Background Introduction to Ezra-Nehemiah

In the Hebrew Bible, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are traditionally considered a single book. Tradition attributes its authorship to Ezra, the priest and scribe. Shortly after the Greek Septuagint translation was completed, Jews divided this single book into 1 Ezra and 2 Ezra. Later, 2 Ezra became known as the Book of Nehemiah. The Book of Ezra records the return of the Jewish people from their captivity in Babylon to their homeland and the rebuilding of the Temple. It affirms the covenant between God and the Jewish people, the priority of studying the Torah, and adherence to God’s law. The Book of Nehemiah, on the other hand, chronicles the rebuilding of the city walls. It also documents the religious reforms of the time and the enforcement of Sabbath observance.

After the Persian Empire destroyed the Babylonian Empire, in the first year of Cyrus’s reign in Babylon, he “made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom,” authorizing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the LORD. Consequently, a group of faithful Israelites returned to Jerusalem, reaching their homeland exactly 70 years after Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Judah and Jerusalem.

During this period, God successively raised up three leaders—Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah—to lead the remnant of the exiles back to Jerusalem, completing a history of revival that involved rebuilding the Temple, rebuilding the people, and rebuilding the city walls. The content of the book is arranged according to the order of spiritual revelation: Zerubbabel led the first group of people back to begin rebuilding the Temple; Ezra led the second group of Jews back to their homeland, teaching the returning people to observe the Pentateuch and purifying society from intermarriage with foreign peoples; Nehemiah led the third return, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The missions of these three leaders were progressive, though some historical events in the book are not strictly chronological.

This historical period spans from 538 BC until after 423 BC, corresponding to the late Spring and Autumn period in China. The prophets Haggai (Haggai 1:1), Zechariah (Zechariah 1:1), and Malachi ministered during this time.