EZRA LESSON 1



     The book of Ezra is a book about the times immediately after the
Babylonian captivity of the tribes of Judah and Benjanin. Ezra was,
probably, the compiler of this book, as he was of the Chronicles. He,
also, penned the 119th Psalm. I personally believe that he was the
penman of most of the book of Ezra, if not all. He was a Hebrew in
captivity in Babylon. Ezra was a priest, and a scribe, a descendent of
Eleazar.  Nehemiah 12:26 "These [were] in the days of Joiakim the son
of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the
governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe."  Nehemiah, at one time,
was thought of as one book with Ezra.  It appears, that Ezra had a
great deal to do with it, as well.

     In this book, we see the release and return of the Hebrews to
their homeland from Babylon. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, lived and
preached during this time. We will find that the captives came back at
three different times. The first groups return was led by Zerubbabel.
The next group was led by Ezra. The third group was led by Nehemiah
who became governor.

     Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther cover about 100 years time from about
536 B.C. to about 432 B.C. This will be a time of re-building the
temple, as well as re-establishing their homeland.

     One of the clear spiritual messages we must receive in this, is
that God can use whomever He wants to, to bring His purpose about. As
I have said so many times, the two real powers in the world are the
spoken and the written Word of God. We will find that Ezra, along with
Nehemiah cause the people to return to the study of God's Word. Many
believe that Ezra assembled the writing of the Old Testament for that
study.

     This is a historical book of the events occurring after the
return from captivity in Babylon. The name "Ezra" means help.

     We will now begin the study in Ezra 1:1 "Now in the first year of
Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of
Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his
kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,"

     Jeremiah had prophesied the very things that we will read of
happening, here. This is absolute evidence that the prophecies of
Jeremiah were true. Cyrus was a heathen king, but God created him, the
same as He created everyone else. God will move upon the mind of
Cyrus, and Cyrus will do the will of God. Cyrus took Babylon on the
night of Belshazzar's feast after he saw the handwriting on the wall.
It appears, that God immediately moved upon Cyrus, king of Persia.
What the LORD told Cyrus was so serious, that Cyrus wrote it down.

     Ezra 1:2 "Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven
hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to
build him an house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah."

     Cyrus was aware that the great power he had received by
conquering the lands around him, was supernatural. He seems to be
giving the praise to Jehovah for putting the kingdoms of the earth in
his hands. The house that was to be built in Jerusalem would certainly
be for the One True God. The Persians were practicing worship of false
gods at this time, but Cyrus seems to have broken from that.

     Ezra 1:3 "Who [is there] among you of all his people? his God be
with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and
build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which
[is] in Jerusalem."

     This leaves absolutely no doubt at all who Cyrus was speaking of.
He calls Him the LORD God of Israel. We see, also, that Cyrus is
offering freedom to all who would return to Judah and build the
temple.  The temple is to be built in Jerusalem, but any of the
captives of any of the twelve tribes, could return and work on the
temple.

     Ezra 1:4 "And whosoever remaineth in any place where he
sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with
gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering
for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem."

     We see that Cyrus was insisting on the heathen, as well as the
Hebrews, giving silver, gold, and goods to rebuild the temple. Cyrus
was going to send from his own freewill offering, many of the temple
treasures that had been taken and brought to Babylon. He asked the
people of the land to do the same.

     Ezra 1:5  "Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and
Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all [them] whose
spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which
[is] in Jerusalem."

     Primarily, those who rose up to go back to Jerusalem, were those
of the tribes of Benjamin and of Judah. The Levites were those who had
been chosen of God for His service. The priests were, also, Levites
who served in the temple worship. The leaders of the various families
went, also. Notice, the Spirit of God had entered them, and filled
them with the desire to go and build the temple. The house of the LORD
is the temple.

     Ezra 1:6 "And all they that [were] about them strengthened their
hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts,
and with precious things, beside all [that] was willingly offered."

     Those that were about them were their neighbors, whether
Babylonian or Hebrew. It appears, they did exactly as Cyrus had asked
them to do. Cyrus gave willingly, here, and the others added to it as
they were able.

     Ezra 1:7  "Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the
house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of
Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;"

     Cyrus did not recognize the false gods of the Babylonians. He
took the items from the temple in Jerusalem that had been placed in
these temples of false gods, and sent them back to Judah. There were
many golden cups and dishes even being used in the palace of the king.
Cyrus seemed to gather up all he could find, and sent it back for the
temple in Jerusalem.

     Ezra 1:8 "Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the
hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar,
the prince of Judah."

     Mithredath was a name which meant given by Mithre. The name was
Persian. These were things in the treasury, then. There was a close
accounting kept of what had been removed and sent to Jerusalem.

     Ezra 1:9 "And this [is] the number of them: thirty chargers of
gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,"

     The chargers were called wine-coolers, but had, probably, been
used in the drink offerings in the temple services. It could have even
been speaking of basins, or bowls. They were very expensive, since
they had been made of gold and silver. The knives, mentioned here, are
thought by some to be the censers. It is not clear exactly what they
were.

     Ezra 1:10 "Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second
[sort] four hundred and ten, [and] other vessels a thousand." Ezra
1:11 "All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and
four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up with [them of] the
captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem."

     From the number of vessels sent to Jerusalem by Cyrus, we can see
that he sincerely wanted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and he
wanted everything that belonged in it returned. Sheshbazzar was
apparently the name Zerubbabel was called by in Babylon. This would be
the first group of people leaving captivity to return to Jerusalem to
build the temple.  It is interesting that all through history, the
Jews have come back from time to time into the their land. They never
were out from under Gentile rule for very long at a time, until in
1948 when they received their independence. This, I believe, to be the
end of the Gentile rule.








                             Ezra 1 Questions


1.  The book of Ezra is telling about what?
2.  What books did Ezra, probably, have something to do with
    compiling.
3.  Ezra was a ________, and a ______, descended from ________.
4.  What other book was one time thought of as part of Ezra?
5.  We see the ________ and the _______ of the Hebrews to their
    homeland in Ezra.
6.  What prophets were active at this time?
7.  The first group of those returning were led by ____________.
8.  The next group was led by ___________.
9.  Who became governor?
10. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther cover approximately _____ years.
11. What will those who return be doing?
12. What does the author believe is a clear spiritual message in this
    book?
13. What are the two real powers in the world?
14. Ezra and Nehemia tried to cause the people to return to the
    _______ of _______ _______.
15. Ezra is a __________ book.
16. "Ezra" means _______.
17. When did Cyrus decide to re-build the temple?
18. Whose prophecy will this fulfill?
19. What was unusual about Cyrus, king of Persia, wanting to do this?
20. When did Cyrus take Babylon?
21. Quote Ezra chapter 1 verse 2.
22. Who did Cyrus credit with his success?
23. Who does Cyrus release to go to build the temple?
24. Where would the goods, silver, and gold come from?
25. Who does Cyrus insist should give to the temple?
26. Who did the Spirit of God raise up to go?
27. Who was Cyrus' treasurer?
28. What did Cyrus have him do?
29. What was a charger?
30. How many were sent to Jerusalem?
31. What is another name for Zerrubbabel?