Ezra

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• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
• Posted 05/09/2021
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Ezra

Title

1. Although Ez.1:1 and Ne.1:1 capture that they are separate compositions but early Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts consider as one book.
2. Latin Vulgate Bible and also early Christian literature calls Ezra and Nehemiah as Ezra 1 and Ezra 2.
3. Wycliffe English bible as separate books and then it is followed in Hebrew manuscript in 1448.

Author

1. The book is anonymous (No author or compiler name is mentioned)
2. Assumption: The author must be Ezra but complied/finished by Nehemiah.
3. Ezra the Scribe: Jewish Babylonian Talmud: Cyrus name is mentioned. Ezra and Chronicles have the same literary and linguistic features.

Date            Ezra may be dated 440 B.C and may be after the Babylonian exile.

Aim

To give the exiles hope in returning as God had not given up on them as nation.

Audience

          Those who want to learn how to be restored to God’s favour.

Major Theological Themes.

1. The restoration of Israel from exile was God’s work
2. The restoration of the covenant community – even though political independence was not attained.
3. Just as God used the world powers to judge his people, so he used them to restore his people, so he used them to restore his people to their land.
4. Israel’s restoration evoked the fierce opposition, but that opposition was thwarted at every turn.

Purpose

1. To bear witness that the Lord is faithful to his promises, and his mercy is greater than his anger.
2. To bear witness that the Lord works providentially by all means, especially though powerful rulers, to bring about his greater purposes.
3. To bear witness that the remnant people are bound by covenant to guard their identity and character as the people of the Lord by obeying God’s law.
4. To bear witness that people belong to the Lord accepting his covenant willingly.
5. Faithfulness to the Lord is demonstrated by proper attention to worship.

Key Words: Temple and People

Key Theme: God’s house

Key Phrase: “ House of God” (33x)

Key Verse: Ezra.9:8: And now for a little space, grace has been showed 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.

Key Lesson: Repentance involves both a resolution and rehabilitation.

Major Divisions

A. The early returns to Jerusalem, 1:1-2:70

B. The reestablishment of the Mosaic worship of YHWH in Jerusalem by Zerubbabel and Joshua (cf. 3:1-6:22).

C. The third wave of returnees under Ezra the Scribe (cf. 7:1-10:44)