Ezra
Ezra Summary
The Book of Ezra was originally combined with the Old Testament Book of Nehemiah in a single book of Ezra-Nehemiah. However, the two books were separated in the early centuries of the Christian era. The subject of the Book of Ezra is the Return to Zion following the close of the Babylonian captivity.
The Book of Ezra tells the story of the first return of exiles to Zion in the first year of Cyrus the Great (538 BCE). The completion and dedication of the new Temple in Jerusalem was also included in Ezra. The book also tells us about Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem, where he struggled to purify the Jews from the sin of marriage with non-Jews.
Although the Book of Ezra may seem like a confusing part of the Old Testament, especially since scholars have discussed its relevance, timeline and accuracy, it is still an important part of the Christian Old Testament. Read more about the Book of Ezra using GodVine’s free online Bible!