Ezra The book of Ezra comes after 2 Chronicles and before Nehemiah. The last few words of 2 Chronicles are the same as the first of Ezra, and most people reckon that this means it was written to continue that book. In addition, in other Biblical traditions, Ezra and Nehemiah are placed together as one scroll. They describe what may be the third return to Jerusalem of Exiles from Babylon (the first came after the edict of Cyrus, 538BC, the second came with Zerubbabel 521BC, the third under Ezra, 464BC, and the fourth under Nehemiah 404BC. The first two groups of exiles established a community and rebuilt the Temple (see Ezra 1-6), and then Ezra came, bringing a form of the Law of Moses to try and rebuild the spiritual life of the people and establish their purity as God’s people. Much of Ezra describes legal battles fought to establish the right of return, but it also comments extensively on religious reform. Paul H Ashby - 17/05/10
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 02:13:26 +0000
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