Book of Ezra
A biblical account of the return from exile and Temple rebuilding.
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible that formerly included the Book of Nehemiah in a single work, commonly called Ezra–Nehemiah. It recounts the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem following the decree of Cyrus the Great and the subsequent rebuilding of the Temple, as well as the later mission of Ezra to purify the Jewish community. The book is composed in Hebrew and Aramaic and represents the final chapter in the historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible.
The book is divided into two main sections. The first section, chapters one through six, narrates events in the third person, beginning with Cyrus the Great, inspired by God, ordering the return of the Temple vessels and directing the exiles to rebuild the Temple under the leadership of Sheshbazzar. A group of 42,360 exiles, along with servants and singers, returns under Zerubbabel and Jeshua the High Priest. They rebuild the altar, celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, and lay the Temple’s foundations with great rejoicing. When Samaritans offer to help and are rebuffed, they work to frustrate the builders. Complaints to King Xerxes and Artaxerxes I lead to a halt in construction until the reign of Darius I. Prophets Haggai and Zechariah spur Zerubbabel and Joshua to resume work, prompting Tattenai, the satrap, to write to Darius. After the archives confirm Cyrus’s decree, Darius orders that the work continue, exempts the Jews from tribute, and supplies offerings. The Temple is completed in the sixth year of Darius.
The second section, chapters seven through ten, is told largely in the first person and focuses on Ezra. King Artaxerxes, moved by God, commissions Ezra to investigate Judah and Jerusalem regarding the Law of God and to appoint judges. Ezra gathers a large group of returnees, gold, silver, and vessels for the Temple. After discovering a lack of Levites, he sends for them. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra learns that some Jews have married non-Jewish women. He prays in distress, acknowledging the people’s guilt. The assembly then agrees to send away these foreign wives and children. The book includes several historical documents in Aramaic, such as the decrees of Cyrus and Darius and the letter of Artaxerxes. There is no historical consensus on Ezra’s existence due to a lack of extrabiblical evidence, with scholars debating whether he was a historical Aramean official or
- Language
- Hebrew and Aramaic
- Formerly combined with
- Book of Nehemiah
- Subject
- Return to Zion after the Babylonian captivity
- Key figures
- Cyrus the Great, Darius I, Artaxerxes, Zerubbabel, Jeshua the High Priest, Ezra
- Number of chapters
- 10
- Major divisions
- Chapters 1–6 (first return and Temple); chapters 7–10 (mission of Ezra)
Lore & Background
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible that was originally combined with the Book of Nehemiah, a single work scholars call Ezra–Nehemiah. They were separated in the early 16th century with the first printed rabbinic bibles, following late medieval Latin Christian tradition. The text is composed in both Hebrew and Aramaic, and its subject is the Return to Zion after the Babylonian captivity. The book is divided into two parts. The first part, chapters 1–6, is told in the third person and covers the initial return of exiles in the first year of Cyrus the Great, culminating in the completion and dedication of the new Temple in Jerusalem in the sixth year of Darius I. This section includes several documents presented as historical inclusions, written in Aramaic while the surrounding text is in Hebrew, such as the decree of Cyrus and correspondence with Persian officials like Tattenai, the satrap over Judah and Samaria. The second part, chapters 7–10, is told largely in the first person and focuses on the mission of Ezra to Jerusalem under King Artaxerxes. It includes the Artaxerxes rescript, which commissions Ezra to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem regarding the Law of God and to appoint magistrates. The narrative details Ezra’s efforts to purify the Jewish community from marriages with non-Jews. A recurring pattern in the book shows the God of Israel inspiring a Persian king to commission a Jewish leader for a mission: first to rebuild the Temple, second to purify the community, and third to seal the holy city behind a wall, though this third mission of Nehemiah is not part of the Book of Ezra. There is no historical consensus on Ezra’s existence due to a lack of extrabiblical evidence, with scholarly interpretations ranging from a historical Aramean official to a literary figure.
Reader's Guide
The Book of Ezra is significant for its theological structuring of history: the Temple must come first, then the purification of the community, then the building of the city walls. The narrative follows a repeating pattern in which the God of Israel inspires a Persian king to commission a Jewish leader—Zerubbabel, Ezra, or Nehemiah—to carry out a mission. The book also preserves important historical documents, such as the decrees of Persian kings, though scholars debate the authenticity and dating of the Artaxerxes rescript. There is no historical consensus on Ezra's existence or mission due to a lack of extrabiblical evidence and conflicting interpretations. The book's legacy includes its role in shaping Jewish identity after the exile and its influence on later biblical canon formation, as the separation of Ezra and Nehemiah into two books occurred only in early 16th-century printed rabbinic Bibles.
Did You Know?
- The Book of Ezra formerly included the Book of Nehemiah as a single book, commonly called Ezra–Nehemiah.
- The two books were separated in the first printed rabbinic Bibles of the early 16th century, following late medieval Latin Christian tradition.
- The book contains several documents written in Aramaic while the surrounding text is in Hebrew.
- There is no historical consensus on Ezra's existence or mission due to a lack of extrabiblical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Book of Ezra?
The Book of Ezra is a ten-chapter biblical text that narrates the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the Temple. It was originally paired with the Book of Nehemiah as a single scroll in the Hebrew Bible.
What is the main subject or role of the Book of Ezra?
The book centers on two major events: the first wave of exiles returning under Zerubbabel and Jeshua to rebuild the Temple (chapters 1–6), and Ezra's later mission to reform and purify the Jewish community (chapters 7–10). It serves as the closing historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible.
How does the story of the Book of Ezra end?
The book concludes with Ezra leading the returned community in a public confession and a collective pledge to separate from foreign marriages, thereby reaffirming covenant loyalty to God. This purification act closes the historical arc of the Hebrew Bible.
Why is the Book of Ezra important in Christian and Jewish tradition?
It documents the theological idea that God can restore His people even after national catastrophe, framing the rebuilt Temple as a renewed center of worship. It also provides the historical backdrop for how the post-exilic community reestablished its identity and religious practices.
What language is the Book of Ezra written in?
The text is composed in both Hebrew and Aramaic, with the Aramaic sections appearing in portions dealing with imperial decrees and official correspondence. This bilingual composition reflects the multilingual reality of the Persian-era Jewish community.
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