EZRA 1

EZRA   1

Background:

YEAR

(B.C.) WHAT HAPPENED

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610   Babylon defeats Assyria

608   Jeremiah predicts Temple destruction in Jerusalem (Jer 5:12)

605   Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt

605   Jerusalem conquered by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:1)

        (Daniel taken to Babylon -- Dan 1:1-4)

597   Jehoiakin defeated by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:10-16)

        (Ezekiel taken to Babylon -- Ezek 1:1-2)

586   Jerusalem and Temple destroyed (2 Ki 25:27-30)

575    Nebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens (as a historical side note)

573   Ezekiel’s vision of restoration (Ezek 40-48)

563    Birth of Buddah (as a historical side note)

561   Evil Merodach King of Babylon (2 Ki 25:27-30)

550   Belshazzar co-regent with Nabonidus

539   Babylon conquered by Medes and Persians (Daniel 5)

      Cyrus (King of Persia) issues decree to rebuild the Temple

        ( Ezra 1  AND  2-Chronicals 36:22-23)

Summary:

The book of Ezra is part of a continuous history of the Jews written after their exile to Babylon consisting of First  and Second Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. This book of Ezra records the first and second stages of the restoration of the Jews to their homeland. The book was written to show the faithfulness of God in returning a Jewish remnant from exile in Babylon.

Chapter 1 recounts the beginning of the first return of the exiles to Jerusalem. His heart moved by God, King Cyrus of Persia issues a decree allowing some exiles to return to Israel.

The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple:

¹ Now 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, saying,

·   First year — Of Cyrus’ reign in Babylon . . . he had been king of Persia for many years.

·   Fulfilled — Nebuchadnezzar carried many of the Jews into captivity in the first year of his reign. He reigned forty-five years, his son Evil-Merodach twenty-three, and his grandson Belshazzar, three years, which make up the seventy years foretold by Jeremiah.

·   the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus — the hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by His influence on the spirits of men; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it.

·   It was during the captivity of the Jews, that God principally employed them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him.

² Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.

·   All, … — In those parts of the world; all that vast empire formerly under the Assyrians and Babylonians.

·   Cyrus knows that all he has came from God .. expressed in the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him,

o (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1,13) , long before Cyrus was born; which the Jews had doubtlessly showed to him.

·   Incredible how these things were all prophesized and came true!

³ Who 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 build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

The people provide for their return:

⁵ Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

⁶ And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

·   All of those whose spirits God had moved and left their homes to go build the new Temple … much like Abraham moved his family into the great unknown when God had told him to.

·   God can incline the hearts of strangers to be kind to His people

·   Cyrus took it for granted, that those among the Jews who were able, would offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He would also have them supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.

Cyrus restores the articles of the temple to Sheshbazzar:

⁷ King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods; ⁸ and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. ⁹ This is the number of them: thirty gold platters, one thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives, ¹⁰ thirty gold basins, four hundred and ten silver basins of a similar kind, and one thousand other articles. ¹¹ All the articles of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar took with the captives who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The Deeper Meaning:

·   The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take the benefit. The temptation was to some to stay in Babylon; but some feared not to return, and they were those whose spirits God raised, by his Spirit and grace.

·   Whatever good we do, is owing to the grace of God. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it; if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them.

·   The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

·   Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins, and will not venture upon a holy life;

·   but some break through all discouragements, whatever it cost them; they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh, whom he has made willing.

·   Thus will the heavenly Canaan be filled, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel offer will not have been made in vain. The bringing back the Jews from captivity, represents the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ.