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Ezra 1

Ezra 1 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Ezra 1 opens with a royal decree that changes the future of God's people. Cyrus of Persia permits the return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the LORD's house. The chapter also records the support the exiles received and the temple items restored for their journey.

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What happens in Ezra 1?

The chapter begins by showing that Cyrus's proclamation was tied to the LORD's earlier word through Jeremiah. God moves the king to authorize a return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the house of the LORD. Those whose hearts are stirred prepare to go, while neighbors supply them with silver, gold, goods, livestock, and offerings. The chapter then lists the sacred vessels that Cyrus returns from Babylon, once taken away by Nebuchadnezzar. Sheshbazzar receives the inventory and brings the items with the exiles as they head back to Jerusalem.

Ezra opens after the exile, when God's people are living under Persian rule and the temple in Jerusalem has been left in ruins. Chapter 1 sets the stage for the return from Babylon and the rebuilding that follows in the rest of the book. It shows that the restoration begins with God's word, God's stirring, and God's provision.

Themes to notice

  • God's faithfulnessThe return begins because the LORD is bringing to pass what He had spoken earlier through Jeremiah.
  • Return from exileThe people of Judah and Benjamin are called to leave Babylon and go back to Jerusalem.
  • Restoration of worshipThe temple vessels are returned so God's house can be rebuilt and used again.

Questions for Ezra 1

  • What does this chapter show about how God works through rulers and events?
  • Why do you think the return to Jerusalem begins with both a proclamation and generous support?
  • What does the return of the temple articles suggest about the restoration God is bringing about?

Read the full text of Ezra 1 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Ezra

Ezra 1

The Proclamation of Cyrus

1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

2“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.3Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.4And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”

5So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.6And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.

Cyrus Restores the Holy Vessels

7King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his gods.8Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

9This was the inventory:

30 gold dishes,

1,000 silver dishes,

29 silver utensils,

1030 gold bowls,

410 matching silver bowls,

and 1,000 other articles.

11In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

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