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.

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

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

Content of edict

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)

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

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.