemiah are the only completely historical books in the third section of the hebrew bible, the ketuvim writings. Ezra is one of two books in the bible that contain a significant amount of aramaic, a sister language to hebrew the other is daniel. The two became separated with the first printed rabbinic bibles of the early 16th century, following late medieval latin christian tradition. The book of ezra is part of the historical books of the bible. Ezra was the second of three key leaders to leave babylon for the reconstruction of jerusalem. Book of ezra read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Commentary on the book of ezra by matthew henry old. As the article was going to print, the contest winner was announced. Ezra s involvement with all four books is suggested by these similarities. Ezra cohen, 72, won the contest and received a prize of 18,000 nis. Ad 400 and our english bible it has been divided into two separate works. The book of ezra offers hope and comfort for the people of god today as well.
The last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order. The old testament book of nehemiah relates the restoration of jerusalem after. In late medieval christian bibles, the single book was divided in two, as first and second ezra. The book could not have been completed earlier than about 450 bc the date of the events recorded in 10. Mar 04, 2015 the book of ezra niv audio bible non dramatized bible3 truth. Apr 07, 2015 ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. 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. 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. Ezra a jewish priest and scribe who played a central part in the reform of judaism in the 5th or 4th century bc, continuing the work of nehemiah and forbidding mixed marriages.
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. Here is a list of the family leaders and the genealogies of those who came with me from babylon during the reign of king artaxerxes. The language of ezranehemiah is late biblical hebrew polzin and the text. Verses 15 the rules of king darius and king xerxes have finished and artaxerxes is the king of persia. 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. Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of transeuphrates, so that the work will not stop. These writings are accepted as scripture by the roman catholic and orthodox. Ezra 6 new international version niv the decree of darius. Ezra, book of cyclopedia of biblical, theological and. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Book of ezra overview insight for living ministries. The book of ezra in the bible tells about the jewish peoples return back to jerusalem after they were exiled. The book of ezra does not specifically name its author. Ezra, bible prophet amazing bible timeline with world history.
Dig into the word and become a bible expert with amazing facts line of study. Imbedded in the book of ezra are what purport to be copies of a number of royal and. The story of ezras life is revealed in chapter seven of the same book. Ezra was one of the last old testament authors and one of the first of the jewish scribes who would preserve the old testament canon. The truth about the apocrypha and the lost books of the bible duration.
The masoretic tradition regarded the books of ezra and nehemiah as one book and. The oldest manuscripts of the septuagint the prechristian greek. Though the book does not specifically claim ezra as the author, the writing style changes from third person in chapters 16 to first person for the rest of the book. Jun 06, 2012 the book features the carrying out of the decrees of cyrus, and other persian officials, which authorized the return of the exiles, the reformation of the jewish religious system, and the restoration of jerusalem. Nehemiah focuses on rebuilding the city of jerusalem.
Audio and manuscripts are available for each lesson lesson 3 excepted, which does not have audio. Intro to ezra biblica the international bible society. Lessons from ezra for believers today michael hardt. Not all the jews returned to judah, but some did return. Ezra 1 niv bible in the first year of cyrus king of. In fact, ezra and nehemiah were originally regarded as one book by ancient jewish and early christian scribes. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. In the seventh vision of 4 ezra, this problem is remedied by ezra mystically receiving these texts again and writing them in a sort of spiritual stupor, reproducing them word for word. It has been used as a given name in the englishspeaking world since the protestant reformation. The book of ezra opens with the same wording that closes the book of chronicles 2 chronicles 36. At one time, however, ezra and nehemiah followed 1 and 2 chronicles and were generally considered to be the work of one and. Aug 04, 20 from ezra to esther, god restores israel from exile in their own land again. To appreciate the significance of ezra s journey to jerusalem, we need to bear in mind that 80 years had passed since the first return from babylon ch. He is said to have formed the canon of hebrew scripture and to have.
Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of ezra in the bible king james version. While some of the recorded events occur in faraway persia, the focus of the book is the realization of the yearning of the jewish exiles to return. Ezra 6, new international version niv the bible app. 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.
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