Background for Ezra
August 15, 2010 by Tom Brunson
Ezra can be a difficult book to follow, as it covers some 92 years of history, including two returns of the exiled Hebrew people from Babylon, and has a 38-year gap in time in the middle of the book. The book is titled Ezra after the probably author, and Ezra is very significant in the second half of the book. However, the first six chapters cover events of the first allowed return to Jerusalem decreed by king Cyrus, under the leadership of Zerubbabel. These events took place during approximately 538 to 515 BC. The temple was completed in 515 BC. Cyrus declared (Ezra 1:2-3) that "whoever" among the Jews that wished to go back to Jerusalem could do so; yet only about 50,000 decided to return. This is amazing, because God had declared that this return would happen, and that they should return to Him with all their hearts. Two of God's prophets had prepared the people...
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