Ezra 1:1
Survey of the Old Testament:
We will spend a few weeks studying an Old Testament event. To help
set the background, I found and re-produced a timeline of the Old
Testament. (C:\Users\Carl\Pictures\Clip Art4\OldTestTimeLine.jpg)
The timeline has the Old Testament divided into 8 periods. It lists
the approximate time when each period started and stopped (all are
BC), and the books of the Bible that were written during that time
period.
The time periods that we will be studying are the last three,
mentioning slightly Period of the Kings, the Babylonian Exile, and
look at two books which cover the Post Exile time period, Ezra and
Nehemiah.
Review of the Kings:
Most know that the Period of the Kings eventually got started on a
good note.
The first king was Saul, who himself was not a faithful king to the
Lord but overall did the kingdom much good. He helped to establish
Israel’s independence and created a reasonably strong military force.
Then came King David, who established Israel to heights in all realms
which they have never seen since. Both he and Israel were strong in
the Lord and strong in military might. Under David, Israel’s borders
reached further than they ever had. The kingdom prospered greatly
and eventually enjoyed peace.
But after David, the kingdom deteriorated. Solomon, David’s son,
even though blessed with more wisdom than any other human has ever
had, failed to use it and chose to sin against God. He introduced
false worship into Israel, build temples to false gods, and greatly
offended Jehovah. As a result, during Solomon’s son reign, Jeroboam,
God split the kingdom into two, Israel and Judah, the north and the
south. As time progressed, both of these kingdoms continued to
increasingly sin against God, until God gave them into the hands of
their enemies.
In 722 BC, God gave Israel, the northern kingdom, to the Assyrians.
In 586, God gave Judah, the southern kingdom, to the Babylonians.
There are six historical books which all tell the same basic story
but with greatly different details that you should read. (1 and 2
Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles)
Scripture about the Southern Kingdom’s fall:
Let’s read some Scriptures that prophecy the fall of the Southern
Kingdom
A. \\#Jer 25:8-14\\. Notice the details given:
1. \\#Jer 25:8\\ We are told WHY this is to happen.
2. \\#Jer 25:9-11\\ We are given the details of WHAT will happen.
3. \\#Jer 25:8\\ We told WHO will do this.
4. \\#Jer 28:11\\ We are told HOW LONG this will continue.
5. On the timeline, notice that Jeremiah was written during this
time.
a. His prophecy was not a long time before the event
happened, but this message was prophecy.
b. Other writers also prophesied the fall of the Southern
Kingdom but Jeremiah gave a more details and he was
very concise—as this passage demonstrates.
c. Jeremiah actually lived and prophesied straight through
the fall of the Southern Kingdom.
d. Ezekiel probably did too except he was much younger than
Jeremiah.
e. Daniel would have been about the same age as Ezekiel but
his ministry started AFTER the kingdom had fallen.
f. All three of these prophets overlapped some, Daniel will
continue to minister and prophecy beyond Jeremiah and
Ezekiel.
B. \\#2Chron 36:11-21\\ The Bible records (in several places) this
being fulfilled.
1. Again, that is a concise record of that happening. Several
other locations give a more detailed account, telling how
many people were taken prisoner, listing the temple items
that were taken to Babylon, and other details.
2. The bottom line is, Israel was conquered, probably 2/3’s or
more of the people were killed, many of those left were
scattered, most of the remainder were rooted out of the
land, taken to Babylon, and kept there for 70 years.
C. \\#2Chron 36:22-23\\ The Bible also prophesied their release.
1. Notice that the writer of this passage is actually quoting
from the prophet Jeremiah.
a. Jeremiah did not prophesy the name of the king who would
bring Israel back into the land but he did prophecy that
Israel would be returned and that after 70 years.
b. Isaiah prophesied the name of the king that would
actually release Israel to return to the land.
2. \\#Isa 44:28-45:4\\
a. Isaiah told us the name of the king that released Israel
would be Cyrus.
(1) Cyrus was not a Babylonian or Israeli king. He was
a Persian king.
(2) The Persians conquered Babylon and Cyrus decided to
let the many nations that Babylon had conquered
go back to the homelands.
b. Whereas Jeremiah was very close to the time these events
happened (70 years), Isaiah was not.
c. I wrote the dates on the timeline for when Isaiah lived
and ministered. When was it? (740-680 BC).
d. When was the degree to release Israel given by Cyrus?
(1) The timelines shows around 516 BC, but there are
different dates.
(2) There were at least four removals from the land of
Israel by the Babylonians and two returns to the
land.
(3) So depending upon when you consider the Jews
removed, the time you might consider they returned
is different.
(4) This chart shows from 586 to 516, 70 years.
e. If we use round numbers, Isaiah prophesied around 700 BC,
150 years before Cyrus would release Israel and at
least 100 years before Cyrus would ever be born!
f. Prophecy—just about more than anything else—PROVES
the Bible.
D. The Seventy Years
1. The Bible is very clear on the number of years that God would
allow the king of Babylon to rule over Israel (70 years).
Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a
desolation, and an astonishment; and these
nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy
years.
12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years
are accomplished, that I will punish the king of
Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for
their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans,
and will make it perpetual desolations.
Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after
seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will
visit you, and perform my good word toward you,
in causing you to return to this place.
2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the
mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her
sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she
kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
2. Note that the prophecies do not specifically say that Israel
would be captive for 70 years as might be inferred by the
the often used term, "the seventy years Babylonian Captivity."
3. What the prophecies do say is…
a. Israel would serve Babylon for seventy years.
b. After the seventy years, God would punish Babylon.
c. Babylon will be a desolation forever.
d. Israel would lay dormant for 70 years.
4. How were these dates fulfilled?
a. The fall of Jerusalem (586) to the rebuilding of the
temple (516). (This would probably be the 70 years that
Israel was desolate.)
b. The fall of Assyria to the Medes and the Babylonians (609)
to the fall of Babylon to the Medes and the Persians
(539). (This would be the punishment of Babylon.)
http://www.bibleworldhistory.com/70Years.htm
c. The first deportation from Israel (608) to the edict to
return and rebuilt was given (538).
https://www.britannica.com/event/Babylonian-Exile
5. As of yet, Babylon has not been left desolate but it will!
E. About the Returns:
1. Ezra was a priest and a scribe \\#Neh 12:26\\ born during the
70 years captivity.
2. He will document the first return of Israel back to the
Promised Land.
a. Ezra 1-6 beginning in 538 BC
b. Zerubbabel was the leader who actually lead the first
group back in 536 BC.
(1) David was Zerubbabel’s great, great, great, great
grandfather. \\#1Chron 3:10-19\\
(2) Zerubbabel was never a king but he was a govern over
the people (under the rule of Persia).
(3) He was a good, godly man.
(4) Zerubbabel is in both Joseph \\#Luke 3:27\\ and
Mary’s lines \\#Matt 1:14\\, called Zorobabel.
c. He was assisted by Joshua, sometimes called Jeshua
\\#Ezra 5:3\\. Joshua was the High Priest of Israel.
\\#Zech 3:1\\
d. These two made a team, uniting the political and
spiritual for Jehovah, and are spoken of in Ezra,
Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah.
e. Because of adversity and perhaps some procrastination on
Israel’s part, it will also take the prophets, Haggai and
Zechariah, to get the work completed.
3. Ezra will lead the second return to Israel. (Ezra 7-10,
458 BC).
a. Ezra’s return is around 80 years after Zerubbabel’s.
b. That generation has died.
c. Ezra will work to reform the people.
4. Then Nehemiah will return to Israel. (444 BC)
a. Nehemiah will come a few years after Ezra.
b. It does not seem that Nehemiah actually lead Jews to
return although he no doubt came with some group of men.
c. Ezra will still be alive when Nehemiah arrives.
F. Chronology of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
http://www.muncherian.com/ChronologyofEzraNehemiahEsther.pdf
Ezra
539-529 - Cyrus, King of Persia
538 - Degree to go and rebuild
536 - Zerubbabel returns
535 - Work on the temple stopped
529-522 - Cambyses or Ahasuerus \\#Ezra 4:6\\ or Artaxerxes
\\#Ezra 11-24\\ stops the building
522 - Guamata or Pseudo-Smerdis
521-486 - Darius 1 or Hystaspes restores decree to build
6th month (September), 1st day - Haggai’s call to build
\\#Ezra 5:1,2; Haggai 1:1-11\\
6th month, 24th day - building begins \\#Haggai 1:13-15\\
7th month (October), 21st day - Haggai’s second appeal
\\#Haggai 2:1-9\\
8th month (November) - Zechariah’s opening address
\\#Zechariah 1:1-6\\
9th month (December), 24th day - Haggai’s third and fourth
appeals \\#Haggai 2:10-23\\
11th month (February), 24th day - Zechariah’s visions
\\#Zechariah 1:7-6:15\\
518 - 9th month (December), 4th day - Zechariah’s visions
\\#Zechariah 7:1-14:21\\
516 - 12th month (March), 3rd day - temple completed \\#Ezra 6:15\\
515 - 1st month (April), 14th - 21st days - Passover
\\#Ezra 6:19-22\\
Esther
486-464 - Xerxes, Esther becomes queen
478-474 - Esther’s deliverance
464-424 - Artaxerxes I or Longimanus was Esther’s step-son
457 - Artaxerxes allowed Ezra to return \\#Ezra 7:1\\.
Note - Ezra returns to establish godly worship 79 years after
Zerubbabel.
Nehemiah
445 - Artaxerxes I allows Nehemiah to return to build the wall
\\#Nehemiah 2:6-8\\.
444 - Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem \\#Nehemiah 2:1\\ - Ezra had been
there 13 years.
Nehemiah will governor for 12 years. \\#Nehemiah 5:14\\
The wall will be built \\#Nehemiah 2:13; 6:15\\
432 - Malachi was a prophet during this time
\\#Nehemiah 13:10,23; Malachi 2:11; 3:8\\
G. Outline: (Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts)
I. \\#Ezra 1:1-2:70\\ The First Return to Israel
II. \\#Ezra 3:1-6:22\\ Construction of the Temple
III. \\#Ezra 7:1-8:36\\ The Second Return to Israel
IV. \\#Ezra 9:1-10:44\\ Restoration of the People
I. \\#Ezra 1:1-2:70\\ The First Return to Israel
A. \\#Ezra 1:1-4\\ The Command to Return
1. \\#1-2\\ In our Bible, these verses follow the writer of
2Chronicles which say the same thing.
a. I say in "our" Bible because in the Hebrew Bible, 1
and 2 Chronicles are the last books.
b. The identical wording means that Ezra might be
the writer of 1 and 2 Chronicles as well.
2. Notice that the Bible is only recording ONE of Cyrus’
proclamations.
a. It recorded the one concerning Israel.
b. The fact that the Bible only recorded one does not
mean there were not more proclamations.
c. In fact, history tells us that Cyrus released many if
not ALL of the nations that Babylon had conquered.
3. \\#2\\ "the LORD God… hath charged me to build him an
house at Jerusalem"
a. Some conclude from this that Cyrus had a personal
relationship with Jehovah, but he likely did the
same thing for all of the nations he released.
b. There is no doubt that God used this man but that does
not in itself prove that Cyrus was a follower of the
God of the Jews.
c. The fact that God uses the ordinary, explainable, and
logical affairs of man in no way negates God’s
miracles.
(1) There are at least two ways God can do a miracle.
(a) God can do something that is outside the
possibilities of man (creation, virgin
birth, resurrection, parting of the Red
Sea).
(b) Or God can announce His intentions in
advance and move natural causes to cause
it to happen (return of Israel from
Babylon, Cyrus being the king that does it,
the death and burial of Jesus, the fall of
Israel).
(2) Either way, God is proving that He is the One who
is in control.
4. \\#3-4\\ The Decree
a. \\#3\\ Whoever wants to go can go.
b. They are to build a house for God in Jerusalem.
c. \\#4\\ Whoever wants to stay can stay, but let him
help by giving "silver… gold… goods… beasts… and
a freewill offering"
(1) Obviously, some did not return.
(2) It is hard to imagine that all of the Jews would
not want to go back to Israel, to their
customs and God but many did not.
Extra Thoughts - With this command, preparation are begun for the
Jews who desired to return to the land of Israel. Reading of those
who return causes me to wonder, "How many were taken?" Let’s spend
a few moments considering it.
1. \\#Jer 52:28-30\\ listed three deportations.
a. Seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign - 3023
b. Eighteenth year - 832
c. Twenty-third year - 745 for a total of 4,600.
2. \\#2Kings 24:14-16\\ adds another figure, a deportation
only from the city of Jerusalem during the eight year of the
king’s reign.
a. \\#2Kings 24:14\\ The men of valour in just one
deportation was 10,000. The word "valour" apparently
meant to imply that these enjoyed a higher standard of
living as opposed to "the poorest sort of the people of
the land."
b. \\#2Kings 24:16\\ The men of might (war) were 7,000 of
that total while craftsmen and smiths were 1,000. No
details of the occupation of the other 2,000 was given.
c. Some want to say these the 7th year deportation
\\#Jer 52:28\\ and 8th year deportation
\\#2Kings 24:16\\ were the same deportation.
(1) Doing so creates a contradiction in the Bible since
neither the time nor the total of prisoners taken
agree.
(2) It is far more logical to simply agree with the
Bible and see two deportations over a short period
of time, the first occurring toward the end of the
seventh year while the other occurred at the
beginning of the eighth.
(3) The Bible alludes to the fact that there may have
been even more uncounted numbers of people who were
taken by Nebuzaradan
\\#Jer 39:9, 52:15, 2Kings 25:11\\.
(4) Are these part of the groups already counted or
separate groups? We do not know but it seems they
were separate and not part of those counted groups.
d. As to calculating the number of Jews deported, at the very
least we need to add the four sets of figures we have,
giving us a total of 14,600.
(1) Considering other references of captives which were
not counted, this would be the least number of
captives possible.
(2) Most agree women and children were not counted and
there is no way of knowing how many might have been
taken. Since the Jews continued to grow and have
families, a good number of woman had to be taken,
perhaps entire families were taken.
(3) So the number taken may have been much greater than
14,600, likely no fewer than 25,000 and perhaps
80,000 or more.
B. \\#1:5-11\\ Preparations for the Journey
1. \\#5-6\\ Ezra told how the command was fulfilled.
a. \\#5\\ First by those who return. Notice that those
returning are divided into two groups.
(1) "the fathers of Judah and Benjamin (southern
kingdom), and the priests, and the Levites"
Ezra was a priest. His primary concern will be
to record the lines of those of the tribe of
Judah for the purposes of preserving the line of
priests. In chapter 2, he will record names and
families of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin that
returned, but only of those two tribes. The
remainder will be referred to but not
specifically mentioned.
(2) "with all them whose spirit God had raised up"
Here we have others who returned, most likely
remnants from the other ten tribes who had
migrated into the Southern Kingdom. Their names
will not be given because they are not in the
line of Messiah or the priesthood, but they were
there and will be counted in the numbers.
b. \\#6\\ Then those who stayed behind. These did just as
Cyrus command and "strengthened their hands with
vessels of silver, gold…."
2. \\#7-11\\ Cyrus also returned what Nebuchadnezzar took.
a. Nebuchadnezzar took many things during the fall of
Jerusalem \\#2Kings 24:13, 25:13-17\\, 2Chron 36:7\\
\\#2Chron 36:18, Jer 52:17-23\\.
b. He took other items during his earlier raids
\\#Jer 27:18-19\\. Notice the references to the
"vessels which are left," implying some had already
been taken.
c. Some of these items were wickedly used during the 70
years of captivity \\#Dan 5:2-3\\.
d. But God promised to bring at least the things taken at
the fall of Jerusalem back.
Jer 27:21 Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the
God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain
in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the
king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there
shall they be until the day that I visit them,
saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and
restore them to this place.
e. Cyrus fulfilled that prophecy as well.
f. The details of what was brought back is given.
g. \\#8\\ "Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah" - The
identity of this man is not certain.
(1) Some say it was Daniel but that does not seem
likely since the charge of these items was being
placed into his care so that he might get them
to Jerusalem. Daniel did not return to
Jerusalem.
(2) Most likely, this is a reference to Zerubbabel.
(3) \\#Ezra 5:16\\\ refers to Sheshbezzar again as
having accomplished that part of his charge.
Ezra 6:16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and
laid the foundation of the house of God which is
in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now
hath it been in building, and yet it is not
finished.
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