Ezra - Return - BIBLE SUMMARY WITH ART

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In the first year of his reign the Lord spoke to King Cyrus and he decrees that God's people should return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

 The number of each tribe returned are recorded  including extra numbering for Levites, the offerings of gold etc. to rebuild temple are also recorded.

First  the altar is rebuilt so sacrifices can begin  then the rebuilding of the foundation of the temple starting with praise trumpets and fanfare.

 The enemies of Judah tried to sabotage the rebuilding efforts and then wrote letters to Xerxes and Artaxerxes to halt the construction.

 Tattenai was a regional governor and he wrote king Darius a letter questioning the rebuild, a brief history is included and pending confirmation of  King Cyprus' written decree.

King Darius issued a decree to find and review  King Cyprus' archived decree, the temple is dedicated and Passover is celebrated 

 Ezra (well versed in the Law) receives a letter from Artaxerxes to return with much Babylonian gold to the temple and to Jerusalem.

 The family heads that returned with Ezra are listed, Ezra stops at the canal of Ahava to fast and consecrate the return to the temple including allotment of precious metals to priests.

 Ezra humbles himself before the Lord and tears his clothes to intercede for great sins of the people including intermarriage resulting in captivity.

 While Ezra was weeping the people gathered and confessed with him,  a proclamation was made and the intermarried priests were listed to be dealt with.

  The decline of the kingdom under Solomon and then his sons is chronicled based on their lack of respect for temple worship as God had prescribed. 

 The rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem is detailed  and described this leads to the worship being compromised by the mixing with gentile worship practices.