
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Ezra.
Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** History; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **
Structure
- Ezra 1-6 – First return of the Jews from exile 538-515 BC (22 years)
- Ezra 1 – edict of return
- Ezra 2 – list of returnees; leading role for Zerubbabel (2:2); approx. 50,000 return
- Ezra 3:1-6 – rebuilding and rededicating the altar; Mosaic worship restored
- Ezra 3:7-13 – laying the temple foundation about 6 months after altar dedication
- Ezra 4:1-23 – opposition to rebuilding; work stops for approximately 10 years
- Ezra 5:1-6:15 – Encouragement to rebuild from Haggai & Zechariah; work resumes in 530 BC
- Ezra 6:16-22 – Completed temple is dedicated and Passover celebrated
- Ezra 7:1-8:36 – Second return of the Jews to Jerusalem; 458-457 BC (1 year)
- Ezra 9:1-10:44 – Restoration of the people
Genre: Understanding Narrative
Background & Outlines
- Introduction to the Exile & Return
- Chart: Bible History at a glance
- Chronology Ezra-Nehemiah
- Introduction to Exile & Return
- Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
- Biblehub: Ezra Chronology
- BibleHistory.com: List of the Kings of Persia
- Bible Atlas: Persia
- Bible Atlas: Babylon
- Bible Atlas: Jerusalem
- Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
- Ray Stedman: Ezra: The Way Back
- John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
- ESV: Introduction to Ezra
- ESV: The Global Message of Ezra
- Biblehub: Chronology of Ezra
- NIV Study Bible: Intro to Ezra
- David Malick: An Introduction to the Books of Ezra-Nehemiah
- James van Dine: Analysis of Ezra-Nehemiah
Maps from Bible-History.com
- Persia 5th Century BC
- Persia 6th Century BC
- Nehemiah’s Jerusalem
- Zerubbabel and Ezra’s Journey to Restore Jerusalem
- Jerusalem Rebuilt by Nehemiah
ESV Study Bible
- Chronology of Ezra
- Adversaries Hinder Work in Ezra
- Kings of Persia in Ezra–Nehemiah
- Chronology of Nehemiah
- Chronology in Esther
Maps from Studylight.org
- Judah during the Exile
- The Kingdom of Judah
- Exile; Palestine in the Post-Exilic Period
- Jewish Exiles in Babylon
- Jewish Refugees in Egypt
- World Powers of the 6th century BCE
- The Conquests of Cyrus the Great
- The Persian Empire
- The Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah
- Judah in the 5th century BCE
- Palestine after the Exile
Israel in exile
- By the Waters of Babylon (605-539 BC); humiliation (Psalm 137)
- Generally pleasant conditions
- Institutions (elders, prophets, priests) maintained (Jeremiah 29)
- Exiles had freedom of movement
- Exiles had freedom of correspondence
- Possibility of government positions (Daniel) & other employment possibilities
- Agricultural possibilities in a fertile prosperous land.
- Too comfortable? Josephus (Antiquities 11.1.3) says some Jews given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem elected to stay.
Rise of Persia
- Return predicted (Jeremiah 25:11)
- Important role of Cyrus, King of Persia (reigns 559-530 BC)
- Fall of Bablyon (539 BC)
- Edict of release – Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 6:3-5
Content of edict
- Jerusalem temple rebuilt; costs defrayed from Cyrus’ treasury
- building specifications (dimensions)
- return of gold and silver items taken by Nebuchadnezzer
- all Jews who wished could return to Judah
- Jews who remain in Babylon may assist project with freewill offerings
Return from exile
First stage (Ezra 1-6)
- Edict of return – Ezra 1
- List of returnees – Ezra 2; leading role for Zerubbable (Ezra 2:2); aprox. 50,000
- Rebuilding & rededicating the altar – Ezra 3:1-6; Mosaic worship restored
- Laying the temple foundation – Ezra 3:7-13; about 6 months after altar dedication
- Opposition to rebuilding – Ezra 4:1-23; work stops for approx. 10 years
- Encouragement from Haggai & Zechariah – Ezra 5:1-6:15; work resumes in 520 BC
- Completed temple is dedicated – Ezra 6:16-18 and Passover celebrated – Ezra 6:19-22
Second Stage (Ezra 7-10)
- Ezra’s return 458 BC
- Ezra’s commission – Ezra 7:1-28; enforcement of Mosaic law
- Ezra’s journey – Ezra 8:1-36; divine protection; leads to worship
- Ezra handles problems of intermarraige – Ezra 9:1-10:44
Third Stage (Nehemiah)
- Nehemiah learns of Jerusalem’s plight (445 BC) – Nehemiah 1:1-11
- Nehemiah’s commission to return to Jerusalem – Neh 2:1-20
- Building Jerusalem’s walls amidst opposition – Nehemiah 3:1-6:19
- Reading an exposition of the Law – Nehemiah 8:1-18
- Covenant renewal – Nehemiah 9:1-10:30
- Dedication of Jerusalem’s city wall – Nehemiah 12:27-47
- Nehemiah’s second administration (returns in 432 BC to a bad situation) – Nehemiah 13
Key Words
- Jerusalem (48x)
- house (44v) – Strong’s 1004 in Ezr 1:2; Ezr 1:3; Ezr 1:4; Ezr 1:5; Ezr 1:7; Ezr 2:36; Ezr 2:68; Ezr 3:8; Ezr 3:11; Ezr 3:12; Ezr 4:3; Ezr 4:24; Ezr 5:2; Ezr 5:8; Ezr 5:13; Ezr 5:14; Ezr 5:15; Ezr 5:16; Ezr 5:17; Ezr 6:3; Ezr 6:5; Ezr 6:7; Ezr 6:8; Ezr 6:11; Ezr 6:12; Ezr 6:16; Ezr 6:22; Ezr 7:16; Ezr 7:17; Ezr 7:19; Ezr 7:20; Ezr 7:23; Ezr 7:24; Ezr 7:27; Ezr 8:17; Ezr 8:25; Ezr 8:29; Ezr 8:30; Ezr 8:33; Ezr 8:36; Ezr 9:9; Ezr 10:1; Ezr 10:6; Ezr 10:9.
- decree (16v) – Strong’s H2942 in Ezr 4:19; Ezr 4:21; Ezr 5:3; Ezr 5:9; Ezr 5:13; Ezr 5:17; Ezr 6:1; Ezr 6:3; Ezr 6:8; Ezr 6:11; Ezr 6:12; Ezr 6:13; Ezr 6:14; Ezr 7:11; Ezr 7:13; Ezr 7:21.
- the law (of Moses, of the Lord, of your God) (8x) – Strong’s H8451 in Ezr 3:2; Ezr 7:6; Ezr 7:10; Ezr 7:12; Ezr 7:14; Ezr 7:21; Ezr 7:26; Ezr 10:3.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Ezra, Book
- Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Ezra -Theology of
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Ezra
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary Ezra, Book of
- Fausset Bible Dictionary Ezra, the Book of
- Holman Bible Dictionary Ezra, Book of
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Ezra, Book of
- Morrish Bible Dictionary Ezra, Book of
- McClintock and Strong Ezra, Book Of
- The Jewish Encyclopedia Ezra, Book of
- Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Ezra book of Ezra
- 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Books of Ezra and Nehemiah
Ezra, the man
- American Tract Society Ezra
- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Ezra
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary Ezra
- Fausset Bible Dictionary Ezra
- Hitchcock Bible Names Ezra
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Ezra
- Morrish Bible Dictionary Ezra
- Whyte’s Bible Characters Ezra
- Watson’s Theological Dictionary Ezra
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Ezra
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia Ezra
Alfred Edersheim
- The Temple–It’s Ministry and Services – Chapter 4 (scroll down to section subtitled “The Courses After the Captivity” for mentions of Ezra)
- Table of Contents of The Temple–Its Ministry and Services
BibleHistory.com
- Chronology of the Prophets
- Kings of the Assyrian Empire
- Kings of the Babylonian Empire
- Kings of the Persian Empire
Commentaries & Study Bibles
- Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Ezra-Nehemiah
- Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Ezra-Nehemiah
- Commentary Reviews: Ezra-Nehemiah
- Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible:
- Matthew Henry: Ezra
- Albert Barnes Notes: Ezra
- Reformation Study Bible Notes: Ezra
- Geneva Study Bible: Ezra
- Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Ezra
RC Sproul – devotionals
Journal Articles
- Russell T. Fuller, “Ezra: The Teacher of God’s Word and Agent of Revival,” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 9.3 (Autumn 2005): 52-61.
- Stephen Dray, “Ezra: an Applied Overview,” Evangel 24.2 (Summer 2006)
- H. L. Ellison, From Babylon to Bethlehem. The People of God from the Exile to the Messiah. Exeter: The Paternoster Press, Ltd., 1976. Pbk. ISBN: 0853641900. pp.41-54
- P. Richard Choi, “The Intra-Jewish dialogue in 4 Ezra 3:1-9:25,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 41.2 (Autumn 2003): 237-254
- Leslie McFall, “Was Nehemiah contemporary with Ezra in 458 BC,” Westminster Theological Journal 53.2 (Fall 1991): 263-293
- Ezra’s Ethics on Intermarriage and Divorce — By: William R. Eichhorst
- A Philip Brown II – Temporal Ordering In Ezra- Part II – Bible.org
- A Chronological and Literary Harmony of Ezra & Nehemiah – Time Chart:
- H. G. M. Williamson, “Ezra and Nehemiah in the Light of the Texts from Persepolis,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 1 (1991): 41-61
- J. Stafford Wright, The Date of Ezra’s Coming to Jerusalem, 1947. London: The Tyndale Press, 1958. pp.32.
- J. Stafford Wright, The Building of the Second Temple. London: The Tyndale Press, 1958. pp.20.
- Edwin M. Yamauchi, “The reverse order of Ezra/Nehemiah Reconsidered,” Themelios 5.3 (1980): 7-13
**Many thanks to PreceptAustin.org for compiling this list of articles.
GotQuestions.org
- Book of Ezra – Bible Survey
- Who was Ezra in the Bible?
- Who was Sheshbazzar in the Bible?
- Who was Nehemiah in the Bible?
- Why didn’t all the Jews want to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5-6)?
- Why did the Israelites have to abandon their foreign wives and children?
- Who were the Nethinim?
- Why are the numbers in Ezra so different from Nehemiah?
Next: Nehemiah
Previous: 1&2 Chronicles
Series: Resources by Book
Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash
(Visited 176 times, 9 visits today)