EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
The Bible records that some
Jews returned to their homeland from Babylon, where they had been
settled by Nebuchadrezzar, to rebuild the temple following an edict
from Cyrus (Ezra 1. 1-4). This appears to be confirmed by the Cyrus
Cylinder (above)
" From Babylon] to Assur and
(from) Susa, Agade, Esnunna, Zamban, MeTurnu, Der, as far as the region
of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose
sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images
of the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in Babylon], to their places
and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their
inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings. "
Ezra led the
return of the Jews to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile. Under his
direction and inspiration, together with the help of the King's cup
bearer, Nechemiah, the Second Temple was built, in a more modest scale
and style than the grandeur of Solomon's Temple.
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Ezra also
renewed the covenant of Moses between Israel and God, staunched the
flow of intermarriage that afflicted the Jews returning to Jerusalem,
strengthened public and private Sabbath observance, and created the
necessary schools and intellectual tools for the furtherance of the
knowledge and development of the Law of God within the Jewish people.
A man of
incorruptible character, great compassion, deep vision and erudition
and inspirational charisma, Ezra the Scribe contributed to the survival
of Judaism till this very day.
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In August of
458 B.C. Ezra, the High Priest, arrived in Jerusalem with the gold, and
silver, the vessels, instruments, singers and priests. In October 458
B.C. at the feast of Tabernacles the great dedication of the rebuilt
Temple was completed.
"And on the
second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the
people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to
understand the words of the law. And they found written in the law
which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel
should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. And all the
congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made
booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Joshua the son
of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there
was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day unto the
last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the
feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly,
according unto the manner." Nehemiah 8:13,14,17,18
Nehemiah 10:32:
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God,
who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little
before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and
on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy
people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. : Howbeit
thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right,
but we have done wickedly: .... And because of all this we make a
sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests,
seal unto it.1: Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, (the
Governor) the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2:
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3: Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4: Hattush,
Shebaniah, Malluch, 5: Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6: Daniel,
Ginnethon, Baruch, 7: Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8: Maaziah, Bilgai,
Shemaiah: these were the priests. 9: And the Levites: both Jeshua the
son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10: And their
brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11: Micha, Rehob,
Hashabiah, 12: Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13: Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14: The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15: Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16: Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17: Ater,
Hizkijah, Azzur, 18: Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19: Hariph, Anathoth,
Nebai, 20: Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21: Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22: Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23: Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24:
Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25: Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26: And
Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27: Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28: And the rest of
the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the
Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people
of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their
daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They
clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and
into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the
servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD
our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes.
The Tomb of
Ezra the Scribe (shown) is located in Southern Iraq... three hours'
journey south from Bagdad and not far from the Tigris and is venerated
equally by Jews and Arabs .