Introduction

• Overview of the book of Ezra…
  • 1^st – Ezra compiled the Old Testament…
    • Most Bible scholars believe that the Canon of OT scriptures was complied by Ezra… 

• Put together after the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity…
• The Hebrew Bible – Tanach – same books as our Old Testament – divides them differently…
• Tanach – Acronym: T – Torah – Law / N – Nev’im – prophets / K – Ketuvim – writings…
• Tanach breakdown of the OT: 24 books = our 39 books…
• The books of the law- Torah – Genesis / Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy… 
• The books the prophets – Nev’im – Joshua / Judges / Samuel (1 book) / Kings (1 book) / Isaiah / Jeremiah / Ezekiel / the Twelve (12 minor prophets)
• The books of writings – Ketuvim – Psalms / Proverbs / Job / Song / Ruth / Lamentations / Ecclesiastes / Ester / Daniel / Ezra-Nehemiah (1 book) / Chronicles (1 book)
• In 1947 an Arab Shepherd boy looking for his goat made the discovery of the ages…
  • 225 scrolls that were ultimately found contained portions of the Old Testament…
  • In all every book of the Old Testament – with the exclusions of Esther – was found!
  • The manuscripts dated to around 200 BC – before the advent of Jesus Christ!
  • Up until that time – the oldest manuscript was the Masoretic Text – 900 AD…
  • Bible critics were anxious to see the changes made in that 1100-year period…
  • They were shocked to find that there were no significant differences!
  • When they were compared – 95% of the texts were identical!
  • The 5% difference was based on obvious slips of the pen and variations on spelling… 
  • Bottom line – God made sure we had not reason to questions the integrity of His Word!

• 2^nd – Who wrote the book of Ezra
  • The Book of Ezra was written by the scribe/priest – and Spiritual leader Ezra 
  • The Talmud identifies Ezra also as the writer of I and II Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah
  • Ezra even refers to himself in the first person in Ezra 7:27-9:15…
• 3^rd – Timeline of post exile history books: Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther (Hadassah)…
  • The book of Ezra picks up at the end of the 70 years of captivity – more on that in a moment…
    • But the timeline of all 3 post exile books is difficult for several reasons…
    • They take place during the Medo-Persian Empire – under the reign of 6 Kings (see chart)…
    • The problem is these Kings often go by the same names – Ahasuerus / Artaxerxes / etc.…
    • Also there is some discrepancy in secular history as to the dates of their reigns…
    • But it is generally believed the book of Ezra covers a period of about 90 years
  • There were 3 waves of migration back to Judah – 2 in the book of Ezra…
    • Chapters 1-6 – cover the 1^st return of the exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel…
      • The focus of Zerubbabel was to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem…
      • He worked on restoring the religious system that had been destroyed by Babylon…
      • The prophets Haggai / Zechariah prophesied during this first return of exiles!
    • Chapters 7-10 – cover the 2^nd return of exiles under the leadership of Ezra the Scribe…
      • This 2^nd wave took place some 80 years after the first exiles returned…
      • Side note – the book of Esther took place during these 80 years…
      • The focus of Ezra was on the people who had returned from Babylon…
      • His desire was to bring about Spiritual revival by teaching the Word of God!
    • The 3^rd wave of exiles returned with Nehemiah…
      • His focus was the restoration of the city – building the wall…
      • Nehemiah returned to reestablish the civil government of Jerusalem…
      • The prophet Malachi – final prophet in the OT – spoke to Israel during this period!

Returning to the Land… (3 things)

• 1^st – The 70 years… vs. 1 Read: Ezra 1:1
  • 1^st – The fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 25:12 / 29:10…
    • The prophet Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon…
      • * Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope…”
      • This is a verse that I often hear quoted by people – God has good plans for our lives…
      • But so often we miss the context of the verse – we miss what Jeremiah said in verse 10…
    • He told the Jews to settle down in Babylon – buy houses / plant crops / get married…
      • * Jeremiah 29:10 – “For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.”
      • The blessings God had for the children of Israel were not immediate…
      • There were still consequences that had to be faced for the sin of the nation…
      • They would be in captivity – but not forever – God was going to bring them home!
      • Because of sin we have been separated from God – left in a foreign land…
      • And we are waiting for the day when the Lord will take us home to be with Him…
      • But we may have to wait for a while – some of us may have to wait a lifetime (70 years)…
      • And while we are waiting we need to be practical – buy houses / plant / marry…
      • But we must never forget the plan God has for us – a future and a hope …
      • He plans to one day bring us back home – Hebrew 11:13-16
  • 2^nd – Why 70 years…
    • According to Leviticus 25 – the land was to receive a rest – Sabbath – once every 7 years…
      • For 6 years you could work the land – grow crops for food and for profit…
      • In the 7^th year – you could not – plow / plant/ weed / or harvest…
      • You could eat what grew naturally – on its own – but you could not sell the produce…
    • 1^st – It gave a chance for the Land to recover – rejuvenate…
      • We know today – that farming depletes the land of its minerals and resources…
      • We compensate for that loss with crop rotation / or with the use of fertilizers…
      • The Sabbath year had much the same purpose – let the Land heal itself…
    • 2^nd – It tested the faith of the people…
      • The obvious concern of the people was what to eat if there was no harvest…
      • God anticipated this very question – ‘and if you say – what shall we eat the 7^th year…”
      • God promised he would ‘command His blessing’ – on the 6^th year…
      • Then the land would produce enough harvest to last till the next harvest!
      • The Word of God often asks things of us that cause us to have faith – trust in the Lord…
      • The test we all have to face – is do we believe – do obey the His Word!
      • James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
    • But Israel never kept the Sabbath year…
      • For the 490 years they were in the Land – Israel never did honor the Sabbath year…
      • So God let Israel be captive in Babylon for 70 years – II Chronicles 36:21
      • Giving the Land the 70 Sabbaths that Israel had failed to give to it!
      • Lesson learned – better to obey and follow the commands of God now than later!
  • 3^rd – The 70 years of captivity – when did it start / stop…
    • It turns out this is a more difficult question to answer than you might think…
      • The common answer is it began in 586 BC with the destruction of Jerusalem / Temple…
      • And ended when Cyrus gave the command in 539 BC to return to Jerusalem…
      • But some quick math will reveal a problem – that is only 48 years – not 70!
    • If we say that the beginning of the 70 years was 586 BC…
      • Which makes sense – because that 3^rd conquest of Nebuchadnezzar devastated Jerusalem…
      • It left the nation barren – with no one to work the land – so it got its rest
      • The end of the 70 years would be 516 BC – which is a relevant date…
      • It lines up with Daniel 9:1 – 70 years ended during the reign of Darius – after 522 BC…
      • It also turns out that 516 BC is the year when the new Temple was dedicated…
      • So the 70 years could be counted from the destruction to the dedication of the Temple…
    • But if we say the 70 years came to an end with the fall of Babylon – 539 BC…
      • Which lines up with Ezra 1:1 – with the command of Cyrus to send the exiles home…
      • We back up 70 years and come to 609 BC – which is also a relevant date…
      • That was the year of the 1^st conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar…
      • The same year when the prophet Daniel was taken captive to Babylon – Daniel 1:1
    • We know the 70 years started with the exile of the Jews from Jerusalem to Babylon…
      • We know it ended with the return of the Jews from that exile…
      • The problem is there are multiple exiles / and multiple returns…
      • It turns out the Bible does not give a clear answer – we do not know for sure!
  • 4^th – Believing the Word of God…
    • * Daniel 9:1-3 – “In the first year of Darius… I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
    • Daniel read the prophecy of Jeremiah – and understood its fulfillment was coming soon…
    • His response was to ‘set his face towards God – and pray’!
    • Because although he did not know the day or the hour – he wanted to be ready!
    • We read our Bibles – and we see the prophecies coming true – Jesus is coming soon…
    • The question is do we believe – do we respond like Daniel and go to our knees to get ready!
    • Cause when we least expect it – Jesus will come like thief in the night – I Thessalonians 5:2
    • And if we are not ready – if we miss it – then we will be left behind…
    • We need to be ready – because although no man knows the day and the hour – Mark 13:32
    • We know we are the last generation – Jesus will come in our lifetime…
    • So lets get ready – live every day knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!
    • Luke 21:28 – “Stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!”

• 2^nd – The command of Cyrus… vs. 2-11 Read: Ezra 1:2-11
  • 1^st – In the first year of King Cyrus the Persia… vs. 2-4
    • Cyrus issued a decree to all the kingdoms of the earth – he ruled over them all…
      • All Jews wherever they were – return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of Yahweh…
      • And that everyone should help by donating to silver / gold / livestock to help the effort!
      • Certainly a very generous gesture – but why would a pagan king want to help the Jews
    • When Cyrus conquered Babylon – killed Belshazzar – Daniel 5:30…
      • He took the city without a fight – by redirecting the river flowing into the city…
      • It took 3 days for many of those who lived in the city to learn it had fallen!
      • Daniel – then an old man – walked up and showed Cyrus a Bible verse…
      • One the Prophet Isaiah written some 150 years before Cyrus was even born!
      • Isaiah 45:1 – “This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one… Their fortress gates will be opened, never again to shut against him.” 
    • Cyrus was understandably impressed – what did the God of Israel want…
      • Isaiah 44:28 – “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’”
      • God gave specific instructions to Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple!
      • I do not know about you – but I would love to get that kind of instruction from the Word…
      • Open my Bible – ‘David I want you to go to this place / then do this when you get there!’
      • But if you are like me – that is not how God speaks – we rarely get that kind of direction
      • Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
      • If you are holding a flashlight you shine it way out in front so you can see far…
      • But the Word of God is a lamp to our feet – it only shows the next step…
      • Only when we take that step – we can then see the next step to take!
      • If we knew exactly where we were going / what to do – it would not take faith!
      • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
  • 2^nd – Responding to the Spirit… vs. 5
    • The heads of the houses of Judah / Benjamin / Priests / and Levites rose up…
      • These represented the leadership of Southern Kingdom – the House of David…
        • After the reign of Solomon – Israel divided into two nations – Northern and Southern…
        • The Southern 2 tribes – Judah and Benjamin – became known as Judah…
        • They were the only ones who returned from exile to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem!
      • The Northern 10 tribes – know as Samaria after their capitol city…
        • Were conquered before the Southern Kingdom by Assyria in 722 B.C – II Kings 17:23
        • The Assyrians took the Israelites and scattered them to other conquered countries…
        • Then took captives from other countries and placed them in Israel…
        • Assyria allowed some of the Israelites to return to teach the people about God…
        • This mixed people/religion – became the ‘Samaritans’ of the New Testament…
      • These groups – Judah and Samaria – would quickly butt heads upon the return of the exiles!
    • Also returning were those whose spirit God had moved…
      • No one was forced to leave their homes and return to Jerusalem…
      • It was not an easy choice – leave all that you know – to go to a place you have never seen…
      • The journey would not be easy – it was 900 miles from Babylon to Jerusalem…
      • So the only ones who went – were the ones whose spirit God had ‘woken up’!
      • The world around us is asleep – oblivious to the hope God has made available to them…
      • All they see is what the world has to offer – momentary pleasure / fleeting happiness…
      • They look at us like we are crazy to walk away from this life – to follow after Jesus…
      • They argue we are giving up so much – for the hope of something we have never seen…
      • But when we choose to believe God – He wakes up our spirit – ‘born again’ – John 3:3
      • And we realize nothing in this world – can compare to what God has waiting for us!
      • Romans 13:11 – “Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
  • 3^rd – Providing for the need… vs. 6-11
    • The Jews who returned did not go empty handed…
      • All those around them encouraged them by giving them gifts…
      • Even King Cyrus opened the treasuries and gave the Jews the relics from the 1^st temple!
      • He gave them to Sheshbazzar – thought to be the Babylonian name for Zerubbabel…
    • The encouragement being – God takes care of all our needs as we step out to follow Him!
      • Those who do not know Jesus have every reason to worry and be afraid in life…
      • They are not looking to or trusting in the Lord – they are not the children of God…
      • But we should not worry – because our Father in heaven knows what we need…
      • And He promises to give us food / clothing – all they we require…
      • In fact God wants to give us His whole kingdom – Luke 12:32
      • Since He desires to give us EVERYTHING – what do we have to worry about!

Preparing ourselves for the day when we will get to go HOME!

2^nd – Counting the people… vs. 1-70 Read: Ezra 2:1 / 64-65 / 70

1^st – The list of the captives returning from exile under Zerubbabel… vs. 1-69

This is the first of 2 identical lists of returning exiles – the 2^nd is in Nehemiah 7:6-69

The list is broken down into 5 categories:

Vs. 1-35 – give us the exiles returning from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin…

Vs. 36-39 – the line of the Priests / vs. 40-54 – the line of the Levites…

Vs. 55-58 – the descendants of the servants of Solomon…

Vs. 59-63 – those who could not confirm their priestly genealogy…

Forbidden by the Tirshatha from eating Holy food – first consult the Urim & Thummim

The discrepancy in numbers…

If you add everyone who returned in the list in Ezra – 29,818 people

If you add everyone who returned in the list in Nehemiah – 31, 089 people

But Ezra mentions 494 persons omitted by Nehemiah…

And Nehemiah also mentions 1765 not noticed by Ezra…

If you add those in – both lists come to the same number of people – 31,583

But we are told that 42,360 returned from exile – 10,777 more than are listed…

Those 10,777 are not listen cause they were not from Judah / Benjamin / Priests / Levites

So the Priests / Levites / and people dwelt in the Land…

Including the Nethinim – servants of the Temple – descendants of the Gibeonites – Joshua 9

But note – in all only 50,000 Jews returned to Israel from the captivity…

42,360 plus 7,337 male and female singers listed in vs. 65…

Meaning the majority of the Jews stayed in exile – because they it had become comfortable!

While we are here waiting to go home – it is easy for us to get comfortable…

Far too often we get way to attached to things in this life and forget…

We are not home yet – our home is a place we have yet to see – our home is heaven…

We need to remember to keep a light touch on things here…

That is why it is important we take the time to strengthen our relationship with God…

Spending time with Jesus through His Word – and through prayer…