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Ezra

Book | Outline | Notes
[ Introduction | Subject ]

Chapters
ch. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10

Introduction to Ezra:
Author: Ezra, a descendant of Aaron (7:1-5), and a priest and a scribe skilled in the law of Moses (7:6, 11-12).Time of Writing: After 457 B.C.Place of Writing: Jerusalem.Time Period Covered: This book covers a period of about eighty-two years, from 539 B.C. to 457 B.C., from the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia (1:1) to the first day of the first month following the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king of Persia (10:17; 7:7).

Subject of Ezra:
The Return of the Children of Israel from Their Captivity
and the Rebuilding of the House of God as the Initiation
of God's Recovery among His Elect for His Testimony
on the Earth according to His Economy

Ezra

Chapter 1 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 •

I.  The return of the captivity under the kingly leadership of Zerubbabel — 1:1-6:22

A.  The decree of Cyrus the king of Persia — 1:1-4
Ezr 1:1 - 1aNow in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, so that the bword of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah 2cstirred up the spirit of 3Cyrus the king of Persia; and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing, saying,
Ezr 1:2 - Thus says aCyrus the king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has Jehovah the bGod of heaven given to me; and He has charged me to build Him a 1house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezr 1:3 - Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him; and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and let him build the house of Jehovah the God of Israel—He is God—who is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 1:4 - And everyone who is left, in whatever place he sojourns, let the men of his place support him with silver and with gold and with goods and with cattle, besides the freewill offering for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem.
B.  The response of the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites — 1:5-6
Ezr 1:5 - Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites rose up, even everyone whose spirit God had astirred up to go up to build the house of Jehovah, which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 1:6 - And all those around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with cattle and with precious things, besides all that was offered willingly.
C.  The cooperation of King Cyrus — 1:7-11
Ezr 1:7 - Also King Cyrus brought out the 1avessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out from Jerusalem and had put in the house of his gods;
Ezr 1:8 - And Cyrus the king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer and had them enumerated to 1aSheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
Ezr 1:9 - And this was atheir number: thirty gold dishes, one thousand silver dishes, twenty-nine knives,
Ezr 1:10 - Thirty gold bowls, four hundred ten silver bowls of a different kind, and one thousand other vessels.
Ezr 1:11 - There were five thousand four hundred vessels of gold and silver in all. Sheshbazzar brought up all of them with those of the captivity who were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Ezra

Chapter 2 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • • 15 • • • • 20 • • • • 25 • • • • 30 • • • • 35 • • • • 40 • • • • 45 • • • • 50 • • • • 55 • • • • 60 • • • • 65 • • • • 70

D.  The number of the returned captives — 2:1-67
Ezr 2:1 - aNow these were the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had bcarried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each man to his city.
Ezr 2:2 - These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Ezr 2:3 - The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
Ezr 2:4 - The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
Ezr 2:5 - The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
Ezr 2:6 - The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
Ezr 2:7 - The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
Ezr 2:8 - The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.
Ezr 2:9 - The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
Ezr 2:10 - The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
Ezr 2:11 - The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
Ezr 2:12 - The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
Ezr 2:13 - The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.
Ezr 2:14 - The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
Ezr 2:15 - The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
Ezr 2:16 - The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
Ezr 2:17 - The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
Ezr 2:18 - The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
Ezr 2:19 - The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three.
Ezr 2:20 - The children of Gibbar, ninety-five.
Ezr 2:21 - The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
Ezr 2:22 - The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
Ezr 2:23 - The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
Ezr 2:24 - The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
Ezr 2:25 - The children of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
Ezr 2:26 - The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
Ezr 2:27 - The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
Ezr 2:28 - The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
Ezr 2:29 - The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
Ezr 2:30 - The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.
Ezr 2:31 - The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
Ezr 2:32 - The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
Ezr 2:33 - The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
Ezr 2:34 - The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
Ezr 2:35 - The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
Ezr 2:36 - The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
Ezr 2:37 - The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
Ezr 2:38 - The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
Ezr 2:39 - The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
Ezr 2:40 - The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
Ezr 2:41 - The singers: the children of aAsaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
Ezr 2:42 - The children of the agatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
Ezr 2:43 - The atemple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
Ezr 2:44 - The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
Ezr 2:45 - The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub.
Ezr 2:46 - The children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
Ezr 2:47 - The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
Ezr 2:48 - The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
Ezr 2:49 - The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
Ezr 2:50 - The children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
Ezr 2:51 - The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
Ezr 2:52 - The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
Ezr 2:53 - The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
Ezr 2:54 - The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
Ezr 2:55 - The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
Ezr 2:56 - The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
Ezr 2:57 - The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
Ezr 2:58 - All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.
Ezr 2:59 - And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not give evidence of their fathers’ houses nor their descendants, whether they were of Israel:
Ezr 2:60 - The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
Ezr 2:61 - And of the children of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife from among the daughters of aBarzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name.
Ezr 2:62 - These sought their registry among those who were enrolled by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were considered defiled and were excluded from the priesthood.
Ezr 2:63 - And the governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up with aUrim and Thummim.
Ezr 2:64 - aThe whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
Ezr 2:65 - Besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred male singers and female singers.
Ezr 2:66 - Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
Ezr 2:67 - Their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
E.  The willing offering for the house of Jehovah — 2:68-70
Ezr 2:68 - aAnd some of the heads of fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah, which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation.
Ezr 2:69 - They gave to the treasury of the work, according to their ability, sixty-one thousand darics of gold and five thousand minas of silver and one hundred priestly garments.
Ezr 2:70 - So the priests and the Levites and some of the people and the singers and the gatekeepers and the temple servants and all Israel dwelt in their cities.

Ezra

Chapter 3 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • •

Ezr 3:1 - And when the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as aone man to Jerusalem.
Ezr 3:2 - Then 1aJeshua the son of Jozadak rose up, along with his brothers the priests and bZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and they built the altar of the God of Israel to offer cburnt offerings upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses the dman of God.
Ezr 3:3 - And they set up the altar upon its bases, for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Jehovah, burnt offerings of the amorning and evening.
Ezr 3:4 - And they held the 1aFeast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the bdaily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance as the duty of every day required;
Ezr 3:5 - And afterward they offered the continual burnt offering and the offerings of the anew moons and of all the bappointed feasts of Jehovah that were sanctified and of everyone who offered willingly a freewill offering to Jehovah.
Ezr 3:6a - From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer up burnt offerings to Jehovah;
F.  The rebuilding of the house of God — 3:6b-13
Ezr 3:6b - however the afoundation of the temple of Jehovah had not yet been laid.
Ezr 3:7 - They also gave money to the stone hewers and to the carpenters, and afood and drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring bcedar trees from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa according to the authorization granted them by cCyrus the king of Persia.
Ezr 3:8 - Now in the second year after they came to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, aZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers, the priests and the Levites, and all those who came out of captivity to Jerusalem began by appointing the Levites, from btwenty years old and upward, to have oversight over the work of the house of Jehovah.
Ezr 3:9 - Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, as aone man, with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, and with the sons of Henadad and their sons and their brothers the Levites, to have oversight over the workmen in the house of God.
Ezr 3:10 - And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites, the asons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah according to the directions of David the king of Israel.
Ezr 3:11 - And they sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Jehovah, saying, For He is good, for His lovingkindness is forever upon Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised Jehovah, because the afoundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
Ezr 3:12 - But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, the old men who had seen the first ahouse, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes; and many shouted aloud for joy,
Ezr 3:13 - So that the people could not discern the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Ezra

Chapter 4 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • •
15 • • • • 20 • • • •

H.  The frustration — 4:1-24
Ezr 4:1 - Now when the 1aadversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Jehovah the God of Israel,
Ezr 4:2 - They drew near to Zerubbabel and to the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon the king of aAssyria, who brought us up here.
Ezr 4:3 - But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, You have anothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Jehovah the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
Ezr 4:4 - Then the people of the land aweakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building.
Ezr 4:5 - And they hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus the king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius the king of Persia.
Ezr 4:6 - And in the reign of aAhasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezr 4:7 - And in the days of aArtaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes the king of Persia; and the script of the letter was written in bAramaic and translated into Aramaic.
Ezr 4:8 - 1Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows
Ezr 4:9 - (Then Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the judges, and the officials, the Tarpelites, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is the Elamites,
Ezr 4:10 - And the rest of the nations, whom the great and noble Osnappar carried into exile and settled in the city of aSamaria and in the rest of the province beyond the River, wrote. And now
Ezr 4:11 - This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him): To Artaxerxes the king, from your servants the men beyond the River. And now
Ezr 4:12 - Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are arebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are finishing the walls and have repaired the foundations.
Ezr 4:13 - Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, taxes, or tolls; and in the end it will cause damage to the kings.
Ezr 4:14 - Now because 1we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s dishonor, we therefore have sent this letter to inform the king,
Ezr 4:15 - So that a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers, and you may find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city and one that causes damage to kings and provinces and that they have stirred up sedition within it in times past; for which reason this city was laid waste.
Ezr 4:16 - We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, then you will have no portion beyond the River.
Ezr 4:17 - Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions who dwelt in Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the River: Greetings. And now
Ezr 4:18 - The letter which you sent to us has been read before me in translation.
Ezr 4:19 - And a decree has been issued by me, and a search has been made; and it was found that this city in times past has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it,
Ezr 4:20 - And that there have been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have aruled over all the lands beyond the River; and tribute, taxes and tolls were paid to them.
Ezr 4:21 - Now make a decree to stop these men, so that this city is not rebuilt until a decree is made by me.
Ezr 4:22 - And take care not to be negligent in this. Why should damage grow to the detriment of the kings?
Ezr 4:23 - Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force and power.
Ezr 4:24 - So the work of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem, ceased; and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia.

Ezra

Chapter 5 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • • 15 • •

I.  The rebuilding work continuing through the encouragement and help of the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah — 5:1-2
Ezr 5:1 - Now the 1prophets, aHaggai the prophet and bZechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
Ezr 5:2 - Then aZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to bbuild the house of God, which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
J.  The confirmation of the decree of Darius the king of Persia — 5:3-6:12
Ezr 5:3 - At the same time Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their companions came to them and spoke to them in this way, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?
Ezr 5:4 - Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were constructing this building.
Ezr 5:5 - But the aeye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them, until a report went to Darius; and then an answer was returned by letter concerning it.
Ezr 5:6 - This is the copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his companions the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king;
Ezr 5:7 - They sent a report to him in which was written as follows, To Darius the king, all peace.
Ezr 5:8 - Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with large stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work is being conducted with diligence and prospers in their hands.
Ezr 5:9 - Then we asked those elders, speaking to them in this way, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?
Ezr 5:10 - We also asked them their names in order to inform you, so that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head.
Ezr 5:11 - And they returned us an answer in this way, saying, We are the servants of the aGod of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the bhouse that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
Ezr 5:12 - But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, He gave them into the hand of aNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.
Ezr 5:13 - But in the first year of aCyrus the king of Babylon, King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
Ezr 5:14 - And also the gold and silver avessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one whose name was bSheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
Ezr 5:15 - And he said to him, Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the ahouse of God be rebuilt in its place.
Ezr 5:16 - Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem; and since that time even until now it has been under construction and has not yet been finished.
Ezr 5:17 - Now therefore if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, to see whether it is the case that a decree was made by King Cyrus for the building of this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this.

Ezra

Chapter 6 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • •
15 • • • • 20 • •

Ezr 6:1 - Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
Ezr 6:2 - And a scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and on it this was written as a record:
Ezr 6:3 - In the first year of King Cyrus, King aCyrus made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: Let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices; and let its foundations be raised, its height being sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits,
Ezr 6:4 - With three layers of large stones, and one layer of timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
Ezr 6:5 - And also let the gold and silver avessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought again to the temple which is in Jerusalem, to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God.
Ezr 6:6 - Now therefore, Tattenai the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the officials, in the province beyond the River, keep far away from there.
Ezr 6:7 - Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.
Ezr 6:8 - Moreover I make a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: From the property of the king, even the tribute of the province beyond the River, expenses are to be given in full to these men that the work not cease.
Ezr 6:9 - And whatever is needed, young bulls and rams and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are in Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day without fail,
Ezr 6:10 - That they may offer incense to the God of heaven and apray for the life of the king and his sons.
Ezr 6:11 - Also I have made a decree that whoever alters this word, timber shall be pulled out from his house, and he shall be lifted up and impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill on account of this.
Ezr 6:12 - And may the God who has caused His aname to dwell there overthrow any king or people who put forth their hand to alter this or to destroy this house of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree; let it be carried out with all diligence.
K.  The completion of the rebuilding of the house of God — 6:13-15
Ezr 6:13 - Then Tattenai the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, carried out everything with all diligence according to what Darius the king had sent order to do.
Ezr 6:14 - And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the aprophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they bfinished building according to the command of the God of Israel and according to the decree of cCyrus and dDarius and eArtaxerxes the king of Persia.
Ezr 6:15 - And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
L.  The dedication of the rebuilt house of God — 6:16-18
Ezr 6:16 - And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, celebrated the adedication of this house of God with joy.
Ezr 6:17 - And they offered for the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ezr 6:18 - And they set the priests in their courses and the Levites in their adivisions for the service of God, which is in Jerusalem, as it is written in the bbook of Moses.
M.  The keeping of the Passover by the children of the captivity — 6:19-22
Ezr 6:19 - And the children of the captivity held the Passover on the afourteenth day of the first month.
Ezr 6:20 - For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the apassover for all the children of the captivity and for their brothers the priests and for themselves.
Ezr 6:21 - And the children of Israel who returned from the captivity and all who had separated themselves from the defilement of the nations of the land to join them, to seek Jehovah the God of Israel, ate the passover
Ezr 6:22 - And held the aFeast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for Jehovah had made them joyful and had turned the bheart of the 1king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra

Chapter 7 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • •
15 • • • • 20 • • • • 25 • • •

II.  The return of the captivity under the priestly leadership of Ezra — 7:1-10:44

A.  The return of the captivity under Ezra — 7:1-8:36
1.  The beginning of the return through the request of Ezra to the king — 7:1-10
Ezr 7:1 - Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king of Persia, 1Ezra the son of aSeraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Ezr 7:2 - The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
Ezr 7:3 - The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
Ezr 7:4 - The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezr 7:5 - The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;
Ezr 7:6 - This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ascribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Jehovah the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all his 1request according to the 2bhand of Jehovah his God upon him.
Ezr 7:7 - Some of the achildren of Israel and some of the bpriests, and the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers and the ctemple servants also went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of dArtaxerxes the king.
Ezr 7:8 - And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king;
Ezr 7:9 - For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem according to the good ahand of his God upon him.
Ezr 7:10 - For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah and to do it and to teach His 1statutes and ordinances in Israel.
2.  The decree of Artaxerxes the king of Persia to Ezra — 7:11-28
Ezr 7:11 - Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah and of His statutes for Israel:
Ezr 7:12 - 1Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now
Ezr 7:13 - I make a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who offer themselves willingly to go to Jerusalem may go with you.
Ezr 7:14 - Inasmuch as you have been sent by the king and his aseven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand,
Ezr 7:15 - And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have offered willingly to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
Ezr 7:16 - As well as all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem;
Ezr 7:17 - With this money therefore you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings; and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:18 - And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, you may do according to the will of your God.
Ezr 7:19 - And the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:20 - And the rest of the needs for the house of your God, which you have occasion to provide, you may provide for it out of the king’s treasure house.
Ezr 7:21 - And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are in the province beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
Ezr 7:22 - Up to one hundred talents of silver and up to one hundred cors of wheat and up to one hundred baths of wine and up to one hundred baths of oil and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezr 7:23 - Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven. For why should wrath come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons?
Ezr 7:24 - We also inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, taxes, or tolls upon any of the priests and Levites, the singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or servants of this house of God.
Ezr 7:25 - And you, Ezra, according to the awisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, all those who know the laws of your God; and teach anyone who does not know them.
Ezr 7:26 - And everyone who will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether to death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment.
Ezr 7:27 - Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this into the king’s aheart, to beautify the house of Jehovah, which is in Jerusalem,
Ezr 7:28 - And has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the mighty officers of the king. And I was strengthened according to the ahand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel leading men to go up with me.

Ezra

Chapter 8 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • • 15 • • • • 20 • • • • 25 • • • • 30 • • • • 35 •

3.  The genealogical enrollment of those who returned from captivity — 8:1-20
Ezr 8:1 - Now these are the heads of their fathers’ houses and the genealogical enrollment of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
Ezr 8:2 - Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.
Ezr 8:3 - Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him one hundred fifty males were enrolled by genealogy.
Ezr 8:4 - Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.
Ezr 8:5 - Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.
Ezr 8:6 - And of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.
Ezr 8:7 - And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.
Ezr 8:8 - And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.
Ezr 8:9 - Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred eighteen males.
Ezr 8:10 - And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.
Ezr 8:11 - And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.
Ezr 8:12 - And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.
Ezr 8:13 - And of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.
Ezr 8:14 - And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.
Ezr 8:15 - And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I observed the people and the priests, I found none of the sons of Levi there.
Ezr 8:16 - Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, leading men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
Ezr 8:17 - And I sent them to Iddo the leading man at the place Casiphia; and I told them what to say to Iddo and his brothers the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to bring ministers to us for the house of our God.
Ezr 8:18 - And according to the good ahand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; namely, Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen men;
Ezr 8:19 - And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;
Ezr 8:20 - And of the atemple servants, whom David and the leaders had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty temple servants—all of them were mentioned by name.
4.  Ezra's proclamation of a fast before they left Babylon — 8:21-23
Ezr 8:21 - Then I proclaimed a afast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight way for ourselves and for our little ones and for all our possessions.
Ezr 8:22 - For I was ashamed to ask for troops and horsemen from the king to help us against the enemy in the way because we had spoken to the king, saying, The ahand of our God is for good upon all those who seek Him, but His power and His wrath is against all those who forsake Him.
Ezr 8:23 - So we fasted and sought our God for this, and He was entreated by us.
5.  Ezra's provision for the offerings for the house of God — 8:24-30
Ezr 8:24 - Then I set apart twelve of the leading men of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,
Ezr 8:25 - And weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the 1heave offering for the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel there present had offered.
Ezr 8:26 - I weighed out into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver and one hundred silver vessels of one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold
Ezr 8:27 - And twenty bowls of gold of one thousand darics, and two vessels of fine polished bronze as precious as gold.
Ezr 8:28 - And I said to them, You are aholy to Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Jehovah, the God of your fathers.
Ezr 8:29 - Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers’ houses of Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.
Ezr 8:30 - So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
6.  The journey and arrival of the returned captivity — 8:31-34
Ezr 8:31 - Then we set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the ahand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from people set in ambush on the way.
Ezr 8:32 - And we came to aJerusalem and remained there three days.
Ezr 8:33 - And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
Ezr 8:34 - Everything was numbered and weighed, and all its weight was recorded at that time.
7.  The offerings to God by the returned captivity — 8:35
Ezr 8:35 - The children of those who had been carried away, who acame out of captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to Jehovah.
8.  The returned captivity's delivery of the king's decrees to the king's satraps and to the governors beyond the River — 8:36
Ezr 8:36 - And they delivered the king’s decrees to the king’s satraps and to the governors beyond the River, and these supported the people and the house of God.

Ezra

Chapter 9 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • • 15

B.  The purification of the returned captives from the defilement of foreign wives — 9:1-10:44
1.  Initiated by the officials of the returned captives — 9:1-2
Ezr 9:1 - Now when these things had been completed, the officials approached me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have anot separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ezr 9:2 - For they have taken some of their 1daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the aholy seed have bmingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this unfaithfulness.
2.  Ezra's reaction — 9:3-15
Ezr 9:3 - And when I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled out hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.
Ezr 9:4 - Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of those of the captivity was gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening meal offering.
Ezr 9:5 - And at the time of the evening meal offering I rose up from my affliction, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and aspread out my hands to Jehovah my God.
Ezr 9:6 - And I said, O my God, I am ashamed and aembarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God; for our biniquities have multiplied over our head, and our guilt has increased up to the heavens.
Ezr 9:7 - Since the days of our fathers up to this day we have been exceedingly guilty; and because of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests, have been delivered up into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to shamefacedness, as it is this day.
Ezr 9:8 - And now for a brief moment favor has been shown by Jehovah our God to leave us a aremnant to escape and to give us a bpeg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Ezr 9:9 - For we are slaves, yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to raise up the ahouse of our God and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Ezr 9:10 - And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,
Ezr 9:11 - Which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, The land which you are entering to possess is a land unclean with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations, with which they have filled it from one end to another, and with their defilement.
Ezr 9:12 - Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither atake their daughters for your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.
Ezr 9:13 - And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us those who have escaped as this,
Ezr 9:14 - Shall we again break your commandments and intermarry with the peoples that do these abominations? Will You not be angry with us until You have consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor any who escape?
Ezr 9:15 - O Jehovah the God of Israel, You are righteous; for we have been left a aremnant of those who have escaped, as it is this day. Here we are before You in our guilt, although none can stand before You because of this.

Ezra

Chapter 10 of 10

Verses
vv. 1 • • • 5 • • • • 10 • • • • 15 • • • • 20 • • • • 25 • • • • 30 • • • • 35 • • • • 40 • • • •

3.  The congregation's reaction — 10:1-5
Ezr 10:1 - Now while Ezra aprayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the bhouse of God, a very large gathering of men and women and children was gathered together to him out of Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.
Ezr 10:2 - And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have acted unfaithfully against our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this.
Ezr 10:3 - Now therefore let us make a acovenant with our God to put away all the wives and those born of them according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law.
Ezr 10:4 - Arise, for the matter is your responsibility, but we are with you; be strong, and do it.
Ezr 10:5 - Then Ezra arose and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do according to this word; so they swore.
4.  The final decision — 10:6-44
Ezr 10:6 - Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he aate no bread and drank no water, for he was mourning because of the unfaithfulness of those of the captivity.
Ezr 10:7 - And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem;
Ezr 10:8 - And that whoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and the elders, all his possessions should be forfeited, and he himself should be separated from the congregation of the captivity.
Ezr 10:9 - Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month, and all the people sat in the open square in front of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
Ezr 10:10 - And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, You have acted unfaithfully and have married foreign women to increase the guilt of Israel.
Ezr 10:11 - Now therefore make confession to Jehovah the God of your fathers, and do His will, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.
Ezr 10:12 - Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, It is so; we must do as you have said.
Ezr 10:13 - But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside; neither is this a task for one day or two, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
Ezr 10:14 - Let our leaders represent the whole congregation, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times and with them the elders of every city and their judges, until the fierce anger of our God is turned away from us on account of this matter.
Ezr 10:15 - Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
Ezr 10:16 - And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest and certain heads of fathers’ houses were set apart according to their fathers’ houses, all of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
Ezr 10:17 - And they finished with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
Ezr 10:18 - And among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women there were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedaliah.
Ezr 10:19 - And they apledged that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a bram of the flock for their guilt.
Ezr 10:20 - And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Ezr 10:21 - And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Ezr 10:22 - And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
Ezr 10:23 - And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Ezr 10:24 - And of the singers: Eliashib. And of the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
Ezr 10:25 - And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
Ezr 10:26 - And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.
Ezr 10:27 - And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Ezr 10:28 - And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.
Ezr 10:29 - And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.
Ezr 10:30 - And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
Ezr 10:31 - And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Ezr 10:32 - Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.
Ezr 10:33 - Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.
Ezr 10:34 - Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
Ezr 10:35 - Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
Ezr 10:36 - Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Ezr 10:37 - Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,
Ezr 10:38 - And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
Ezr 10:39 - And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
Ezr 10:40 - Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Ezr 10:41 - Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Ezr 10:42 - Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.
Ezr 10:43 - Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, and Joel, Benaiah.
Ezr 10:44 - All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
Book of Ezra
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