LESSON 10 EZRA 7 : 1 – 8 : 36
Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the L ord , the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the L ord his God was on him. —Ezra 7:6
Let’s pause and recall our timeline for Ezra chapters 1-6.
• 538 BC King Cyrus supported the return of the first wave of exiles—almost 50,000—back to the promised land with Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel. • 537 BC Altar built under Jeshua and Zerubbabel. • 536 BC Temple rebuilding begins under Jeshua and Zerubbabel. • 534 BC Temple work stopped. • 520 BC Temple building resumes under King Darius. • 516 BC Temple completed; sacrifices instituted, and Feast of Booths celebrated.
Ezra chapter 7 (Fast-forward approximately 58 years.)
• 458 BC King Artaxerxes supports the return of the second wave of exiles— almost 2,000 (5,000 with women and children)—back to the promised land with Ezra. The Jewish remnant continued to struggle in their work of rebuilding Jerusalem. God raised Ezra to lead a second group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem. In addition to financial and moral support, this group provided much needed spiritual support to the remnant. 30 Another ironic reversal occurred with Artaxerxes: The Jews had once faced serious opposition from him, but then they received his full support for the “good hand of their God” was upon them.
READ THE WORD Pray. Take a moment to pray, asking the Lord to prepare your heart and teach you.
Ezra 7:1–8:36 7 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6
30 Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament History , (United States: Cook Communications Ministries, 2003,) 616.
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