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Ezra

Return from Exile

The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It tells the story of the return of the exiled Israelites to the land of Israel after the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians. The book begins with the decree of the Persian King Cyrus, who allows the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It includes the story of Ezra, a priest and scribe who is appointed by the Persian authorities to lead the Israelites in the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of the law and worship of God. The book also includes a list of the families and individuals who returned to the land of Israel, as well as a record of the rebuilding of the Temple and the establishment of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. Key figures in the book of Ezra include Ezra, Cyrus, and the Persian officials who supported the rebuilding of the Temple. The book also mentions various other individuals, such as the priests and the Levites, who played a role in the rebuilding and restoration of the Temple and the community

Commentary

10 chapters
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It tells the story of the return of the exiled Israelites to the land of Israel after the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians. The book begins with the decree of the Persian King Cyrus, who allows the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It includes the story of Ezra, a priest and scribe who is appointed by the Persian authorities to lead the Israelites in the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of the law and worship of God. The book also includes a list of the families and individuals who returned to the land of Israel, as well as a record of the rebuilding of the Temple and the establishment of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. Key figures in the book of Ezra include Ezra, Cyrus, and the Persian officials who supported the rebuilding of the Temple. The book also mentions various other individuals, such as the priests and the Levites, who played a role in the rebuilding and restoration of the Temple and the community

Biblical figures

Key figures in Ezra

GodG

God

Supreme Being

IsraelI

Israel

King

DavidD

David

Prophet, King of Israel

MosesM

Moses

Prophet, biblical judge

JudahJ

Judah

Tribal leader

JerusalemJ

Jerusalem

Capital

EgyptE

Egypt

Pharaoh

DanD

Dan

Judge

LeviL

Levi

Priest

AaronA

Aaron

High Priest of Israel

EzraE

Ezra

Cohen

SolomonS

Solomon

Prophet, King of Israel

BenB

Ben

Son of Jacob.

JosephJ

Joseph

Prophet, Vizier

BenjaminB

Benjamin

Son of Jacob.

C

Canaan

Land of Canaan

EveE

Eve

Mother of all humankind

S

Syria

Ruler

JeremiahJ

Jeremiah

Prophet, Cohen

Manasseh son of JacobM

Manasseh son of Jacob

J

Joab

Commander of David's army

A

Assyria

King of Assyria

H

Hezekiah

King of Judah

A

Ammon

Servant

S

Samaria

King of Israel

JonathanJ

Jonathan

Prince

G

Gilead

Judge

J

Joel

Prophet

DanielD

Daniel

prophet

ShemS

Shem

Son

R

Ram

Judge

EleazarE

Eleazar

High Priest of Israel

ElijahE

Elijah

Prophet

B

Bethel

priest

M

Mordecai

Prime Minister.

H

Hanan

High Priest

B

Bethlehem

Town.

Z

Zadok

High Priest of Israel

IshmaelI

Ishmael

Son of Abraham

S

Shema

Leader

A

Azariah

High Priest

N

Nathan

Prophet

B

Benaiah

Commander of King David's bodyguard

S

Shemaiah

Prophet

H

Hanani

Messenger

M

Merari

Levite

ZechariahZ

Zechariah

Priest

P

Persia

King

R

Ramah

Prophet.

A

Asaph

Singer

H

Hilkiah

High Priest of Israel

G

Gedaliah

Governor

Z

Zidon

King

E

Elam

Governor

J

Jeshua

High Priest

H

Hananiah

prophet

U

Uriah

High Priest of Israel

J

Johanan

High Priest of Israel

J

Jude

Apostle

U

Uzziah

King of Judah

D

Darius

King

M

Maaseiah

Governor

P

Phinehas

High Priest of Israel

Z

Zerah

Chieftain

C

Cyrus

King

Z

Zeba

Army commander

M

Mattan

High Priest

O

Obadiah

Governor

S

Seraiah

High Priest of Israel

A

Asahel

Commander of the Army

J

Jehiel

Head of the Levites

A

Amram

Father of Moses

A

Athaliah

Queen regnant, King of Judah

A

Amariah

High Priest

M

Mattaniah

High Priest

B

Bani

Overseer

E

Eliezer

Servant

M

Michael

Archangel

G

Gershom

Priest

I

Iddo

Priest

J

Jedaiah

Priest

M

Mahli

Head of a father's house

H

Haggai

Prophet

H

Harim

High Priest

J

Jeiel

Singer

R

Rezin

King

A

Adar

Royal Minister.

A

Adaiah

Priest

BezaleelB

Bezaleel

Master Craftsman

Z

Zebadiah

Priest

E

Elioenai

Unknown

I

Ishi

My translation for the positionheld of Ishi is "husband."

K

Kadmiel

Position held: Religious Leader.

N

Nehemiah

Governor, cup-bearer

E

Elnathan

High official

H

Hena

Unknown

A

Ariel

Messenger

D

Delaiah

Yeshsheby.

J

Jahaziel

Prophet

M

Malchijah

Governor

A

Ater

A

Azareel

J

Jeshaiah

S

Shalma

T

Talmon

A

Arah

N

Nekoda

A

Ahava

H

Hadid

J

Jada

J

Jarib

K

Kelita

R

Reaiah

S

Shemariah

T

Tikva

H

Harsha

N

Neziah

P

Padon

T

Tikvah

Z

Zaccai

A

Addan

A

Aziza

J

Jaalah

J

Jahaziah

J

Jeremai

J

Jeziah

J

Jorah

J

Judea

K

Kelaiah

R

Ramiah

V

Vaniah

A

Ahitub

High Priest of Israel

E

Eli

High Priest of Israel, biblical judge

I

Ithamar

J

Jashub

M

Moab

NebuchadnezzarN

Nebuchadnezzar

King of Babylon

S

Shallum

High Priest of Israel

ZerubbabelZ

Zerubbabel

Governor

Chapters

Commissioning of Ezra

Commissioning of Ezra

Ezra 1

Ezra is commissioned by King Artaxerxes to lead the return of the exiles to Jerusalem and to enforce the law.

Return of the Exiles to Jerusalem

Return of the Exiles to Jerusalem

Ezra 2

The list of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra.

Rebuild the Altar and Celebrate the Feast of Passover

Rebuild the Altar and Celebrate the Feast of Passover

Ezra 3

The rebuilding of the altar in Jerusalem and the celebration of the feast of Passover.

Opposition to the Rebuilding

Opposition to the Rebuilding

Ezra 4

Opposition to the rebuilding of the temple by the neighboring peoples, including the writing of a letter to King Artaxerxes.

The Rebuilding Continues

The Rebuilding Continues

Ezra 5

The rebuilding of the temple continues under the leadership of Ezra and the support of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

Dedication of the Temple

Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6

The dedication of the temple and the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles.

Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem

Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem

Ezra 7

Ezra's journey to Jerusalem and his arrival in the city.

Ezra's Assembly

Ezra's Assembly

Ezra 8

Ezra assembles the exiles to hear the law and to worship.

Intermarriage with Foreigners

Intermarriage with Foreigners

Ezra 9

The problem of intermarriage with foreigners and Ezra's response.

Repentance and Renewal

Repentance and Renewal

Ezra 10

The repentance and renewal of the exiles, including the removal of foreign wives and the celebration of the feast of the Passover.