Watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each books flow of thought. Book of ezra read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Ezra 8 includes a firstperson reference, implying the authors participation in the events. He was a learned and pious priest residing at babylon in the time of artaxerxes longimanus. Book of ezra covers the events of the jews returning from the babylonian captivity. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. The book of ezra relates the restoration of jerusalem and the building of the. The books in the bible devoted to those historical events are named for these brave and mighty men and women. Haggai was the main prophet in the day of ezra, and zechariah was the prophet in the day of nehemiah. Watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each book s flow of thought. Even though ezra s name does not enter the account of judahs postexilic return to jerusalem until 7. This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the.
The book of ezra covers the return from captivity to rebuild the temple up to the decree of artaxerxes, the event covered at the beginning of the book of nehemiah. When their king was dethroned and captured and the people exiled to babylon, judah as an independent nation ceased to exist. He plays a major role in the second half of the book, as well as in the book of nehemiah, its sequel. Ezra free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Since the history is so closely related, and even overlapped, this overview and summary of the books of ezra and nehemiah are. The jews are counted and are permitted to return to judah to rebuild the temple. Book of ezra overview insight for living ministries. This account weaves together several categories of. This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ezra. The jews started to build a temple house of god in jerusalem. Summary of the books of ezra the story of the bible. The book of ezra in the bible tells us that the king of persia allowed the jews to return to their own land. But the people who lived near them did not want the jews back in the land. Near 520 bc after the takeover by nebuchadnezzar, ultimately king cyrus of persia arose to power, and he decided to aid the jews to return to jerusalem.
Ezra was both a priest and a scribe and he had a single purpose, to purify the worship of the lord among the hebrews based on the law of moses. God is faithful in fulfilling his promises and so the jews return to jerusalem from their exile in babylon. Even though ezras name does not enter the account of judahs postexilic return to jerusalem until 7. Not all the jews returned to judah, but some did return. D uring the time of ezra and nehemiah in the bible and even the book of esther, we can find some very complex issues that were dealt with by the hebrew people. Ezra help, called esdras in the apocrypha, the famous scribe and priest.