Ezra Chapters 1-2 Commentary

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Ezra

Introduction/Chapters 1-2 Introduction Ezra himself is not mentioned in the book that bears his name, yet the internal evidence points to Ezra being the author. This can be seen in such passages as Ezra 7:27-9:15 where the author refers to himself in the first person, and Ezra happens to be the main character in the chapter. In addition, Ezra was qualified for this task, being a priest and a scribe of the Law (7:21). The Book of Ezra is a continuation of Second Chronicles. The author indicates as much by repeating in the first two verses the concluding verses of the earlier book. Jerusalem had fallen to the armies of Babylon in 587-586 B.C. In time the Babylonian Empire will fall to the armies of Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C. The Book of Ezra opens with the liberation decree issued by Cyrus in 538 B.C. The last event of the book occurred in the first month of the eighth year of King Artaxerxes, 457 B.C. (Ezra 10:17). Thus the book covers a period of eighty-one years. This book has two distinct divisions. In the first section, chapters 1-6, the focus is on events surrounding the first return of the Jews to their homeland, under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The first project after returning was the reconstruction of the altar. Materials immediately were gathered for the rebuilding of the temple. The foundations were laid, but opposition arose and the work ceased for about sixteen years. Due to the preaching efforts of Haggai and Zechariah, the work then resumed. In the sixth year of Darius (516-515 B.C.), the temple project was completed. A time span of fifty-eight years exists between chapters 6-7. The events recorded in the Book of Esther fall within this gap. The second half of Ezra, chapters 7-10, focuses on only one year. In the year 458 B.C., Ezra led a group of Jews back to their homeland. Ezra will find that many of the Jews in Palestine had intermarried with pagans. Before the year was over Ezra will have addressed this issue decisively. In all, there will be three

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