Smoodock's Blog

The Book of Ezra covers about forty-nine years, and is fulfilled in the first seven weeks of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:25). The beginning of the book chronicles the troublous times of Daniel 9:25. Nevertheless, the hero of the book, Ezra, the priest, the scribe, doesn’t arrive on the scene until chapter seven of the book, which is the forty-ninth and final year of the first segment of Daniel’s prophecy! So, Ezra journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem during the seventh year of the reign of Xerxes, king of Persia. At this point, Ezra either learns of the apostasy of the Jews in the land of Judah for the first time, or he learns of the extent to which the apostasy had come over the Jews in the land. Long-story-sort, Ezra initiates a program whereby all Jews, who are guilty of apostasy must repent of their wickedness or face banishment from Jewish society (excommunication) and confiscation of their property. This program took about eight months to implement, or from the first day of the fifth month, when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem to the first day of the first month of the following year. This is a study of those times.

1. 1. Introduction to the Book of Ezra
   2. Restore and Rebuild Jerusalem
   3. The Proclamation of Cyrus                                                                    Chapter One
   4. The Second Exodus to the Promised Land
   5. The Exiles Return                                                                                       Chapter Two
   6. Two Generations of Priests
   7. Till a Priest Stood up with Urim and Thurmmim
   8. The Going Forth of the Command…                                                  Chapter Three
   9. Rebuilding the Altar of God
   10. Rebuilding the Temple of God
   11. Enemies Oppose Rebuilding the Temple                                         Chapter Four
   12. The Letter to Artaxerxes
   13. Artaxerxes Orders a Halt to the Work
   14. Building the Temple of God Resumes                                                Chapter Five
   15. Tatnai’s Question to Zerubbabel
   16. Tatnai’s Letter to King Darius
   17. The Search of the King’s Records                                                          Chapter Six
   18. The Decree of Darius
   19. The Temple is Finished and Dedicated
   20. The Jews Devoted Themselves to the Lord
   21. Ezra’s Pedigree and Importance                                                            Chapter Seven
   22. The Decree of Artaxerxes
   23. Ezra Gives Thanks to God
   24. The Chief Men Who Returned with Ezra                                           Chapter Eight
   25. Recruiting the Levites for the Return
   26. Fasting and Prayer for Protection
   27. Preparations Made Prior to Departure
   28. Ezra’s Arrival at Jerusalem
   29. News of the Apostasy!                                                                                Chapter Nine
   30. Ezra’s Prayer and the Grace of God
   31. The Tendency Toward Rebellion
   32. Shecaniah Encourages Ezra                                                                     Chapter Ten
   33. Assembling the People Before Ezra
   34. The Call for Repentance and the Response
   35. Those Guilty of Intermarriage