The Book

of Ezra
By: Mharjurie De Vera
Lindcy Mae Ferrer
 Intro:
Means "help" in Hebrew. Ezra is a
prophet of the Old Testament and the
author of the Book of Ezra.
Hebrew Name - Etzra "Ezra"
Greek Name - Esdras (Greek form of
the Hebrew)
Author - Ezra (According to
Tradition)
Date - From 536-456 BC Approximately
Theme of Ezra - The return from the
captivity
 Who is Ezra?
Ezra was both a priest and a
scribe and he had a single
purpose, to purify the worship
of the Lord among the Hebrews
based on the law of Moses. The
Jews have regarded Ezra as the
second greatest hero in the
history of Israel, after Moses.
Ezra’s purpose was to accurately
record the events of the return
from the Babylonian exile, after
a seventy-year period and the
events that surround the
rebuilding of the temple in
Jerusalem. God is faithful in
fulfilling His promises and so
the Jews return to Jerusalem
from their exile in Babylon.
The Book of Ezra Summary
In Chapters 1-6, a
relatively small number of
Jews return to the city of
Jerusalem and immediately
prepare to construct the new
temple. They began the
planning, the gathering of
materials, and the beginning
of construction.
The building drags on
because the surrounding
enemies begin oppressing
and frightening them.
Twenty years later, it is
completed.
“The sons of Israel who
returned from exile and all
those who had separated
themselves from the impurity
of the nations of the land
to join them, to seek the
LORD God of Israel, ate the
Passover.
And they observed the Feast of
Unleavened Bread seven days with
joy, for the LORD had caused
them to rejoice, and had turned
the heart of the king of Assyria
toward them to encourage them in
the work of the house of God,
the God of Israel” (6:21-22).
 From chapters 7-10, the
second group of Jews returns
to Israel. Ezra is included
in this return. He teaches
the Law, but has problems
with intermarriage and
addresses the pagan women
who brought their religious
practices with them.
“For Ezra had set his heart
to study the law of the LORD
and to practice it, and to
teach His statutes and
ordinances in
Israel” (7:10), what a great
example to follow!
 Key
Verses:
Ezra 3:11 “With praise and
thanksgiving they sang to the
LORD: ‘He is good; his love to
Israel endures forever.’ And all
the people gave a great shout of
praise to the LORD, because the
foundation of the house of the
LORD was laid.”
Ezra 7:6, "…this Ezra came up
from Babylon. He was a teacher
well versed in the Law of Moses,
which the LORD, the God of
Israel, had given. The king had
granted him everything he asked,
for the hand of the LORD his God
was on him."
Lesson
Learned
The Book of Ezra is a chronicle
of hope and restoration. For the
Christian whose life is scarred
by sin and rebellion against
God, there is great hope that
ours is a God of forgiveness, a
God who will not turn His back
on us when we seek Him in
repentance and brokenness (1 John
1:9).
The return of the Israelites to
Jerusalem and the rebuilding of
the Temple are repeated in the
life of every Christian who
returns from the captivity of
sin and rebellion against God
and finds in Him a loving
welcome home.
No matter how long we have been
away, He is ready to forgive us
and receive us back into His
family. He is willing to show us
how to rebuild our lives and
resurrect our hearts, wherein is
the temple of the Holy Spirit.
As with the rebuilding of
the temple in Jerusalem, God
superintends the work of
renovating and rededicating
our lives to His service.