May 8, 2025
The Second Temple in Jerusalem (thanks Zerubbabel)
Ezra 1-3
Jessica Bishop
Big Book Idea
The people start to return home, and Ezra set his heart to study, do, and teach the law.
Key Verse | Ezra 1:1-4
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."
Ezra 1-3
Chapter 1
The Proclamation of Cyrus
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
The Exiles Return
1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.
40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.
59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics 1 2:69 A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams of gold, 5,000 minas 2 2:69 A mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram of silver, and 100 priests' garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel 3 2:70 Hebrew all Israel in their towns.
Chapter 3
Rebuilding the Altar
1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
Rebuilding the Temple
8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the LORD. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD,
“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ezra
Timeline
Author and Date
The book of Ezra never declares its author, and the book’s contents make it difficult to determine when it was written. Ezra 1–6 recounts events that occurred long before Ezra’s time. Ezra 7:27–9:15 clearly comes from Ezra’s own hand, since it is written in the first person. Ezra 7:1–26 and 10:1–44 describe events in Ezra’s time, but are written in the third person. It is possible Ezra may have combined the other materials with his autobiographical writings to form the book. Or, a later historian may have collected all the portions to describe Israelite history from c. 538–433 B.C. Many scholars believe that the same author wrote Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1–2 Chronicles. In ancient times, Ezra and Nehemiah were counted as one book. The events narrated in Ezra–Nehemiah occur over a century: Ezra 1–6 covers 538–515 B.C.; Ezra 7–Nehemiah 13 covers 458–433 B.C.
Theme
The theme of Ezra is faithfulness to the Lord, both in keeping the Mosaic law (7:6) and in worship. Because of his concern about worship, Ezra stresses the importance of rebuilding the temple.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
As the people return from exile in Babylon to the Promised Land, they are under threat from the non-Jews living there. Having been driven from the land previously because of their sin, they also need to learn once again how to live in covenant with God. The land must be restored through the physical presence of God’s people, and the people must revive a spiritual commitment to serve God alone. As the temple is rebuilt and more exiles come back to the land, the people start to reestablish the nation that God had promised Abraham. As the priests return and begin to teach the people how to love God and live according to his ways, the people recommit themselves to the Lord.
The book of Ezra encourages the postexilic community toward pure worship and holy behavior. Ezra calls the people back to covenant loyalty and obedience to the Mosaic law. The book rejoices in God’s provision in returning them to the land, rebuilding the temple, and calling his people back to himself. The book also warns against falling away again through sin and against serving other gods. The remnant of Israel should persevere in hope, repent in humility, and live in obedience.
Key Themes
- The Lord is faithful to his promises, and his mercy is greater than his anger (9:13).
- The Lord works providentially by all means, especially through powerful rulers, to bring about his greater purposes (e.g., 6:22).
- The exiles are the remnant of Israel, the “holy race” (9:2, 8). They are bound by covenant to guard their identity and character as the people of the Lord by obeying his law.
- People belong to the Lord by willingly accepting his covenant. Membership in the covenant community is open to the people of any nation who meet this requirement (6:21).
- Faithfulness to the Lord is demonstrated by proper attention to worship. In Ezra, this is shown especially in the rebuilding of the temple and in the proper ordering of its services. The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, and other temple servants once again perform their duties (2:36–58; 3:10–11).
- The heart of worship is joy (6:22).
Outline
- Cyrus’s Decree and the Return of Exiles from Babylon (1:1–2:70)
- The Returned Exiles Rebuild the Temple on Its Original Site (3:1–6:22)
- Ezra the Priest Comes to Jerusalem to Establish the Law of Moses (7:1–8:36)
- Ezra Discovers and Confronts the Problem of Intermarriage (9:1–10:44)
The Persian Empire at the Time of Ezra
c. 458 B.C.
During the time of Ezra the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 B.C. the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed their territory into the empire, including the lands of Israel and Judah (known as Beyond the River). The next year Cyrus allowed the people of Judah to return home under the leadership of Zerubbabel and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Later, around 458 B.C., another group of Judean exiles returned under Ezra’s leadership.
Fact: The prophecy about Cyrus
The prophecy about Cyrus. King Cyrus of Persia would one day make it possible for the Jews to return home from their exile in Babylon (see the book of Ezra). Isaiah predicted this great event, even mentioning Cyrus by name (Isa. 44:28; 45:1), some 150 years before Cyrus’s time.
Fact: Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great was the founder of the largest empire the ancient Near East had seen thus far. He conquered much of Southwest and Central Asia, and reigned for 30 years. He was a strong military leader and a shrewd politician. Any people group he conquered was allowed to maintain its own customs and religion, so long as they swore loyalty to Persia, paid taxes, and did not rebel.
Fact: Darics
Darics (2:69) were gold coins used throughout the Persian Empire. These coins were often called “archers” because of the image of an archer stamped on the face. When one particular king remarked that 30,000 archers had run him out of his kingdom, he was implying that he had been bribed to give up his throne.
Fact: Joppa
Joppa was 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Jeru-salem on the Mediterranean Sea and was a major seaport. Joppa had the only natural harbor in all of Palestine. Though the surrounding reefs made it dangerous for ships to enter the harbor, it was still greatly valued because of its strategic location for trade with the west.
The Empires of Daniel’s Visions: The Persians
c. 538–331 B.C.
After Cyrus the Great united the Median and Persian empires, he overthrew the Babylonians and established the greatest power the world had ever known. Under later rulers the Persian Empire eventually extended from Egypt and Thrace to the borders of India, and Cyrus himself declared, “the LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth” (2 Chron. 36:23; Ezra 1:2). Consistent with his regular policies to promote loyalty among his subjugated peoples, Cyrus immediately released the exiled Jews from their captivity in Babylon and even sponsored the rebuilding of the temple.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Ezra
| Event | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cyrus king of Persia captures Babylon | 539 B.C. | Dan. 5:30–31 |
| First year of King Cyrus; issues proclamation freeing Jewish exiles to return | 538–537 | Ezra 1:1–4 |
| Jewish exiles, led by Sheshbazzar, return from Babylon to Jerusalem | 537? | Ezra 1:11 |
| Altar rebuilt | 537 | Ezra 3:1–2 |
| Temple rebuilding begins | 536 | Ezra 3:8 |
| Adversaries oppose the rebuilding | 536–530 | Ezra 4:1–5 |
| Temple rebuilding ceases | 530–520 | Ezra 4:24 |
| Temple rebuilding resumes (2nd year of Darius) | 520 | Ezra 5:2; compare Hag. 1:14 |
| Temple construction completed (6th year of Darius) | 516 | Ezra 6:15 |
| Ezra departs from Babylon to Jerusalem (arrives in 7th year of Artaxerxes) | 458 | Ezra 7:6–9 |
| Men of Judah and Benjamin assemble at Jerusalem | 458 | Ezra 10:9 |
| Officials conduct three-month investigation | 458–457 | Ezra 10:16–17 |
Zerubbabel
King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon should return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed temple. Zerubbabel, whom the prophet Haggai refers to as “governor of Judah” (Hag. 1:1), was one of the first exiles to return. Along with the priest Jeshua, he rebuilt the altar of the Lord so that sacrifices could once again be made. The following year, under the guidance and supervision of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, work began on the temple itself. The foundations of the temple were laid, but opposition from local governors prevented its completion for more than 20 years. With the support of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed and completed the reconstruction of the temple during the reign of King Darius. (Ezra 5:2)
Ezra 1:1 the first year of Cyrus. The story of Ezra continues from Chronicles (see 2 Chron. 36:22–23). might be fulfilled. Jeremiah had predicted an exile lasting 70 years, after which Babylon would be punished and Judah would be restored to its land (see Jer. 25:11–14; 32:36–38). the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. God’s hand was behind all the events of the book (see Ezra 1:5; 3:11; 5:5; 6:22; 7:6, 9; 8:18, 22; 10:14). On Cyrus’s role, see also Isa. 44:28; 45:1.
Ezra 1:2 God of heaven is used elsewhere as a title for the Lord when Jews relate to non-Jews (see 5:12). Cyrus uses diplomatic language typical of the time.
The Empires of Daniel’s Visions: The Persians
c. 538–331 B.C.
After Cyrus the Great united the Median and Persian empires, he overthrew the Babylonians and established the greatest power the world had ever known. Under later rulers the Persian Empire eventually extended from Egypt and Thrace to the borders of India, and Cyrus himself declared, “the LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth” (2 Chron. 36:23; Ezra 1:2). Consistent with his regular policies to promote loyalty among his subjugated peoples, Cyrus immediately released the exiled Jews from their captivity in Babylon and even sponsored the rebuilding of the temple.
Fact: Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great was the founder of the largest empire the ancient Near East had seen thus far. He conquered much of Southwest and Central Asia, and reigned for 30 years. He was a strong military leader and a shrewd politician. Any people group he conquered was allowed to maintain its own customs and religion, so long as they swore loyalty to Persia, paid taxes, and did not rebel.
1:1–4 The Decree. In the famous Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus boasts that those “of the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period . . . I returned to their places.” Ezra 1 reflects that proclamation as it affected the Jews.
Ezra 1:3–4 he is the God who is in Jerusalem. No doubt this is Cyrus’s real view, although he is not necessarily claiming there is only one God (compare Darius’s statement in 6:12). Go up to Jerusalem describes worship in the temple. The focus of the decree is on the rebuilding of the temple more than on the exiles returning. let each survivor . . . be assisted by the men of his place. Cyrus decrees that the people of his kingdom should supply the returning exiles with what they need for the rebuilding (compare Ex. 12:35–36).
Ezra 1:5 The heads of the fathers’ houses (extended families) and priests spearhead the response. The three tribes—Judah, Benjamin, and the Levites—had inhabited the former kingdom of Judah. They were taken off to Babylon in 586 B.C. No mention is made here or elsewhere of any large-scale return of other tribes, though a few people from other tribes are sometimes mentioned or implied (see 1 Chron. 9:3; Luke 2:36). The OT gives no further information on the fate of the other tribes.
1:5–11 The Exiles Respond to the Decree. The exiles’ leaders gather money and materials for the temple. Cyrus brings the items taken from the temple in 586 B.C. for the people to take back to Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:6–11 The people of Persia help the Jewish exiles as their king commands. Cyrus gives back the vessels of the house of the LORD (v. 7), stolen from the temple in the Babylonian invasion (2 Kings 25:13–17). The title prince of Judah (Ezra 1:8) simply means he was a leader of the exiles.
Ezra 2:2a Zerubbabel descended from King Jehoiachin (see 1 Chron. 3:16–19, where Jehoiachin is called Jeconiah). Jehoiachin was exiled in 597 B.C. and was later given a place in the Babylonian court (2 Kings 24:15; 25:27–30; see also Hag. 2:23). The Nehemiah named here is not the one who later rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls; he came to Jerusalem almost a century after these first returnees. The Mordecai of Esther was also much later, and did not return to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2:2b–35 The laity is described partly by kinship (vv. 2b–19) and partly by place (vv. 20–35), without a real distinction (the men of and the sons of seem interchangeable). The places named are in Judah and Benjamin (see 1:5), north and south of Jerusalem, with a larger group in Benjamin (see Josh. 18:21–27).
Ezra 2:43–54 The temple servants were officials appointed by King David to help the Levites (see 8:20).
Ezra 2:36–58 Temple officials are divided by function, headed by the priests and Levites. The priests (vv. 36–39) are most important, set apart for worship at the altar. The Levites are attendants, some of them singers and gatekeepers (vv. 40–42; see also 1 Chron. 6:33–43; 9:17–18).
Ezra 2:55–58 The sons of Solomon’s servants may be connected with foreigners whom Solomon drafted for building the temple (1 Kings 9:20–21). They are not regarded as slaves.
Ezra 2:59–63 whether they belonged to Israel. People were coming back after a long exile to claim inheritance and property, so credentials needed to be established. excluded from the priesthood. Only priests from the correct lineage could serve at the altar. a priest to consult. The claims entered here are not permanently refused, but are investigated further before a ruling is made.
Ezra 2:68 The location of the former temple is regarded as a holy place, so it can already be called the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 2:69 Darics were gold coins used throughout the Persian Empire. Archaeologists have found darics bearing the name of the Persian province Yehud, probably indicating that the returned Jews were allowed to mint their own coins. Yehud was the Persian name for Judah (or Judea; see 9:9); it was within a larger province called Beyond the River (see 4:10; and note on 4:1–2).
Fact: Darics
Darics (2:69) were gold coins used throughout the Persian Empire. These coins were often called “archers” because of the image of an archer stamped on the face. When one particular king remarked that 30,000 archers had run him out of his kingdom, he was implying that he had been bribed to give up his throne.
1:1–2:70 Cyrus’s Decree and the Return of Exiles from Babylon. Ezra describes monumental political changes in the world as God’s special work for his people.
2:1–70 The Exiles Live Again in Their Ancestral Homes. This long chapter tells of the exiles’ return from Babylon to resettle in their former homes in Jerusalem and Judah. (The information in ch. 2 is given again in Neh. 7:6–73 in connection with a covenant renewal under Nehemiah.) It shows that the exiled Judeans responded to Cyrus’s decree and saw it as a fulfillment of prophecy. The return is not just the end of the exile but also a reoccupation of the ancient Israelite homeland.
Ezra 3:1 The seventh month, Tishri (roughly September), was the month of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26–32), followed by the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles; Lev. 23:33–43), celebrating the exodus from Egypt. Thus, in the first year of their return, the people make their first pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Ezra 3:2 built the altar. The broken altar had to be rebuilt so sacrifices could once again be made.
Ezra 3:3 in its place. There may have been visible remains of the original altar (perhaps implied by Jer. 41:4–5). In any case, its exact location was evidently known. It is possible the exiles hurried to build the altar because they feared the peoples of the lands—residents of Judah, and perhaps neighboring areas, who were not part of the returned exiles. Some may have had Jewish origins, but they appear to be a distinct group and would soon oppose the work.
Zerubbabel’s Temple
The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple was done in stages (c. 536–516 B.C.). First, the altar was built, so that sacrifices could again be made (Ezra 3:2–3). The second phase was the laying of the foundation of the temple. This elicited mixed reactions from the people. Some rejoiced that the foundation was laid, while others, especially the elder priests, were sad, presumably because the quality of construction was inferior to that of the previous temple. Due to the opposition of the local population and the lack of motivation among the Jews, it took 20 years to complete the construction of the temple building.
The only information given in the biblical record about the architecture of the temple is the dimensions, which were sixty cubits (90 feet /27 m) high and wide (Ezra 6:3). As there is no mention of the length of the building, these dimensions must refer to the facade of the temple, i.e., the Porch.
Ezra 3:4–7 For the Feast of Booths, see Num. 29:12–38.
Fact: Joppa
Joppa was 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Jeru-salem on the Mediterranean Sea and was a major seaport. Joppa had the only natural harbor in all of Palestine. Though the surrounding reefs made it dangerous for ships to enter the harbor, it was still greatly valued because of its strategic location for trade with the west.
Ezra 3:8 Work begins with laying the foundation in the second year of the return (c. 537 B.C.). The second month, Ziv (1 Kings 6:1), is in the spring, the same time of year when Solomon had begun his temple (2 Chron. 3:2). The return from exile is dated starting after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem. Even though the temple still lies in ruins, the place could be called “the house of God” because it had been consecrated for worship (see Jer. 41:5).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Ezra
| Event | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cyrus king of Persia captures Babylon | 539 B.C. | Dan. 5:30–31 |
| First year of King Cyrus; issues proclamation freeing Jewish exiles to return | 538–537 | Ezra 1:1–4 |
| Jewish exiles, led by Sheshbazzar, return from Babylon to Jerusalem | 537? | Ezra 1:11 |
| Altar rebuilt | 537 | Ezra 3:1–2 |
| Temple rebuilding begins | 536 | Ezra 3:8 |
| Adversaries oppose the rebuilding | 536–530 | Ezra 4:1–5 |
| Temple rebuilding ceases | 530–520 | Ezra 4:24 |
| Temple rebuilding resumes (2nd year of Darius) | 520 | Ezra 5:2; compare Hag. 1:14 |
| Temple construction completed (6th year of Darius) | 516 | Ezra 6:15 |
| Ezra departs from Babylon to Jerusalem (arrives in 7th year of Artaxerxes) | 458 | Ezra 7:6–9 |
| Men of Judah and Benjamin assemble at Jerusalem | 458 | Ezra 10:9 |
| Officials conduct three-month investigation | 458–457 | Ezra 10:16–17 |
3:1–13 The Foundations of the Temple Are Laid. The altar is rebuilt on its former site, and foundations are laid for the new temple.
Ezra 3:12–13 But many . . . wept with a loud voice. Some of the older people remembered the former temple and believed this new one would not match its glory.
Zerubbabel
King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon should return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed temple. Zerubbabel, whom the prophet Haggai refers to as “governor of Judah” (Hag. 1:1), was one of the first exiles to return. Along with the priest Jeshua, he rebuilt the altar of the Lord so that sacrifices could once again be made. The following year, under the guidance and supervision of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, work began on the temple itself. The foundations of the temple were laid, but opposition from local governors prevented its completion for more than 20 years. With the support of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed and completed the reconstruction of the temple during the reign of King Darius. (Ezra 5:2)
What was the significance of the temple being reconstructed?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Ezra 1-3
All of us have experienced broken promises. Maybe you missed a deadline at work; or trusted friends backed out of commitments they made; or you keep telling yourself you'll stop overspending, but it happens again. We are consistently inconsistent in our fallen world. But when we think about God's character, we can find immeasurable comfort in knowing that He never breaks His promises, and He is never delayed in keeping them.
Before we dive into Ezra, let's look at Isaiah 44:28, which says, "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.'" This prophecy came many years before the events of Ezra ever took place.
In Ezra 1, we read about how God intentionally stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to send out a decree. This decree allowed the Jewish people to return to their land after being exiled in Babylon for 70 years. In Ezra 2, we see them begin to organize, assemble and start their journey home. Shortly after, we meet Zerubbabel in Ezra 3:8, a descendant of King David, who led the people in rebuilding the foundation.
All of these events point us to the promise that God made in Isaiah and kept to His people. Cyrus is the "shepherd" God used to free the captives to return to their land. Even after they turned their backs on Him and were unfaithful, God still had a plan to draw them out of exile. He was carefully weaving their story and pursuing their hearts. He never forgot about them.
God is trustworthy even when we are not—whether it be a difficult relationship, a sin struggle we feel powerless to overcome, a job loss, or a financial burden that just feels too big. This passage comforts me with knowing God's faithfulness is never dependent upon my performance. He is holy, blameless, and the ultimate trustworthy God of the universe that we can always put our hope in.
This month's memory verse
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
– Job 1:21b
Discussion Questions
1. How does looking back at Isaiah 44:28 help us better understand what we are reading in Ezra today?
2. What are some examples of God's promises to us from His Word that we can find hope in?
3. How do we see Jesus in this passage?
4. What is the significance of Zerubbabel being mentioned within the lineage of David?
5. Do you find it harder to trust God with the bigger things in your life or to trust Him with your day-to-day events? Share a time when you experienced God's faithfulness that allowed you to trust Him even more.