Read this book as a continuation of II Chronicles. Compare II Chronicles 36:22ff with Ezra 1:1ff. You will remember that Judah was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and spent seventy years in Babylonian exile. At this time, read through the narrative of the book of Daniel and feel the pressures the godly Jews were subjected to in Babylon. Babylon was finally overthrown by the Medes and Persians. Cyrus, the Persian, sent Darius to rule in Babylon. That was the fulfillment of a remarkable prophecy that had been given by Isaiah centuries before (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-3). God told that name of the One who would send the Jews back to their land nearly 300 years before He was born! Daniel, now aged, realizes that the time has come for this and the prophecy of Jeremiah to be fulfilled, and gives himself to pray to that end. Read carefully Daniel 9. The result was that Cyrus issued the decree allowing a return and rebuilding. The first party to leave for the ruins of Jerusalem was led by Zerubbabel, the descendant of David, in approximately 538 B.C. It was during this time that Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi prophesied. Read these books as an introduction to Ezra.
THE PLACE OF EZRA
In order to understand the religious mood of the Jews when the New Testament opens, we must have a grasp of what was happening in these days of the return from Babylon. When Jerusalem had fallen to Babylon, the covenant nation virtually came to an end. As exiles, the Jews realized that their captivity was because of their idolatry and covenant breaking. A Remnant turned to God with new faith and determination to keep the Law and all that the covenant demanded. However, after the Temple was built, the Jerusalem community lost interest in the Law. It was Ezra who brought them back to the first five books of the Bible, showing them that these books were the outline for the covenant people to follow in all of their life. In this sense Ezra was the first teacher-preacher-expositor of God’s Word. It was because he insisted that the Laws of Moses be obeyed that Judah was saved from extinction. His teaching prepared the Jewish world for the coming Messiah. It is true to say that the Pharisees came into existence through the intense study and living the Law. However, we cannot blame Ezra for that in any way.
OUTLINE OF EZRA
1:1-2:70 THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY
3:1-4:5 RESTORATION
Note that they begin with the building of the Temple. When Israel began in the wilderness of Sinai, the Tabernacle was central. So now they lay the foundations of the return with an altar and worship. The enemies that are referred to will be met throughout the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. They are the Samaritans; read II Kings 17:24-41 for the history of their origin. The Remnant are establishing that they, and the faith for which they stand, are the true Remnant. They do this by rebuilding the Temple and refusing to mingle with the Samaritans.
4:6-23 OPPOSITION
Although this letter reflects the spirit of their enemies at this time, these verses actually belong later in the reign of Xerxes, who is called Ahasuerus in Scripture. Note the margin of verse 14: “east the salt.” It was a custom in those days to make covenants using salt. They are saying that they are in covenant with Persia.
4:24-6:22 THE TEMPLE REBUILT
The reconstruction was completed March 12, 515 B.C., approximately 70 years after its destruction. This story shows how the Remnant came through regardless of the opposition. God’s purposes, promises and prophecies will come to pass no matter who opposes. we take courage from this! Every promise that God has made to us, His covenant Remnant, will come to pass.
7:1-8:36 EZRA COMES TO JERUSALEM
We are now introduced to Ezra, and the second band of returning exiles. You will note that from now on the narrative is in the first person. We are reading Ezra’s personal diary and account of what happened. The word scribe takes on a new meaning with Ezra – it describes an expositor and preserver of the Law of God. Read carefully the King’s letter. He was in fact appointing Ezra as the Secretary of State for Jewish affairs. The journey to Jerusalem was approximately nine hundred miles and filled with danger. Ezra knew the dangers and the many miles, hence his call to fasting and prayer. Note: 8:26, the gifts that Ezra carried: 650 talents of silver worth $1,300,000 100 talents in silver articles worth $200,000 100 talents in gold worth $3,000,000 20 gold bowls worth $5,000
9:1-10:44 PRESERVING THE REMNANT
The actions taken in these chapters seem harsh and cruel. However, we must understand them in the light of the whole of Scripture. At this time, if the Remnant had intermarried with the people of the land, they would have been swallowed up by the nations and would have ceased to exist. This drastic action must be taken to keep the promises made to Abraham and David, that one of their line will reign forever. In these chapters the family that will eventually bring Jesus into the world is being preserved. Note Ezra’s prayer in 9:6-15. Although not involved in the peoples’ sin, he totally involves himself with them. Compare Daniel 9:4-19, and Nehemiah 9:6-38. This intercessory love is finally seen when God in Christ actually became our sin on the cross and so interceded for us. Let the Holy Spirit quicken this book to you! The Jews were in an impossible position, but they had certain promises from God. Faith reached for those promises and prayed that they would come to pass. The result was that God worked in the mind of a heathen king to make a decree I their favor. Another kind of faith then came into play; the faith that makes choices and takes action regardless of the difficulty and pressure. At this time in your situation, lay hold of God’s promises and watch as He moves every obstacle and calls you to walk in the faith that acts as if God is the keeper of His Word!