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- At one point in history Ezra and Nehemiah were one book in the Hebrew
Bible. However, they probably began as separate books because Ezra 2 and
Nehemiah 7 are virtually identical and such repetition is unlikely to
occur in one book.
- Ezra is a spiritual, or religious history.
- Ezra shows that documents from secular sources (decrees, letters, etc.)
can be arranged by the Holy Spirit to be made a part of the inspired
record.
- Breakdown of Ezra's 280 verses: 111 verses of registers, 109 verses of
narrative, 44 verses of letters, 10 verses of prayer, 3 verses of
proclamation, and 3 verses of excerpt. This is an unusual conglomoration
of types of literature.
- The book is anonymous.
- The compilation of the documents is often ascribed to Ezra.
- Whoever the author was may have also helped compile Nehemiah and
perhaps 1 and 2 Chronicles.
- Ezra is believed to have penned his book between the events at the end
of chapter 10 (456 B.C.) and Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem (444 B.C.)
- As Ezra opens, the Babylonian Empie is passing away and Jeremiah's
prophesy (Jeremian 29:10-14) of restoration of the Jews to their land
is being fulfilled.
- One of the main themes of Ezra is "begining again" - by building the
second temple.
- This book chronicles the restoration of Israel after 70 years of
captivity in Babylon.
- Israel's restoration is accomplished through the help of three
Persian kings (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes I).
- The traditional view is that Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the seventh
year of the reign of Artaxerxes I (458 B.C.) and Nehemiah in the
twentieth year of the reign (445 B.C.).
- This book weaves together various lists, the first-person and
third-person memoirs of Ezra, and official documents.
- God is shown using Persian kings and Jewish leaders both to bless
and to discipline His people.
- Ezra is often seen as the "father of Judaism" because he promotes a
way of life renewed by and centered on unswerving allegiance to the
Torah. Ezra's policies saved Judaism from oblivion in this crucial
period of transition.
- Ezra is filled with seven official documents or letters. Look for
these documents and letters and ask yourselves the following questions:
Who presented this document or letter? What are the major points of the
document or letter? This information will help you keep track of the
opposition the Jews faced and how God moved on their behalf.
- The book of Ezra records when the temple construction began and when it
was completed. Take note of this.
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