History
The book of Ezra
The return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple, and Ezra’s reforms.
Ezra continues the story from Cyrus’s decree of 537 BC to Ezra’s own return and his teaching of the law. Parts of the book use “I” (Ezra 7:27–9:15), and it quotes Persian letters in Aramaic (4:8–6:18; 7:12–26), the language of diplomacy of the time.
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 79%
- Genealogy 21%
Key verses
The temple's foundation laid. They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
Ezra 3:11 (World English Bible)
Ezra set his heart on God's law. For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:10 (World English Bible)
People
CyrusZerubbabelJoshuaHaggaiZechariahDariusArtaxerxesEzra
Places
On the timeline
Cyrus decrees the returnThe first exiles return under ZerubbabelThe temple foundation laidEnemies halt the rebuildingHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to buildThe second temple is completedEzra comes to Jerusalem to teach the Law
Dating notes
Ussher dates Ezra’s return to 467 BC (Artaxerxes’ seventh year); most scholars date it 458 BC. Ezra and Nehemiah were one book in the Hebrew Bible. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.