Ezra
Ezra, had a royal commission that authorized him to “inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God” (v. 14). As a result, he and Nehemiah focused Israel’s new identity on the LORD GOD’s law brought forward from Moses. Israel was forced to focus on the form and content of religious life and practice, as the Babylon exiles returned as faithful Israelites, and reestablished their temple worship.
There were three groups of returns from Babylon to Judah. The first led to the rebuilding of the Temple of the LORD, the second was under Ezra, and was focused on reformation and returning to their covenant obligations, and the third was led by Nehemiah. The identity of the author of this book cannot be established with certainty, however, Jewish tradition names Ezra as the original author, with Nehemiah completing his work. Most modern scholars agree with this attribute to Ezra, “the chronicler”.
Ezra 1
1:1-4 Proclamation of Cyrus
1:5-11 The return of the exiles to Jerusalem
Ezra 2
2:1-70 Those who returned from captivity
Ezra 3
3:1-7 The restoration of worship
3:8-13 The rebuilding of the temple begun
Ezra 4
4:1-16 Adversaries seek to stop the work
4:17-24 The work suspended
Ezra 5
5:1-17 The temple rebuilt
Ezra 6
6:1-12 Darius confirms the decree of Cyrus
6:13-15 The temple finished
6:16-22 The passover restored
Ezra 7
7:1-10 Ezra goes to Jerusalem
7:11-26 Commission of Artaxerxes
7:27-28 Ezra’s Thanksgiving
Ezra 8
8:1-14 List of Ezra’s companions
8:15-20 Ezra sends for the Levites
8:21-23 Ezra Proclaims a fast
8:24-30 The treasure committed for the priests
8:31-36 Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem
Ezra 9
9:1-15 Ezra’s prayer of confession
Ezra 10
10:1-17 Foreign wives and children put away
10:18-44 Those who put away foreign wives
