Ezra 1 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Ezra 1 Short Summary:
Ezra picks up where the Book of 2 Chronicles leaves off. At the end of 2 Chronicles, Jerusalem was destroyed, the Temple was demolished, and the people of Judah were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Several decades later, the Babylonians were conquered by the Persians. The new Persian king, Cyrus, made a decree freeing the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Ezra 1 documents the decree of Cyrus and the support he gave to the families of Judah to expedite the Temple project.
Ezra 1 Summary
WHEN:
The Book of Ezra picks up where 2 Chronicles ends.
The people of Judah became so wicked, that God permitted the Babylonian Empire to conquer Jerusalem and destroy the city, including the Temple.
The people of Judah were punished with 70 years of captivity in Babylon (607-537 BC).
When the 70 years were completed, God permitted the Persian Empire to conquer the Babylonians.
Cyrus, the Persian king, was directed by God to release the people of Judah to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the Temple (537 BC).
KEY CHARACTERS:
Cyrus the Great – King of Persia. He conquered the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC.
Captives of Judah – The nation of Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians beginning in 607 BC. They lived in the lands of the Kingdom of Babylon until they were released by Cyrus.
Sheshbazzar – When Cyrus released the Jews from captivity, Sheshbazzar was appointed governor. He led the exiled people of Judah out of Mesopotamia and back Jerusalem. Some believe he had a second name, Zerubbabel (2:2), but others conclude Zerubbabel was another man altogether.
WHERE:
Jerusalem – The capital of the Kingdom of Judah and the location of God’s Temple.
Babylon – The capital of the Babylonian Empire. It was conquered by Cyrus King of Persia in 539 BC.
A journey from Babylon to Jerusalem would be approximately 900 miles (1450 km). The journey followed the rivers northwest before turning south to Judah.
OUTLINE:
THE DECREE OF CYRUS AND THE END OF JUDAH’S 70-YEAR CAPTIVITY (1:1-11):
During the first year of Cyrus King of Persia, God put it in Cyrus’ heart to make a decree, a decree that had been prophesied about by the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah (Jer 25:8-13; Jer 29:10-14; Isa 44:28-45:5).
Cyrus announced that the people of Judah were freed from their captivity, which had been inflicted on them by the Babylonians. Any who wished were permitted to return home to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem (it had been destroyed by the Babylonians, 586 BC).
Additionally, he ordered the citizens of his empire to assist any man of Judah who wanted to return with money, provisions, animals, and gifts for the new Temple.
The decree was received positively and men from the families of Judah, Benjamin, Levi, and others prepared to travel to Jerusalem.
Their neighbors helped them, gifting them, “vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares” (1:6).
When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, he took the precious things in the Temple and relocated them to the temples of his idols (2 Chr 36:18). Cyrus rededicated these precious things to the new Temple project and gave them to the caravan that was headed back to Jerusalem.
The treasurer of Persia accounted for all the precious vessels given to the men of Judah. The total was 5,400, which included, “30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 30 bowls of gold, and 410 bowls of silver” (1:9-10).
The man in charge of this first wave of exile returnees was Sheshbazzar, who is referred to as the “prince of Judah.” Ezra 5:14 calls him the governor. He was appointed to his role by Cyrus (5:14).
APPLICATION:
Ezra 1 contains the fulfillment of a prophecy that should not be overlooked, because it is one of the clearest and most obvious evidences that the Bible writers were inspired by God.
The prophet Isaiah, who wrote around 200 years before these events and prophesied 2 incredible things. First, that the Medes and Persians would conquer the Babylonians (Isaiah 13:17-19; see also Daniel 5:28). Second, that the man who God would use to conquer Babylon and rebuild Jerusalem would be named Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5).
Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4 - Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the Temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know Me.”
Though Cyrus did not know God when this prophecy was spoken (because he wouldn’t be born for another 150 years) God knew Cyrus and identified him by name through His prophet Isaiah.
There is no way to dismiss this prophecy as anything but divinely inspired, especially considering Cyrus’ name and reign are well documented by non-biblical historical sources.
