Ezranehemiah is a book in the hebrew bible found in the ketuvim section, originally. The book of ezra was originally combined with the book of nehemiah and served as a continuation of first and second chronicles. The book of ezra the name ezra meaning help therefore is the sequence to the chronicles in regard to history and in regard to contents. Introduction to the book of ezra background of the book theme ezra and nehemiah give the historical accounts of the return of the jews from babylonian captivity. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Most of the families who returned from exile were originally from judah. In fact, ezra and nehemiah were originally regarded as one book by ancient jewish and early christian scribes. Through his narrative, ezra declared that they were still gods people and that god had not forgotten them. In english bibles, they are usually split into two, with the book of nehemiah appearing as a separate book from ezra, but in the hebrew tradition, they are one book, entitled ezra, and nehemiah is simply the second part of ezra. Ezra and nehemiah are challenging books for contemporary readers. Ezra character bible study background and lessons name. Ezra and nehemiah the new international commentary on the old. The history of this book is the accomplishment of jeremiahs prophecy concerning the return of the jews out of babylon.
Commentaries for the book of ezra the proclamation of cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple. The book of ezra provides an account of the jews regathering, of their struggle to survive and to rebuild what had been destroyed. Top 5 commentaries on the books of ezra and nehemiah. The book of ezra provides an account of the return of two groups of jews from babylon to jerusalem, where they rebuilt the temple and their community. The last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order. Commentary on the book of ezra matthew henrys bible commentary. Ezra 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. God gave jacob the name israel when he promised to make jacobs descendants gods special people genesis 32. The book of ezra commentary f b hole what the bible teaches a very brief commentary with some useful spiritual applications, which sees the return at the commencement of ezra as a picture of the sixteenth century reformation, and the evils at the end of the book as typical of the union of church and state which did so much harm to the true testimony in later centuries. Even though ezra s name does not enter the account of judahs postexilic return to jerusalem until 7.
Commentary on the book of ezra by matthew henry old. Originally written together as a single book in the jewish scriptures, ezra and nehemiah document the fulfillment of gods promise that israel will return home. Ezra commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Books of ezra and nehemiah, two old testament books that together with the books of chronicles formed a single history of israel from the time of adam. The books of ezra and nehemiah tell a vital story of a community revived and restored by gods grace through gifted individualspreparing the way for the coming messiah. From its contents we especially learn, that every good work will meet with opposition from enemies, and be hurt by the misconduct of friends. The oldest manuscripts of the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot also treat ezra and nehemiah as one book. Buy ezra and nehemiah the new international commentary on the old testament by f.
Life after destruction goes on in ezra and nehemiah. Ezra the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Ezra 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Ezra s purpose was to accurately record the events of the return from the babylonian exile, after a seventy. Ezra records the events relating to the first two groups, and discusses especially the rebuilding of the temple. The book of ezra is the historical record of gods people returning to jerusalem after the. Ezra, as a priest, was unable to serve during the captivity. This is because both jewish and christian tradition attribute authorship to this famous scribepriest. Read ezra commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah, darius i, artaxerxes i, and zerubbabel. And yet in between these two books lies the babylonian captivity, which lasted 70 years compare jeremiah 25.
The book of ezra covers the return from captivity to rebuild the temple up to the decree of artaxerxes, the event covered at the beginning of the book of nehemiah. Cyrus made a decree giving the jewish exiles in his empire the right to return to jerusalem and rebuild the temple in 538 b. The greater part of this book, though it bears the name of ezra, tells of the pioneers who came back from exile to jerusalem a whole lifetime before him. He is one of the characters who has not received proper recognition. However, sometimes ezra calls them the people of israel. A chapter by chapter and verse by verse study of ezra taught by pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario, oregon. Chapters 16 deal with the initial return of a remnant from babylon under the leadership of zerubbabel in 538 b. Books of ezra and nehemiah old testament britannica.
Ezra also called ezra the scribe and ezra the priest in the book of ezra, was a jewish scribe sofer and priest kohen. The best commentaries for those seeking to understand these books are the commentaries by fensham and williamson below. Author the inspired author is generally believed to be ezra. This summary of the book of ezra provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the. The books of ezra and nehemiah new international commentary on the old testament charles fensham on. Book of ezra overview insight for living ministries. The books of ezra and nehemiah are the only completely historical books in the third section of the hebrew bible, the ketuvim writings. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. The books of ezra and nehemiah new international commentary on the old testament. You can find the best commentary on ezra nehemiah for you using the tools on the right side. The book of ezra the last four books of the hebrew canon are ezra, nehemiah, and 1 and 2 chronicles, in that order.
Ezra 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The first return and rebuilding under zerubbabel chaps. Ezra gathered the people of jerusalem and read before the assembly the book of the law of moses which the lord prescribed for israel nehemiah 8. Haggai was the main prophet in the day of ezra, and zechariah was the prophet in the day of nehemiah. The jews of later days were inclined to attribute to the influence of ezra every religious development between the days of nehemiah and the maccabees. Ezra 9 new international version niv ezra s prayer about intermarriage. In his practical and devotional expository commentary, pastortheologian derek w.
Watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each books flow of thought. And he was a ready scribe in the law of moses he is called a scribe, as buxtorf observes in his tiberias, not from writing and describing, but from declaring and explicating those things that are contained in the scripture. Ezra 9 ezras prayer about intermarriage bible gateway. Thomas shows what this gripping narrative can teach us about kingdom life in our own time. This ezra went up from babylon with the kings consent and commission.
Charles fensham the books of ezra and nehemiah new international commentary on the old testament, 1983. The book of 2 chronicles ended with an official message that king cyrus of persia sent in 538 b. Ezra overview james burton coffman commentaries on the bible. New testament writers do not quote the book of ezra. At one time, however, ezra and nehemiah followed 1 and 2 chronicles and were generally considered to be the work of one and the same author known as the chronicler. All the events described in ezra and nehemiah took place during the first half of the period of the persian empire, which lasted from 539 b. The first part of the book of ezra 16 begins with that same message and then tells how many of the jews returned to jerusalem and began work on the temple. He was a descendant of hilkiah, the high priest ezra 7. The book of ezra is part of the historical books of the bible. The story of the israelites second return from babylon takes place in about 458 bc. Watch our overview video on the prophetic books of ezra and nehemiah, which breaks down the literary design of each book s flow of thought. When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, the people of israel and the priests and the levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the canaanites, the hittites, the perizzites, the jebusites, the.
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