Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, made...: Heb. caused a voice to pass Ezra 1:2
Full Answer
Who was Ezra in the Bible?
Appointed to be a priest and a scribe, Ezra was also a prolific writer. In addition to the book that bears his name, he contributed to both 1 and 2 Chronicles, as well as to the book of Nehemiah.
When did Ezra arrive in Jerusalem?
“Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
What happened to Ezra after the Battle of the temple?
Ezra was granted permission by the next king, Antaxerxes, to lead another group of exiles back. He found the temple restored to glory, but soon realized that the worship life of the remnant needed repairing.
What was Ezra’s goal in life?
Ezra’s goal was worthy in God’s eyes, and he effectively used the returning Jews’ sorrows for the success of rebuilding God’s city and restoring worship. Who was Ezra in the Bible? Get our Questions of the Week delivered right to your inbox!
What Is the Book of Ezra About?
What did Ezra do?
How long did it take for Ezra and Nehemiah to travel back to Jerusalem?
What role did Ezra play in the Bible?
Why did God choose Ezra?
What did Ezra do when he was told of the people's sin?
Why did the Lord use the King of Persia?
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About this website
Who was king in Ezra 1?
King Cyrus of PersiaKing Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple—Cyrus returns the vessels of the house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar.
Who were the kings in the book of Ezra?
Historical backgroundKing of PersiaReign (BC)Cambyses530–522Darius I522–486Xerxes486–465Artaxerxes I465–4245 more rows
What is the meaning of Ezra 1?
It means 'I am who I am'. This shows that God has always been there and he always will be there. 1:1 See Jeremiah 29:10. 2 'This is what Cyrus, the king of Persia says: The Lord, the God of heaven , has given me power over all the kingdoms of the earth.
What authority did the king give Ezra?
The delegated authority over the Jews of the satrapy (administrative area) “beyond the river” (Avar-nahara), or west of the Euphrates River, was entrusted to Ezra; for a Jew to disobey the Law he brought was to disobey “the law of the king.”
Are King Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes the same?
Ahasuerus, a royal Persian name occurring throughout the Old Testament. Immediately preceding Artaxerxes I in the line of Persian kings, Ahasuerus is evidently to be identified with Xerxes.
Is Darius and Artaxerxes the same?
Darius was crown prince of the Persian Empire. He was the eldest son of the Persian king Xerxes I and his wife Amestris, the daughter of Onophas. His younger brothers were Hystaspes and Artaxerxes, and his younger sisters were Rhodogyne and Amytis.
What is the meaning of Ezra 1 6?
In fulfillment of prophecy, the Lord inspired Cyrus, king of Persia, to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Ezra 1–6 gives an account of the first group of Jews who returned to Jerusalem and began reconstructing the temple. However, opposition from adversaries halted the Jews' efforts.
Who wrote the book of Ezra?
The uniformity of language, style, and ideas of the two books and Chronicles mark the entire work as the product of a single author, known as the Chronicler. He belongs to a period after the Babylonian Exile, probably about 350–300 bc.
Why did zerubbabel refuse help?
did Zeruboabel reject their offer of help? Zerubbabel was apparently afraid that the Jews would be assimilated into the local population and that their religion would consequently be contaminated by these outside influences.
Who is Artaxerxes in Ezra?
He is the central character of the biblical Book of Ezra and also appears in the Book of Nehemiah. Ezra was a priest and scribe at Susa who was sent by Artaxerxes I, along with a significant number of Jewish families, to Jerusalem in order to standardize the Law of Moses.
What is the main message in the book of Ezra?
The book of Ezra provides an account of the return of two groups of Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem, where they rebuilt the temple and their community. As students study the book of Ezra, they can learn about how the Lord enables His people to overcome opposition and accomplish His will.
Who is Jesus in the book of Ezra?
Ezra points us to Jesus because Jesus is the perfect priest that leads us to freedom. Not only is Jesus a better priest but he leads us into a better freedom. As a priest both Ezra and Jesus made intercession for God's people through sacrifice and prayer.
Who is the king in Ezra 4?
We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."
What is the purpose of 1 and 2 Kings?
The biblical books of 1 and 2 Kings provide a theological history of the monarchy from the 10th to the early 6th century BCE. There are three major periods depicted: the united monarchy, covering the time from just before the death of David until the division of the kingdom following Solomon's death (c.
What is the main message in the book of Ezra?
The book of Ezra provides an account of the return of two groups of Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem, where they rebuilt the temple and their community. As students study the book of Ezra, they can learn about how the Lord enables His people to overcome opposition and accomplish His will.
Who is the Artaxerxes in Ezra 4?
"Artaxerxes": from Hebrew: ארתחששתא (also written as ארתחששת), 'ar-taḥ-šaś-tā, also mentioned in Ezra 7:1; Nehemiah 2:1, generally identified with Artaxerxes Longimanus, who succeeds his father Xerxes and reigned forty years (465–425 BCE).
Interesting Facts About Ezra - Bible Charts
Interesting Facts About Ezra Barnes’ Bible Charts MEANING: Ezra means “Yahweh helps.” AUTHOR: Ezra. TIME WRITTEN: Probably between 457 and 444 B.C.
Ezra in the Bible - Who Was He and What Did He Do - Crosswalk.com
Sixty years after the temple was completed, Ezra was commissioned by Cyrus’s successor, Artaxerxes, to lead the second Jewish return to Jerusalem in 457 B.C., focusing his efforts on rebuilding ...
Why Ezra, the Prophet and Priest, Has Such a Powerful Story
Ezra was a scribe and a priest. We read about him in the Old Testament. Although details of his birth, youth, and family information are not shared in Scripture, we learn that Ezra was a man dedicated to God and to following the will of God.
What Is the Book of Ezra About?
The book was originally written for those Jews who were returning to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon. Composed around 450 B.C., though perhaps started earlier, it documents events that occurred between 538-450 B.C.
What did Ezra do?
Called “the father of Judaism” or “the second Moses” by some, Ezra was passionate about God’s Law. It was the foundation of his own life , and he used the Torah (which later became the first five books of the Old Testament) to remind others how to live righteously.
How long did it take for Ezra and Nehemiah to travel back to Jerusalem?
It covers two spans of time: the first journey back to Jerusalem (538-515 B.C.) directed by Zerubbabel, and then the second group under Ezra, starting about 60 years later in 458 B.C. In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah were presented as one book, and can still be read that way.
What role did Ezra play in the Bible?
Though Ezra is not one of the more widely known figures in the Bible, he played a vital role in the spiritual health of the Jewish people. He spent his life as a priest, serving the Israelites during their exile in Babylon and as they returned to Jerusalem.
Why did God choose Ezra?
God chose Ezra to become the protector of His Law and a prayer intercessor for the Jews. Ezra’s heart was burdened for those who had strayed from God’s Ways. He knew that a return to purity and an obedience of the Lord’s commands would set the people on the right path forward.
What did Ezra do when he was told of the people's sin?
When told of the people’s sin, Ezra immediately tore his cloak and sat down. Later, he rose to his knees and prayed out to God for forgiveness. Afterwards, he issued a call for all the exiles to gather in the city, where he directed the men to separate from their foreign wives and children.
Why did the Lord use the King of Persia?
The Lord unexpectedly used the King of Persia to start bringing His people back to their homeland after a lengthy exile. He always finds a way to accomplish good for believers who look to Him, though His methods may surprise us.
Who was the king of Assyria?
King of Assyria. 668 – c. 627. Generally identified with "the great and noble Osnappar", mentioned in the Book of Ezra. His name survives in his own writings, which describe his military campaigns against Elam, Susa and other nations.
Who was the king of Kush?
Pharaoh of Egypt, King of Kush. 690–664. Called "Tirhaka, the king of Kush" in the books of Kings and Isaiah. Several contemporary sources mention him and fragments of three statues bearing his name were excavated at Nineveh.
What color are the kings of Israel?
Timeline showing the kings of Israel and Judah according to the chronology from Edwin R. Thiele. Kings that are known from contemporary extra-biblical sources are highlighted in yellow. Tentatively identified kings are highlighted in orange.
What is the Hebrew Bible?
The Hebrew Bible, known in Judaism by the acronym Tanakh, is the collection of ancient writings that are considered sacred by both Jews and Christians. They tell the story of the Jewish people and their ancestors, starting from the creation narrative and concluding near the end of the 5th century BCE.
Where is the seal impression of Isaiah?
Isaiah, In February 2018 archaeologist Eilat Mazar announced that she and her team had discovered a small seal impression which reads " [belonging] to Isaiah nvy" (could be reconstructed and read as " [belonging] to Isaiah the prophet") during the Ophel excavations, just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
When did Judea become part of the Seleucid Empire?
While the deuterocanon describes events between the eighth and second centuries BCE, most historically identifiable people mentioned in the deuterocanon lived around the time of the Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE), by which time Judea had become part of the Seleucid Empire. Coins featuring the names of rulers had become widespread and many of them were inscribed with the year number in the Seleucid era, allowing them to be dated precisely.
Who is Queen Berenice?
A daughter of Herod Agrippa I. She appears to have had almost equal power to her brother Herod Agrippa II (with whom she was rumored to have an incestuous relationship, according to Josephus) and is indeed called Queen Berenice in Tacitus's Histories.
What did Ezra do for the Jews?
Ezra was a scribe and priest sent with religious and political powers by the Persian King Artaxerxes to lead a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem ( Ezra 7:8, 12 ). Ezra condemned mixed marriages and encouraged Jews to divorce and banish their foreign wives. Ezra renewed the celebration of festivals and supported the rededication of the temple and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall. Ezra 7:10 describes a shaping of the community in accordance with the Torah. Ezra’s goal was to implement the Torah, and his impeccable priestly and scribal credentials allowed him to remain the model leader.
What was Ezra's ministry?
Ezra’s effective ministry included teaching the Word of God, initiating reforms, restoring worship, and leading spiritual revival in Jerusalem. These reforms magnified the need for a genuine concern for reputation and for public image.
What did Nehemiah and Ezra do?
Nehemiah and Ezra were then, and are now, an encouragement to God’s people to magnify worship as their top priority, to emphasize the need for and use of God’s Word as the only authoritative rule for living, and to be concerned about the image God’s people show to the world.
What did Ezra do to encourage Jews to divorce?
Ezra condemned mixed marriages and encouraged Jews to divorce and banish their foreign wives. Ezra renewed the celebration of festivals and supported the rededication of the temple and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall. Ezra 7:10 describes a shaping of the community in accordance with the Torah. Ezra’s goal was to implement ...
What was Ezra's goal?
Ezra’s goal was to implement the Torah, and his impeccable priestly and scribal credentials allowed him to remain the model leader. 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.
What were the opposing forces in Ezra's day?
The opposing forces in Ezra’s day were people with evil in their hearts. The opposing force in our Christian lives today is evil himself, Satan, who has come to destroy us and in turn destroy God’s temple ( John 10:10 ). Our goals should be worthy in God’s eyes as well as our own.
Is God involved in Ezra's life?
God is as intimately involved in our lives as He was in Ezra’s life, and like Ezra we are sometimes enabled to do the impossible. Ezra did the impossible, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him ( Ezra 7:9 ). Every believer is a living temple ( 1 Corinthians 6:19) in which the Holy Spirit dwells. The opposing forces in Ezra’s day were people ...
What Is the Book of Ezra About?
The book was originally written for those Jews who were returning to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon. Composed around 450 B.C., though perhaps started earlier, it documents events that occurred between 538-450 B.C.
What did Ezra do?
Called “the father of Judaism” or “the second Moses” by some, Ezra was passionate about God’s Law. It was the foundation of his own life , and he used the Torah (which later became the first five books of the Old Testament) to remind others how to live righteously.
How long did it take for Ezra and Nehemiah to travel back to Jerusalem?
It covers two spans of time: the first journey back to Jerusalem (538-515 B.C.) directed by Zerubbabel, and then the second group under Ezra, starting about 60 years later in 458 B.C. In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah were presented as one book, and can still be read that way.
What role did Ezra play in the Bible?
Though Ezra is not one of the more widely known figures in the Bible, he played a vital role in the spiritual health of the Jewish people. He spent his life as a priest, serving the Israelites during their exile in Babylon and as they returned to Jerusalem.
Why did God choose Ezra?
God chose Ezra to become the protector of His Law and a prayer intercessor for the Jews. Ezra’s heart was burdened for those who had strayed from God’s Ways. He knew that a return to purity and an obedience of the Lord’s commands would set the people on the right path forward.
What did Ezra do when he was told of the people's sin?
When told of the people’s sin, Ezra immediately tore his cloak and sat down. Later, he rose to his knees and prayed out to God for forgiveness. Afterwards, he issued a call for all the exiles to gather in the city, where he directed the men to separate from their foreign wives and children.
Why did the Lord use the King of Persia?
The Lord unexpectedly used the King of Persia to start bringing His people back to their homeland after a lengthy exile. He always finds a way to accomplish good for believers who look to Him, though His methods may surprise us.
