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Book of Ezra Bible Study by Rhema Joy Charles

The Book of Ezra is a biblical text focusing on the themes of return, rebuilding, and resistance, describing the Jews' return from Babylonian exile and the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. Written by Ezra, it recounts significant events including the leadership of Zerubbabel and Yeshua, opposition faced during reconstruction, and Ezra's efforts in spiritual renewal and community restoration. The document underscores the importance of faithfulness, repentance, and the role of leadership in fulfilling God's purposes.

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BOOK OF EZRA (BIBLE STUDY) RHEMA JOY SHARATH
FACTS • 15th book of the Old Testament • Written by Ezra • He also wrote Chronicles, ( and maybe some Psalms ) • 1 Chro 36:22,23 and Ezra 1:1,2,3 are the same • In Aramaic and Hebrew • The single Hebrew book Ezra–Nehemiah, with title "Ezra“ • THEME: Returning, Rebuilding, Resisting • “The Second Exodus”
NATIONAL RESTORATION: The story of the first return of exiles in the first year of Cyrus the Great (538 BC), the completion and dedication of the new Temple in Jerusalem in the sixth year of Darius I (515 BC) --- told in the third person (Zerubbabel & Yeshua) • Chapters 1-6 SPIRITUAL REFORMATION: The mission of Ezra to Jerusalem and his struggle to purify the Jews from marriage with non-Jews. --- told largely in the first person • Chapters 7-10
KINGS OF PERSIA IN THE BIBLE Proverbs 21:1 – “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Achaemenid Empire [559–530 BC] Cyrus the Great (Last King served by Daniel) [529–522 BC] Cambyses II [521–486 BC] Darius I the Great [485–465 BC] Xerxes the great (Ahaseurus in Esther) [464–424 BC] Artaxerxes Longimanus (Ezra, Nehemiah)
ZERUBBABEL • Zerubabbel means seed of Babylon • A governor of the Achaemenid Empire's province of Yehud and the grandson of Jeconiah, penultimate king of Judah. • Laid the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem • He is included in the genealogy of Jesus. • Son of Shealtiel • He had many sons including Meshullam and Hannaniah • He also had a daughter called Shelomith
YESHUA • Joshua, son of Jozadak (Jehozadak) • the first High Priest of the Second Temple.
BABYLONIAN ATTACK • 605 BC – Daniel & other nobles taken to Babylon • 597 BC - King Nebuchadnezzar II captured Judah • 586 BC – Jerusalem was burned RETURN TO JERUSALEM • 536 BC – Cyrus allowed the first group to return, the Temple is restored in 516 BC (Zerubabbel) • 457 BC - then the community of Israel (Ezra) • 444 BC - finally the walls (Nehemiah) And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. – Jer 25:11
1 - DECREE OF CYRUS Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built, ”And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’ – Isaiah 44:28, 700 BC • Cyrus, inspired by God, returns the Temple vessels to Sheshbazzar, "prince of Judah", and directs the Israelites to return to Jerusalem with him and rebuild the Temple. (537 BC) • His policy was different from that of the Babylonians • fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:10) • Isaiah 45:1 • God can use even secular authorities to fulfill His purposes.
2 - THE RETURN OF THE EXILES • 42,360 exiles, with men servants, women servants and "singing men and women", return from Babylon to Jerusalem and Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua the High Priest. • Nethinim – temple servants • everyone has a role to play in the community of faith.
3 REBUILDING THE ALTAR AND TEMPLE FOUNDATION Jeshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel build the altar and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. • In the second year the foundations of the Temple are laid and the dedication takes place with great rejoicing. • daily burnt offerings • Some old people remember the original Temple’s former glory. • the first step in spiritual renewal is to reestablish our relationship with God through worship, symbolized today by our prayers and dedication to God’s service.
4. OPPOSITION TO THE REBUILDING EFFORTS • Ezra 4 recounts the opposition that the Jewish community faces from their neighbors, who attempt to stop the rebuilding of the Temple through political means and intimidation. • The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin initially offer to help in the rebuilding, claiming to worship the same God, but are rejected due to their mixed practices (Ezra 4:1-3). They then resort to sending a letter to King Cambyses (Artaxerxes) accusing the Jews of rebellion. • The work on the Temple stops until the second year of King Darius. (16 years)
5. TATTENAI'S LETTER TO DARIUS • Through the exhortations of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Joshua recommence the building of the Temple. • Tattenai, satrap over both Judah and Samaria, writes to Darius warning him that Jerusalem is being rebuilt and advising that the archives be searched to discover the decree of Cyrus.
6. DECREE OF DARIUS: • Darius finds the decree of Cyrus (Archives of Ecbatana), directs Tattenai not to disturb the Jews in their work, and exempts them from tribute and supplies everything necessary for the offerings. • After 16 years of delay, The Temple is finished in the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of Darius, and the Israelites assemble to celebrate its completion. (515 BC) • Haggai 2:9 says, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts". • Zechariah 4:9 says, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you”. • continue God’s work despite opposition and delay.
THE SECOND TEMPLE In the 18 CE, the Second Temple was refurbished and expanded under the reign of Herod the Great, hence the alternative eponymous name for the structure. In 70 CE, at the height of the First Jewish–Roman War, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman siege of Jerusalem It did not have the ark of the covenant, holy fire, spirit of prophecy, shekinah glory etc., compared to the first temple built by Solomon For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” – Zec 4:10
” “ITS HARD TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING BACKWARD…JUST ENJOY WHERE GOD IS TAKING YOU. SKIP HEITZIG "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland". Isaiah 43:18-19
7. EZRA’S JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM • In his 7th year of reign, King Artaxerxes is moved by God to commission Ezra "to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God" and to "appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God." (458 BC) • Artaxerxes gives Ezra much gold and directs all Persian officials to aid him. Ezra arrives 58 yrs after Zerubbabel.
EZRA • A descendant of Aaron and a skilled scribe • “well-versed in the Torah” • For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra 7:10 • Ezra’s commitment to studying, obeying, and teaching the Word of God is a model for all believers. • EZRA means “God is my help” and is a shortened name of Azariah. • Founder of the great synagogue. • He worked in the court of Artaxerxes
8 EZRA’S GROUP OF EXILES • Ezra gathers a large body of returnees (1700 families) and much gold and silver and precious vessels for the Temple • Ezra proclaims a fast by the river Ahava to seek a safe journey. He recognizes the HAND OF THE LORD upon them. • There he discovers he has no Levites, and so sends messengers to gather some. • The exiles then return to Jerusalem, where they distribute the gold and silver and offer sacrifices to God.
9 - INTERCESSORY PRAYER AND CONFESSION • Ezra is informed that some of the Jews already in Jerusalem have married non-Jewish women. • Ezra is appalled at this proof of sin, and prays to God: • "O God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."
10 RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT • The final chapter records the community’s response to Ezra’s call for repentance. • Despite the opposition of some of their number, the Israelites assemble and send away their foreign wives and children. (This is repeated 25 yrs later in Neh 13)
LEARNINGS • Ezra teaches us about leadership, repentance, faithfulness, and the importance of community restoration. Ezra is an example of what God can do when we let Him work in us and develop the gifts which He has given us. • It is interesting to note that Zerubbabel was a descendent of Judah like Jesus, and the High Priest’s name is “Yeshua”, the Hebrew name for Jesus. • It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. – Isa 11:11 • For a second time, The nation of Israel was formed on May 14, 1948
CREDITS • Pastor Suresh Ramachandran • Pastor Skip Heitzig • Google Images, Pinterest
THANK YOU! RHEMA JOY SHARATH rheydiance@gmail.com