About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
Map from Keyway.ca The Persian Empire covered many areas. It included the modern-day countries of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The Persian kings named in the Bible were Cyrus, Ahasruerus, Artaxerxes, and Darius. |
The Book of Ezra
God allowed the people from Babylon to take the tribe of Judah, the Jews, away. They took them back to Babylon. The Jews lived in Babylon for about 70 years. Then, Cyrus became king of Persia (now called Iran). Persia defeated Babylon, and Cyrus said that the Jews could return to Jerusalem.
Ezra was a scribe (secretary, historian). He wrote down the history of the Jews going back to Jerusalem. He also led some of the Jews back to Jerusalem
Bible Timeline
Here is a good timeline to see the book of Ezra in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm
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Hebrew, Israelite, Jew, Jewish These words all have been used to describe the descendants of Abraham. Their exact meanings are sometimes not clear. In Genesis, Abraham is called a Hebrew which means "descendant of Eber". Eber was the great grandson of Noah. Eber was Abraham's ancestor. Abraham's son was Isaac. Isaac had a son named Jacob who had 12 sons. God changed Jacob's name to Israel. Then his sons, grandsons, and descendants were called Israelites. One of Jacob's sons was named Judah. After the Israelites came to Canaan from Egypt, each son's family got land. Judah's family land later separated from the other lands. The people who lived in Judah were called Jews or Jewish. Now in modern times, the words are still used. Israel is the of the country that used to be in the area of Canaan. Hebrew is the name of the language used in Israel. Jewish and Jew are commonly used for all of the people who are descendants of Abraham.
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Ezra was a descendant of Moses' brother, Aaron. Ezra's father's name
was Seraiah, his grandfather's name was Azariah, and his great grandfather's
name was Hilkiah. His other ancestors were: Shallum, Zadok, Ahitub,
Amariah, Azariah, Meraioth, Zerahiah, Uzzi, Bukki, Abishua, Phinehas,
Eleazar, and Aaron.
[1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king
of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
[2] The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
[3] The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
[4] The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
[5] The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the chief priest:
Ezra was a scribe. He knew the laws that God gave
to Moses. God was helping Ezra, and the king of Persia, Artaxerxes, gave him anything he wanted.
[6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of
Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all
his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Many Jewish people went with Ezra. There were
priests, Levites, singers, and temple workers. They
went to Jerusalem. They left Babylon on the first day of the first month.
They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the 5th month. It was
the 5th month of the year, and it was the 7th year that Artaxerxes was king
of Persia.
[7] And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests,
and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
[8] And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh
year of the king.
[9] For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezra had studied God's laws for a long time. He
obeyed God's laws and taught the laws to other Jews.
These were the months in the Jewish
calendar:
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[10] For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do
it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Ezra was a
priest and a scribe. He wrote the words of God's laws and God's
commandments.
King Artaxerxes gave Ezra a letter. The letter was from Artaxerxes to Ezra the scribe
of the laws of God of heaven.
[11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto
Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments
of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
[12] Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of
the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
The king said that any of the Jews, the priests,
and Levites may leave and go to Jerusalem if they want to.
[13] I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his
priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to
go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
The king and his 7 counselors were sending them
back to Jerusalem. They want them to see if the Jews are obeying God's
laws.
[14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers,
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God
which is in thine hand;
They should take the gold and silver that the king
and his counselors are giving to God. They should
also take all of the gold and silver they can find in Babylon. They should
take the offerings of the people and priests in Babylon. They can take
the gold, silver, and offerings to God's temple in Jerusalem. God's city is
Jerusalem.
[15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers
have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in
Jerusalem,
[16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of
Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests,
offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
They should use the gold and silver to buy bulls,
rams, and lambs for burnt offerings. They should also make meat and drink
offerings on the altar of God's temple in Jerusalem.
[17] That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs,
with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the
altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
If there is silver and gold left, they can decide
how to use it. They should use it to obey God's will.
[18] And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with
the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
There are things to use to worship God in the
temple. They should give these things to God.
[19] The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of
thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
If they need anything else for God's temple, they should get it out of the
king's storage house.
[20] And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which
thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure
house.
The king made another order. He made the order to
the people in charge of the money in places on the other side of the
Euphrates River. He said that they should give Ezra anything that he asks
for.
[21] And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the
treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily,
They should give Ezra up to 100 talents of silver
(7,500 pounds), 100 measures of wheat (600 bushels), 100 baths of wine
(580 gallons), 100 baths of oil (580 gallons), and any amount of salt.
[22] Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat,
and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt
without prescribing how much.
They should give whatever God asks. They should
give for God's temple. The king did not want God to be angry with him
or his sons who would be king after him.
[23] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done
for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against
the realm of the king and his sons?
He also said that they should not charge the Jewish
leaders tolls or taxes. They should not make these people pay: the
priests, Levites, singers, or temple workers.
[24] Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites,
singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not
be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
The king said that Ezra should pick judges and
leaders. He
should pick them according to God's will. He should pick people who know the laws. If
they don't know the laws, he should teach them.
[25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set
magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the
river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
them not.
If anyone does not obey the laws of God and the laws of the king, he should
be punished quickly. He should be punished in one of these ways: he should
be killed, he should be sent away, his things should be taken, or he should
to go prison.
[26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,
let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Ezra said that God was blessed because He touched
the king's heart to make the temple beautiful again. God had mercy on Ezra.
The king, the king's counselors, and the king's princes were good to him and
helped him. Ezra felt stronger because he felt God's hand on him. God was
helping him. Then Ezra picked out leaders of the Jews to go back
to Judah with him.
[27] Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as
this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in
Jerusalem:
[28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers,
and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand
of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief
men to go up with me.
Pictures from FreeBibleIllustrations.com |
Picture from FreeBibleIllustrations.com |
Some of the Jewish leaders went to
talk to Ezra. They told him that some of the Jews (including
priests and Levites) are behaving badly. They are doing things the same as
the other groups of people in that area. They are behaving the same as the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the
Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
[1] Now when these things were done, the princes came to me,
saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not
separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their
abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Some of the Jewish men are marrying women who are
not Jews. They are marrying people from the other groups of people.
They are mixing Jewish heritage with people who are from other places.
Some of the Jewish leaders are guilty of this.
[2] For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their
sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those
lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this
trespass.
Ezra was very upset when he heard about this. He
tore off his clothes to show he was upset. He pulled the hair off his head
and beard. He sat down and was astonished (very surprised and shocked).
[3] And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
Many of the Jews came to meet with him. The
ones who came to meet with him were the ones who obeyed God's laws. They
knew that God had sent the Jews out of Judah in the past. He sent them
out because they sinned. Now they are sinning again. Ezra sat and felt
shock until the time for the evening sacrifice.
[4] Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the
God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried
away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
From Creationism.org |
Ezra's prayer
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Ezra kneeled
and spread out his hands to the Lord God.
[5] And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having
rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands
unto the LORD my God.
Ezra prayed. He told God that he was ashamed to
pray to Him because the Jews have sinned.
[6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee,
my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is
grown up unto the heavens.
The Jews have sinned a lot in the past.
That's why other kings and people have captured them.
[7] Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this
day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been
delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to
captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
God did not forget about the Jews. He helped them
and showed grace and mercy to them. He did not destroy them. He made the
kings of Persia help them. He let them come back to Jerusalem. He let them
come back and build His temple again. They are now safe in Judah and
Jerusalem.
[8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God,
to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place,
that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our
bondage.
[9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage,
but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give
us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations
thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
After God helped them again, the Jews did not obey
God's laws. God's laws said that the other people in Judah were not clean.
They worshiped false gods. The Jews were not allowed to marry people who
were not Jews. God wanted the Jewish people to be strong, have good food to
eat, and keep the land in their families forever.
[10] And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken
thy commandments,
[11] Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The
land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness
of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it
from one end to another with their uncleanness.
[12] Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take
their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for
ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for
an inheritance to your children for ever.
After everything God has done to help them, now the
Jews are breaking His laws again. They are marrying people who worship false
gods. God may decide to destroy all of the Jews so there is none left.
[13] And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our
great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
[14] Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the
people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou
hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
God is righteous (very good). He has not
destroyed the Jews. Now the Jews have sinned again.
[15] O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as
it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot
stand before thee because of this.
Ezra finished praying, crying, and
confessing the Jews' sin to God. Then a large crowd of Jews came to
him. The people were all crying.
[1] Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed,
weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled
unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and
children: for the people wept very sore.
Shechaniah (his father's name was Jehiel and his
ancestor was Elam) talked to Ezra. He said that the Jews have sinned against
God. They married women who were not Jewish. But there is hope. He says they
should make a promise to God. They will promise to divorce their wives. They
will send them away. They will also send their children away (the children
whose mothers were not Jewish).
[2] And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and
said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange
wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning
this thing.
[3] Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the
wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord,
and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done
according to the law.
He told Ezra that they will support him.
[4] Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee:
be of good courage, and do it.
Ezra asked the leaders of the priests, the Levites,
and all of the Jews to swear (promise). They will divorce their wives
and send away the children.
[5] Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all
Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
Ezra left God's temple. He went to stay with
Johanan (his father was Eliashib). While he was there, he did not eat or
drink. He was very sad because of what the Jewish people had done.
[6] Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat
no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of
them that had been carried away.
The Jewish people sent an order to all of the Jews
in Judah and Jerusalem. They should all come to meet together in Jerusalem.
[7] And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the
children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem;
Anyone who did not come in 3 days would be
punished. The leaders said they will take away all of the things he owns. He
will not be part of the Jews anymore.
[8] And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the
counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had
been carried away.
All of the men from Judah and the tribe of
Benjamin's land met 3 days later in Jerusalem. It was the 20th day of the
9th month. It was raining hard, and they all sat in the street by God's
temple. They were afraid and shaking.
[9] Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto
Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of
the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God,
trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
Ezra stood up and talked to them. He told them that
they sinned. It was a sin to marry women who were not Jewish. Now they
should confess this sin to God. They should obey God's laws. They should
stay separate from the other groups of people who live in Judah now. They
should divorce their wives who are not Jewish.
[10] And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed,
and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
[11] Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do
his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from
the strange wives.
The people agreed. They told Ezra loudly that
they would do what he said. But they said it would take a long time for
everyone to finish a divorce. They were all standing in the rain. They
wanted to set up a plan for the men who needed to divorce their wives. They
will take turns and meet with the leaders of their cities. After everyone is
divorced, they said God will not be angry with them anymore.
[12] Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou
hast said, so must we do.
[13] But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not
able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are
many that have transgressed in this thing.
[14] Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and
with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce
wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
A few of the leaders were in charge of this.
They were Jonathan (his father's name was Asahel) and Jazaziah (his father's
name was Tikvah). Two other men, Meshullam and Shabbethai (a Levite)
would help them.
[15] Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were
employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped
them.
The Jewish men did what they said they would do. On the 1st day of the 10th
month, Ezra and some leaders of the families sat down to plan this. They
wrote down the names of the men who were the leaders.
[16] And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with
certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of
them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the
tenth month to examine the matter.
By the 1st day of the 1st month, all of the men
divorced their wives who were not Jewish.
[17] And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by
the first day of the first month.
These were the men in the priests' families who had
wives who were not Jewish. They were from the families of Jeshau (his
father's name was Jozadak) and his brothers. The men were: Maaseiah,
Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They promised to divorce their wives. They
sacrificed a male sheep as a trespass offering to show God that they were
sorry.
[18] And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken
strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his
brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
[19] And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and
being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
These were the other men who married women who were not Jewish:
From the family of Immer:
Hanani and Zebadiah.
From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and
Uzziah.
From the family of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Isamael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elash.
From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaish (other name Kelita),
Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
[20] And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
[21] And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
[22] And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
[23] Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is
Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
From the singers: Eliashib
From the temple workers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri
[24] Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem,
and Uri.
From the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah,
Malchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
[25] Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and
Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
From the family of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth,
and Eliah.
From the family of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremothr,
Zabad, and Aziza.
From the family of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
From the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal,
and Ramoth.
From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
[26] And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi,
and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
[27] And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth,
and Zabad, and Aziza.
[28] Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
[29] And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and
Sheal, and Ramoth.
[30] And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
From the family of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah,
Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
[31] And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
[32] Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
From the family of Hashum: Mattenai,
Mattathah, Zabad, Elliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
From the family of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasau, Bani, Binnui,
Shiemi, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azareel,
Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
[33] Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei.
[34] Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
[35] Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
[36] Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
[37] Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
[38] And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
[39] And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
[40] Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
[41] Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
[42] Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
From the family of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah,
Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, Joel, and Benaiah.
[43] Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel,
Benaiah.
All of these Jewish men had married women who were
not Jewish. They had children with the women.
[44] All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom
they had children.