Home   »  Ezra   »   Ezra (the book)

Ezra (the book)

Janeen

The ten chapters of Ezra switch frequently between overview narrative and detailed lists.

Historically, the events begin in the first year of Persia’s king Cyrus. As prophesied by Jeremiah, {Jer 25:11-12; 29:10-14}, Cyrus was prompted by God to support the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. His decree is cited as follows:

  • The LORD, the God of Heaven, gave me all the kingdoms of the earth.
  • He appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem, in Judah.
  • Those of you who belong to Him, go build His temple, your God be with you.
  • Neighbors, give these people some of your silver, gold, goods, and livestock.
  • Send them on their way with offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.

Those who God prompted got ready to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Among them were the family heads of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and other Levites. Their neighbors gave them silver, gold, goods, and livestock, valuable gifts, and additional offerings. Cyrus gave back the things that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple when he took the Jews captive into Babylon.

Cyrus ordered them brought to the treasurer, Mithredath, and delivered to the head of the tribe of Judah, Sheshbazzar. The inventory is recorded, 5,400 items of gold and silver, which Sheshbazzar carried back to Jerusalem.

Nearly 50,000 people travelled from Babylon to Jerusalem. A census document is recorded, listing family leaders and the sizes of the families from the tribes of Israel who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. There are a few families who arrived from other territories, but these could not verify their lineage, so they settled as outsiders until the matter could be decided with the help of a priest bearing the Urim and Thummim. (These were stones of decision, as established in Exodus, that God manipulated to give a clear answer to the Israelites through their priesthood.)

The people gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the temple – each as they could – and the total was about 1,100 pounds of gold and 3 tons of silver.