Ezra Bible Study Resources — Wednesday in the Word

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

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Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

Introduction to the Exile & Return

Chart: Bible History at a glance

Simple overview of biblical history

Chronology Ezra-Nehemiah

Introduction to Exile & Return

Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline

Biblehub: Ezra Chronology

Kings of Persia in Biblical Times

Kings of Babylon in Biblical times

Kings of Assyria in Biblical times

Bible Atlas: Persia

Bible Atlas: Babylon

Bible Atlas: Jerusalem

Prophets Chronological List

Overviews

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

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Section 2: Maps

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 Holman Bible Atlas

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

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Section 9: History

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

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Section 3: Key Words

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.

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Section 4: Encyclopedias