Ezra 1-2 -- Back to Jerusalem

LINK: Ezra 1-2

BACKGROUND for the book of EZRA

Author
Ezra is likely the author of this book, but he probably compiled other people's writings for parts of it. He seems to have collected various documents, genealogies, and personal memoirs as sources for the parts of the book he wasn't witness to. The books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah were originally one book in Jewish scripture. In the Latin Vulgate, Ezra and Nehemiah are titled 1 Esdras and 2 Esdras.

Date
Ezra probably completed the book between 456, when the events of 10:17-44 took place, and 444, when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem.

History
God had promised to restore Israel to her land following 70 years of captivity in Babylon. "And this whole land shall be a desolation and a horror, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Jeremiah 25:11) . . . "When 70 years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place" (Jer 29:10). Ezra records the fulfillment of God's promise.

God used both godly Jewish men (Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra) and Persian kings (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes) to accomplish His plan. Cyrus overthrew Babylon in 539. His policy was to encourage subject people to return to their homelands, so in 538 he issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Chapters 1-6 describe the return of about 50,000 Jews under Zerubbabel's leadership (authorized by Cyrus) and their work in laying the foundation of the temple. Chapters 7-10 describe Ezra's return to Jerusalem under Artaxerxes and his leadership in spiritual revival of the people.

Persian kings and the dates they reigned through this period are as follows:
Cyrus -- 538-530 B.C.
Cambyses -- 530-522 (not mentioned in Ezra's account)
Smerdis -- 522 (also not mentioned in Ezra's account)
Darius I -- 521-486
Xerxes (Ahasuerus) -- 486-465
Artaxerxes I -- 464-423
Darius II -- 423-404

NOTE: Ezra is not written as a strict chronology of events. The author compiled various accounts without reorganizing the information included in the original documents.

PRAYER
Father, you truly are sovereign. You set up kings and rulers, and you depose them. You turn the hearts of rulers to go whichever way you want them to go. Keep us always mindful that you are in total control over the affairs of men. Nothing surprises you or catches you off guard. We worship and praise you for your sovereignty over all. Amen.