BIBLE SUMMARY: EZRA
Book of Ezra Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.
Book of Ezra Chapter by Chapter Summary.
EZRA TOTAL CHAPTERS: 10
EZRA TOTAL VERSES: 280
TOTAL WORDS: 7,441
DATE WRITTEN: 456 – 444 BC
AUTHOR: Ezra
EZRA THEME:
Struggle, success and Restoration. Beginning Of Jerusalem’s Restoration
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Haggai, Zechariah, Darius, and Sanballat.
BOOK OF EZRA KEY VERSES:
3:11: With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: ‘He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
7:6: this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
EZRA SUMMARY
Book of Ezra covers the events of the Jews returning from the Babylonian captivity. Near 520 BC after the takeover by Nebuchadnezzar, ultimately King Cyrus of Persia arose to power, and he decided to aid the Jews to return to Jerusalem. The Jews are counted and are permitted to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple. Ezra is of particular significance since it contains nearly all of the direct information known of the post-Exile period of Hebrew history. The temple was rebuilt with a height of 90 feet and a width of 90 feet. Ezra, the high priest, is the one person who is notable in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Haggai was the leading prophet in the day of Ezra, and Zechariah was the prophet in the day of Nehemiah. Ezra dedicated the temple but was not happy with the Jews marrying pagan foreign wives. Despite the delays because of opposition and enemies of Jews, the Temple is completed and dedicated to God during this period.
CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:
Chapter# 1 – King Cyrus decree to rebuild the temple. Return From Exile
Chapter# 2 – The List Of Returned Exiles. Temple servants. A total number of 42,360 people returned. The heads of families gave offerings for the temple. Descendants Of Solomon’s Servants.
Chapter# 3 – Worship In Jerusalem Restored. Temple foundation laid. Songs and praises of the LORD
Chapter# 4 – Enemies Resistance To Rebuilding The House Of God. Enemies send a complaint to King Artaxerxes. So Artaxerxes stopped the building.
Chapter# 5 – The Jews resume temple building. Tattenai wrote to Darius that Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this temple
Chapter# 6 – Darius Searched For The Decree. Temple completed and inaugurated. Temple Dedication And The Passover
Chapter# 7 – Ezra comes to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes commanded Ezra to teach & Jews to return to Israel
Chapter# 8 – List of those returning with Ezra. Ezra Proclaims A Fast. Levites & leaders returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with gifts for the temple.
Chapter# 9 – Intermarriage in Israel. Ezra grieved, prayed and Confessed sins
Chapter# 10 – Foreign Wives And Children Are Sent Away. Jews confessed their sin.
