Study the Books of Ezra & Nehemiah in the Bible

The books of Ezra & Nehemiah in the Bible can be hard to follow, but here I break it down to relate it to the rest of the Old Testament.

The Jews Return From Exile

The Israelites (also referred to as the Hebrews or Jews) have been through a lot. After their rescue from Egypt, entering the Promised Land, receiving their own King, and going into civil war, neighboring countries attacked and overthrew them.

The northern kingdom of Israel was exiled by the Assyrian nation and then the southern kingdom of Judah was exiled by Babylonians. Later, Babylon took over Assyria and was eventually overthrown by the Persian Empire.

Fortunately, when the Persians entered the picture, it was good news for the Jews, as the Persian King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple (which the Babylonians destroyed) in Jerusalem.

It’s been 70 years of exile and a new generation has risen. Accustomed to their new life, many people don’t want to leave. However, for those who do, they can return home. There are three waves (or return trips) to Jerusalem.

1st group led by Zerubbabel in 538 BC
2nd group led by Ezra in 457 BC
3rd group led by Nehemiah in 444 BC

The mission of these three groups upon return is:

Rebuilding the Temple
Restoring worship and repentance
Rebuilding walls to fortify the city of Jerusalem

A Kingdom Without a King

While the Israelites never again receive a king of their own, they do receive back their land and freedom to worship their God. Met with opposition throughout their efforts, three men (Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah), led the rebuilding of the temple, restored worship, and then repaired the city walls.

During this time, they are still ruled by the Persian Empire. You can read more details of these times and stories in the books of Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and Esther.