the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Grant's Commentary on the Bible Grant's Commentary
Cyrus's Decree; Exiles Return to Jerusalem.Chapter 2
List of Returning Exiles From Babylon.Chapter 3
Rebuilding the Altar and Temple Foundation.Chapter 4
Opposition to Rebuilding; Work Halted Temporarily.Chapter 5
Prophets Encourage Rebuilding; Investigation by Persian Officials.Chapter 6
Temple Completed; Dedication and Passover Celebrated.Chapter 7
Ezra's Mission to Teach God's Law.Chapter 8
Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem; Offerings for the Temple.Chapter 9
Ezra's Prayer of Confession for Intermarriage.Chapter 10
Repentance and Reform Regarding Foreign Marriages.
- Ezra
by L.M. Grant
The first words of Ezra, whose name means "help", are identical to those ending the book of 2 Chronicles, thus emphasizing the continuity of the history. It was seventy years after the captivity that Cyrus made his decree that the temple at Jerusalem was to be rebuilt. Ezra was a scribe who records the history of the rebuilding, though he was not among the first captives to return to Jerusalem. This return was led by Zerubbabel (ch 1:2), whose name means "melted by Babylon," and it was some years later that Ezra led another group (ch. 7:6), during the reign of Artaxerxes. It was also during this reign that Nehemiah came to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1). Ezra's ministry was connected with the house of God, while Nehemiah's activity was centered on the building of the wall.
