Ezra 1: Difference between revisions

Ezra 1
Ezra 1
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	Cyrus Restores the Vessels of the Temple (Ezra 1:1–11)
Book	Book of Ezra
Category	Ketuvim
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
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Ezra 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,^[1] or the book of Ezra–Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and book of Nehemiah as one book.^[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra–Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,^[3] but modern scholars generally believe that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "Chronicler") is the final author of these books.^[4]

Ezra 1 contains a narrative of the Edict of Cyrus and the initial return of exiles to Judah led by Sheshbazzar as well as the restoration of the sacred temple vessels.^[5] It also introduces the section comprising chapters 1 to 6 describing the history before the arrival of Ezra in the land of Judah ^[5]^[6] in 468 BCE.^[7] The opening sentence of this chapter (and this book) is identical to the final sentence of 2 Chronicles.^[8]

Cyrus Cylinder

The Cyrus Cylinder contains a statement related to the Cyrus's edict which gives the historical background to the Book of Ezra:^[9]

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.^[10]

Cyrus's edict is significant to the return of the Jews, because it shows that they did not slip away from Babylon but were given official permission by the Persian king in the first year of his rule, and it is a specific fulfillment of the seventy years prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11–14, Jeremiah 29:10–14).^[5]

Text

The text is written in Biblical Hebrew and divided into 11 verses.

Textual witnesses

There is a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\mathfrak {G}}$ ^B; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\mathfrak {G}}$ ^A; 5th century).^[11]^[a]

An ancient Greek book called 1 Esdras (Greek: Ἔσδρας Αʹ) containing some parts of 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah is included in most editions of the Septuagint and is placed before the single book of Ezra–Nehemiah (which is titled in Greek: Ἔσδρας Βʹ). 1 Esdras 2:1–14 is an equivalent of Ezra 1:1–11 (Cyrus's edict).^[15]^[16]

An early manuscript containing the text of this chapter in Biblical Hebrew is the Codex Leningradensis (1008 CE).^[17] Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947, the whole book of Ezra–Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the Aleppo Codex.^[18]

Biblical narrative

Ezra 1 starts by providing historical context of a real event: "the first year of Cyrus king of Persia", but immediately follows with the statement about Yahweh, who has the real control and even already speaks about this event before the birth of Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:13) and the fulfillment of his word through Jeremiah.^[19]

Verse 1

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,^[20]

Verse 2

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.^[21]

Verse 3

Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.^[22]

Verse 4

And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.^[23]

Verse 7

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;^[24]

The Temple treasures that Nebuchadnezzar took away (2 Chronicles 36:18) are now to be returned to Jerusalem.^[25]

Notes

^ The extant Codex Sinaiticus only contains Ezra 9:9–10:44.^[12]^[13]^[14]

References

^ Halley 1965, p. 232.
^ Grabbe 2003, p. 313.
^ Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2
^ Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Grabbe 2003, p. 314.
^ Fensham 1982, p. 4.
^ Davies, G. I., Introduction to the Pentateuch in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary Archived 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 19
^ Levering 2007, p. 39.
^ McConville 1985, p. 8.
^ Line 32 in Lendering, Jona (5 February 2010). "Cyrus Cylinder (2)". Livius.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2007. Text adapted from Schaudig (2001).English translation adapted from Cogan's translation in Hallo & Younger (2003).
^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
^ Würthwein, Ernst (1988). Der Text des Alten Testaments (2nd ed.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. p. 85. ISBN 3-438-06006-X.
^ Swete, Henry Barclay (1902). An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Cambridge: Macmillan and Co. pp. 129–130.
^ This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Codex Sinaiticus". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^ Catholic Encyclopedia: Esdras: THE BOOKS OF ESDRAS: III Esdras
^ Jewish Encyclopedia: Esdras, Books of: I Esdras
^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.
^ P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 6.
^ Ezra 1:1
^ Ezra 1:2
^ Ezra 1:3
^ Ezra 1:4
^ Ezra 1:7
^ McConville 1985, p. 11.

Sources

Dandamaev, M. A. (1989). A Political History of the Achaemenid Empire. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-09172-6.
Fensham, F. Charles (1982). The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. New international commentary on the Old Testament (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0802825278. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Grabbe, Lester L. (2003). "Ezra". In Dunn, James D. G.; Rogerson, John William (eds.). Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 313–319. ISBN 978-0802837110. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Halley, Henry H. (1965). Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
Hallo, W.H.; Younger, K.L., eds. (2003). The Context of Scripture: Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World. Translated by Cogan, Mordechai. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-10619-2.
Brosius, Maria (ed.): The Persian Empire from Cyrus II to Artaxerxes I (2000, London Association of Classical Teachers (LACT) 16, London.
Larson, Knute; Dahlen, Kathy; Anders, Max E. (2005). Anders, Max E. (ed.). Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Vol. 9 (illustrated ed.). B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0805494693. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Levering, Matthew (2007). Ezra & Nehemiah. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Brazos Press. ISBN 978-1587431616. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
McConville, J. G. (1985). Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The daily study Bible : Old Testament. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0664245832. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Schaudig, Hanspeter (2001). Die Inschriften Nabonids von Babylon und Kyros' des Großen, samt den in ihrem Umfeld entstandenen Tendenzschriften. Textausgabe und Grammatik (in German). Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.
Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. (2007). "15. Ezra-Nehemiah". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 308–324. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

External links

Jewish translations:
- Ezra - Chapter 1 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
Christian translations:
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Book of Ezra Chapter 1. Bible Gateway

[15] The extant Codex Sinaiticus only contains Ezra 9:9–10:44.^[12]^[13]^[14]

[FOOTNOTEHalley1965232-1] Halley 1965, p. 232.

[FOOTNOTEGrabbe2003313-2] Grabbe 2003, p. 313.

[3] Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2

[FOOTNOTEFensham19822–4-4] Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.

[FOOTNOTEGrabbe2003314-5] Grabbe 2003, p. 314.

[FOOTNOTEFensham19824-6] Fensham 1982, p. 4.

[7] Davies, G. I., Introduction to the Pentateuch in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary Archived 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 19

[FOOTNOTELevering200739-8] Levering 2007, p. 39.

[FOOTNOTEMcConville19858-9] McConville 1985, p. 8.

[10] Line 32 in Lendering, Jona (5 February 2010). "Cyrus Cylinder (2)". Livius.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2007. Text adapted from Schaudig (2001).English translation adapted from Cogan's translation in Hallo & Younger (2003).

[FOOTNOTEWürthwein199573–74-11] Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.

[12] Würthwein, Ernst (1988). Der Text des Alten Testaments (2nd ed.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. p. 85. ISBN 3-438-06006-X.

[13] Swete, Henry Barclay (1902). An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Cambridge: Macmillan and Co. pp. 129–130.

[14] This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Codex Sinaiticus". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

[16] Catholic Encyclopedia: Esdras: THE BOOKS OF ESDRAS: III Esdras

[17] Jewish Encyclopedia: Esdras, Books of: I Esdras

[FOOTNOTEWürthwein199536–37-18] Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.

[19] P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362

[FOOTNOTELarsonDahlenAnders20056-20] Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 6.

[21] Ezra 1:1

[22] Ezra 1:2

[23] Ezra 1:3

[24] Ezra 1:4

[25] Ezra 1:7

[FOOTNOTEMcConville198511-26] McConville 1985, p. 11.

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+{{Short description|First chapter of the Book of Ezra}}
-{{Bible chapter|letname= Ezra 1 |previouslink= 2 Chronicles 36 |previousletter= 2 Chronicles 36|nextlink= Ezra 2 |nextletter= chapter 2 |book=[[Book of Ezra]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 15 |category= [[Ketuvim]] | filename= 104.Cyrus_Restores_the_Vessels_of_the_Temple.jpg| size=250px |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">[[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] Restores the Vessels of the Temple (Ezra 1:1-11)</div>}}
+{{Bible chapter|letname= Ezra 1 |previouslink= 2 Chronicles 36 |previousletter= 2 Chronicles 36|nextlink= Ezra 2 |nextletter= chapter 2 |book=[[Book of Ezra]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 15 |category= [[Ketuvim]] | filename= 104.Cyrus_Restores_the_Vessels_of_the_Temple.jpg| size=250px |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">[[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] Restores the Vessels of the Temple (Ezra 1:1–11)</div>}}
-'''Ezra 1''' is the first chapter of the [[Book of Ezra]] in the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]],{{sfn|Halley|1965|p=232}} or the book of [[Ezra-Nehemiah]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]], which treats the book of Ezra and [[book of Nehemiah]] as one book.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=313}} Jewish tradition states that [[Ezra]] is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the [[Book of Chronicles]],<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] ''Baba Bathra'' 15a, ''apud'' Fensham 1982, p. 2</ref> but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "[[The Chronicler|Chronicler]]") is the final author of these books.{{sfn|Fensham|1982|pp=2–4}} This chapter contains the records of King [[Cyrus's edict]] and the initial return of exiles to Judah led by [[Sheshbazzar]] as well as the restoration of the sacred temple vessels.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}} It also introduces the section comprising chapters 1 to [[Ezra 6|6]] describing the history before the arrival of Ezra in the land of Judah {{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}}{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=4}} in 468 BCE.<ref>Davies, G. I., ''Introduction to the Pentateuch'' in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), [https://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43 The Oxford Bible Commentary], p. 19</ref> The opening sentence of this chapter (and this book) is identical to the final sentence of [[2 Chronicles]].{{sfn|Levering|2007|p=39}}
+'''Ezra 1''' is the first chapter of the [[Book of Ezra]] in the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]],{{sfn|Halley|1965|p=232}} or the book of [[Ezra–Nehemiah]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]], which treats the book of Ezra and [[book of Nehemiah]] as one book.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=313}} Jewish tradition states that [[Ezra]] is the author of Ezra–Nehemiah as well as the [[Book of Chronicles]],<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] ''Baba Bathra'' 15a, ''apud'' Fensham 1982, p. 2</ref> but modern scholars generally believe that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "[[The Chronicler|Chronicler]]") is the final author of these books.{{sfn|Fensham|1982|pp=2–4}}
+Ezra 1 contains a narrative of the [[Edict of Cyrus]] and the initial return of exiles to Judah led by [[Sheshbazzar]] as well as the restoration of the sacred temple vessels.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}} It also introduces the section comprising chapters 1 to [[Ezra 6|6]] describing the history before the arrival of Ezra in the land of Judah {{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}}{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=4}} in 468 BCE.<ref>Davies, G. I., ''Introduction to the Pentateuch'' in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), [https://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43 The Oxford Bible Commentary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122193211/http://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43 |date=2017-11-22}}, p. 19</ref> The opening sentence of this chapter (and this book) is identical to the final sentence of [[2 Chronicles]].{{sfn|Levering|2007|p=39}}
+==Cyrus Cylinder==
+The [[Cyrus Cylinder]] contains a statement related to the Cyrus's edict which gives the historical background to the Book of Ezra:{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=8}}
+{{blockquote|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.<ref>Line 32 in {{cite web |last=Lendering |first=Jona |date=5 February 2010 |title=Cyrus Cylinder (2) |publisher=Livius.org |url=http://www.livius.org:80/ct-cz/cyrus_I/cyrus_cylinder2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311235804/http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/cyrus_cylinder2.html |archive-date=11 March 2018 |access-date=10 January 2007}} Text adapted from {{harvtxt|Schaudig|2001}}.English translation adapted from Cogan's translation in {{harvtxt|Hallo|Younger|2003}}.</ref>}}
+Cyrus's edict is significant to the return of the Jews, because it shows that they did not slip away from Babylon but were given official permission by the Persian king in the first year of his rule, and it is a specific fulfillment of the seventy years prophecy of Jeremiah ({{bibleverse|Jeremiah|25:11–14|HE}}, {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|29:10–14|HE}}).{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}}
 ==Text==
-[[File:Codex Vaticanus (1 Esdras 1-55 to 2-5) (The S.S. Teacher's Edition-The Holy Bible).jpg|right|thumb|200px|Right column of p. 575 of the Greek Uncial manuscript [[Codex Vaticanus]] (4th century AD), from the [[Vatican Library]], containing [[1 Esdras]] 1:55-2:5.]]
+[[File:Codex Vaticanus (1 Esdras 1-55 to 2-5) (The S.S. Teacher's Edition-The Holy Bible).jpg|right|thumb|200px|Right column of p. 575 of the Greek Uncial manuscript [[Codex Vaticanus]] (4th century AD), from the [[Vatican Library]], containing [[1 Esdras]] 1:55–2:5.]]
-The original text is written in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew language]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 11 verses.
+The text is written in [[Biblical Hebrew]] and [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|divided into]] 11 verses.
 ===Textual witnesses===
+There is a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), and [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}{{efn|The extant [[Codex Sinaiticus]] only contains Ezra 9:9–10:44.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Würthwein |first=Ernst |title=Der Text des Alten Testaments |publisher=[[Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft]] |edition=2nd |place=Stuttgart |year=1988 |page=85 |isbn=3-438-06006-X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Swete |first=Henry Barclay |author-link=Henry Barclay Swete |title=An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek |publisher=Macmillan and Co. |location=Cambridge |year=1902 |url=https://archive.org/stream/anintrotooldtes00swetuoft#page/128/mode/2up |pages=129–130}}</ref><ref>{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle= Codex Sinaiticus}}</ref>}}
-Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]], which includes [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}{{efn|Since the [[1947 anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo|anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo]] in 1947, the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the [[Aleppo Codex]].<ref>{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=[[New Catholic Encyclopedia]] | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}</ref>}}
+An ancient Greek book called [[1 Esdras]] (Greek: Ἔσδρας Αʹ) containing some parts of [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]], [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] and [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] is included in most editions of the Septuagint and is placed before the single book of [[Ezra–Nehemiah]] (which is titled in Greek: Ἔσδρας Βʹ). 1 Esdras 2:1–14 is an equivalent of Ezra 1:1–11 (Cyrus's edict).<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05535a.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'': Esdras: THE BOOKS OF ESDRAS: III Esdras]</ref><ref>[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=463&letter=E&search=Books%20of%20Esdras#1248 ''Jewish Encyclopedia'': Esdras, Books of: I Esdras]</ref>
-There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [[Septuagint]] version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), and [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}{{efn|The extant [[Codex Sinaiticus]] only contains Ezra 9:9–10:44.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Würthwein |first=Ernst |title=Der Text des Alten Testaments |publisher=[[Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft]] |edition=2nd |place=Stuttgart |year=1988 |url= |page=85 |isbn= 3-438-06006-X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Swete |first=Henry Barclay |authorlink= Henry Barclay Swete |title= An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek |publisher= Macmillan and Co. |location=Cambridge |year=1902 |url= https://archive.org/stream/anintrotooldtes00swetuoft#page/128/mode/2up |pages= 129–130}}</ref><ref>{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle= Codex Sinaiticus}}</ref>}}
+An early manuscript containing the text of this chapter in Biblical Hebrew is the [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008 CE).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}} Since the [[1947 anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo|anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo]] in 1947, the whole book of Ezra–Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the [[Aleppo Codex]].<ref>{{citation |author=P. W. Skehan |contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) |title=[[New Catholic Encyclopedia]] |edition=2nd |volume=2 |publisher=Gale |year=2003 |pages=355–362}}</ref>
-An ancient Greek book called [[1 Esdras]] (Greek: Ἔσδρας Αʹ) containing some parts of [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]], [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] and [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] is included in most editions of the Septuagint and is placed before the single book of [[Ezra–Nehemiah]] (which is titled in Greek: Ἔσδρας Βʹ). 1 Esdras 2:1-14 is an equivalent of Ezra 1:1-11 (Cyrus's edict).<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05535a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Esdras: THE BOOKS OF ESDRAS: III Esdras]</ref><ref>[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=463&letter=E&search=Books%20of%20Esdras#1248 Jewish Encyclopedia: Esdras, Books of: I Esdras]</ref>
+==Biblical narrative==
-==God is sovereign (1:1–4)==
-[[File:Nabonidus chronicle.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The [[Nabonidus Chronicle]], which contains the title of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] as the "king of Persia".]]
+[[File:Nabonidus chronicle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[Nabonidus Chronicle]], which contains the title of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] as the "king of Persia".]]
-[[File:Cyrus Cylinder front.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Front of the [[Cyrus Cylinder]], containing inscription similar to the [[Cyrus's edict]].]]
+[[File:Cyrus Cylinder front.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Front of the [[Cyrus Cylinder]], containing inscription similar to the [[Cyrus's edict]].]]
-The book starts with a historical context of a real event: “the first year of Cyrus king of Persia”, but immediately follows with the statement about God who has the real control and even already speaks about this event before the birth of Cyrus ([[Isaiah 44:28]]; [[Isaiah 45:13|45:13]]) and the fulfillment of his word through Jeremiah.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=6}}
+Ezra 1 starts by providing historical context of a real event: "the first year of Cyrus king of Persia", but immediately follows with the statement about [[Yahweh]], who has the real control and even already speaks about this event before the birth of Cyrus ([[Isaiah 44:28]]; [[Isaiah 45:13|45:13]]) and the fulfillment of his word through [[Jeremiah]].{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=6}}
 ===Verse 1===
-:''Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of [[Jeremiah]] might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,''<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:1|KJV}} [[King James Version|KJV]]</ref>
+{{blockquote|Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:1|HE}}</ref>}}
-*Cross reference: {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|36:22|KJV}}{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=3}}
-*"Now": translated from the Hebrew connecting word "waw". The use of this word to start a book is the same as in 1 Kings.{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=42}}
-*"[[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] king of [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]]": ([[Circa|c.]]&nbsp;600 – 530&nbsp;BC),{{sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=71}} commonly known as "Cyrus the Great";<ref>Xenophon, ''Anabasis'' I. IX; see also M. A. Dandamaev "Cyrus II", in ''Encyclopaedia Iranica''.</ref> his name and title as the "king of Persia" are written in the [[Nabonidus Chronicle]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=François Vallat|editor1-last=Perrot|editor1-first=Jean|title=The Palace of Darius at Susa: The Great Royal Residence of Achaemenid Persia|date=2013|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-1-84885-621-9|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/?id=fDimj7F2VVgC&pg=PA39&dq=Cambyses+I%7CElder+%22king+of+persia%22#v=onepage&q=Cambyses%20I%7CElder%20%22king%20of%20persia%22&f=false|accessdate=11 March 2018}}</ref> He "put in writing" a declaration in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] [[cuneiform script]] on a clay cylinder, now known as the "[[Cyrus Cylinder]]", which was used as a [[foundation deposit]] following the [[Babylon#Persian conquest|Persian conquest]] of [[Babylon]] in 539 BC, when the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] was invaded by Cyrus and incorporated into his [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]].{{sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=71}} The words recorded in [[#Verse 2|verses 2]]–[[#Verse 4|4]] are thought to represent the oral form of the edict, whereas the written form is recorded in [[Ezra 6|chapter 6]].{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=311}}
 ===Verse 2===
+{{blockquote|Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:2|HE}}</ref>}}
-:''Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:''
-:''"The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ezra|1:2|MEV}} [[Modern English Version|MEV]]</ref>
-*Cross reference: {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|36:23|KJV}}{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=3}}
-In the [[Cyrus Cylinder]] there is a statement related to the [[Cyrus's edict]] which gives the historical background to the book of Ezra:{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=8}}
-:''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.''<ref>Line 32 in {{cite web |last=Lendering |first=Jona |date=5 February 2010 |title=Cyrus Cylinder (2) |publisher=Livius.org |url=http://www.livius.org:80/ct-cz/cyrus_I/cyrus_cylinder2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311235804/http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/cyrus_cylinder2.html |archive-date=11 March 2018 |access-date=10 January 2007 }} Text adapted from {{harvtxt|Schaudig|2001}}. English translation adapted from Cogan's translation in {{harvtxt|Hallo|Younger|2003}}.</ref>
-Cyrus's edict is significant to the return of the Jews, because it shows that they did not slip away from Babylon but were given official permission by the Persian king in the first year of his rule, and it is a specific fulfillment of the seventy years prophecy of [[Jeremiah]] ({{bibleverse|Jeremiah|25:11–14|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|29:10–14|KJV}}).{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=314}}
 ===Verse 3===
-:''Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:3|KJV}} KJV</ref>
+{{blockquote|Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:3|HE}}</ref>}}
-*Cross reference: [[2 Chronicles 36:23]]{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=3}}
 ===Verse 4===
-:''And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ezra|1:4|NKJV}} [[New King James Version|NKJV]]</ref>
+{{blockquote|And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:4|HE}}</ref>}}
-*"And whoever is left" or "and every survivor" {{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=44}} is translated from {{lang-he|וכל הנשאר}}, ''wə-{{Strong-number|ḵāl|H|3605}} ha-{{Strong-number|nish-’ār|H|7604}}'',<ref>[https://biblehub.com/text/ezra/1-4.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Ezra 1:4]. Biblehub</ref> referring to the "Jews who stayed behind";{{sfn|Fensham|1982|p=44}} thus, the "Jews who are ''not'' returning to Judah", and these people must assist those who are going back to Judah.{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=9}}
-==Cooperation (1:5–11)==
-In response to Cyrus's Decree, the family heads of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites rose up and went to Jerusalem, but the ten other tribes did not show any reactions.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=8}} The last three verses detail the inventory of captured temple articles (probably based on the official document authorizing the return{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=11}}) which are counted out to [[Sheshbazzar]] the prince of Judah, to be brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=9}}
 ===Verse 7===
-:''Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;''<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:7|KJV}} KJV</ref>
+{{blockquote|Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|1:7|HE}}</ref>}}
 The Temple treasures that [[Nebuchadnezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] took away ({{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|36:18|KJV}}) are now to be returned to Jerusalem.{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=11}}
 ==See also==
-*[[Cyrus the Great in the Bible]]
+* [[Cyrus the Great in the Bible]]
-*[[Jerusalem]]
+* [[Jerusalem]]
-*[[Mithredath]]
+* [[Mithredath]]
-*[[Zerubbabel]]
+* [[Zerubbabel]]
+*Related [[Bible]] parts: [[2 Chronicles 36]], [[Isaiah 44]], [[Isaiah 45]], [[Jeremiah 25]], [[Jeremiah 29]], [[Jeremiah 51]]
-{{Portal|Bible}}
-*Related [[Bible]] parts: {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|36|KJV}}, [[Isaiah 44]], [[Isaiah 45]], [[Jeremiah 25]], [[Jeremiah 29]], [[Jeremiah 51]]
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 63: / Line 58: @@
 ==Sources==
-* {{cite book|last=Dandamaev|first=M. A.|title=A political history of the Achaemenid empire|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|year=1989|isbn=90-04-09172-6<!--|page=373|ref=CITEREFDandamaev1989-->}}
+* {{cite book |last=Dandamaev |first=M. A.|title=A Political History of the Achaemenid Empire|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|year=1989|isbn=90-04-09172-6<!--|page=373|ref=CITEREFDandamaev1989-->}}
-*{{cite book|last= Fensham| first=F. Charles | title=The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah | series=New international commentary on the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 1982 | isbn = 978-0802825278 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfxMeDl6BZgC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
+* {{cite book |last=Fensham |first=F. Charles |title=The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah |series=New international commentary on the Old Testament |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition=illustrated |date=1982 |isbn=978-0802825278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfxMeDl6BZgC |access-date=October 28, 2019}}
-*{{cite book|last= Grabbe| first= Lester L.|authorlink= Lester L. Grabbe | chapter = Ezra | title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible | editor-first1=James D. G.| editor-last1=Dunn  |editor1-link = James Dunn (theologian) | editor-first2=John William| editor-last2= Rogerson |editor2-link =  John W. Rogerson | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 2003 | pages = 313–319 | isbn = 978-0802837110 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
+* {{cite book|last=Grabbe|first=Lester L.|author-link=Lester L. Grabbe |chapter=Ezra |title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible |editor-first1=James D. G.|editor-last1=Dunn  |editor1-link=James Dunn (theologian) |editor-first2=John William|editor-last2=Rogerson |editor2-link=John W. Rogerson |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition=illustrated |date=2003 |pages=313–319 |isbn=978-0802837110 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC |access-date=October 28, 2019}}
-*{{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
+* {{cite book |last=Halley|first=Henry H.|author-link=Henry Hampton Halley|title=Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher=Zondervan Publishing House |date=1965 |url=https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access=registration|isbn=0-310-25720-4}}
-* {{cite book |translator-first=Mordechai |translator-last=Cogan |editor-first1=W.H. |editor-last1=Hallo |editor-first2=K.L. |editor-last2=Younger |title=The Context of Scripture: Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World |date=2003 |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill | isbn=978-90-04-10619-2 |ref=harv}}
+* {{cite book |translator-first=Mordechai |translator-last=Cogan |editor-first1=W.H. |editor-last1=Hallo |editor-first2=K.L. |editor-last2=Younger |title=The Context of Scripture: Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World |date=2003 |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-10619-2}}
 * Brosius, Maria (ed.): ''The Persian Empire from Cyrus II to Artaxerxes I'' (2000, London Association of Classical Teachers (LACT) 16, London.
-*{{cite book|last1= Larson| first1= Knute|last2=Dahlen |first2=Kathy |last3=Anders|first3= Max E. | title=Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther | series= Holman Old Testament commentary|volume= Volume 9  | editor-first=Max E.| editor-last=Anders | publisher =  B&H Publishing Group|edition= illustrated | date = 2005 | isbn = 978-0805494693 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4MmHIVtd6r0C | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
+* {{cite book|last1=Larson|first1=Knute|last2=Dahlen |first2=Kathy |last3=Anders|first3=Max E. |title=Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther |volume=9 |editor-first=Max E.|editor-last=Anders |publisher=B&H Publishing Group|edition=illustrated |date=2005 |isbn=978-0805494693 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4MmHIVtd6r0C |access-date=October 28, 2019}}
-*{{cite book|last= Levering| first=Matthew | title=Ezra & Nehemiah | series=Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible | publisher = Brazos Press | date = 2007| isbn = 978-1587431616 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYhGQVLlL4IC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
+* {{cite book|last=Levering|first=Matthew |title=Ezra & Nehemiah |series=Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible |publisher=Brazos Press |date=2007 |isbn=978-1587431616 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYhGQVLlL4IC |access-date=October 28, 2019}}
-*{{cite book|last= McConville| first=J. G. | title=Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther | series=The daily study Bible : Old Testament | publisher = Westminster John Knox Press | date = 1985 | isbn = 978-0664245832 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhyPOmOzZhoC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
+* {{cite book|last=McConville|first=J. G. |title=Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther |series=The daily study Bible : Old Testament |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=1985 |isbn=978-0664245832 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhyPOmOzZhoC |access-date=October 28, 2019}}
-* {{cite book  |last=Schaudig |first=Hanspeter|title=Die Inschriften Nabonids von Babylon und Kyros' des Großen, samt den in ihrem Umfeld entstandenen Tendenzschriften. Textausgabe und Grammatik |year=2001 |location=Münster |publisher=Ugarit-Verlag |language=de |ref=harv}}
+* {{cite book |last=Schaudig |first=Hanspeter|title=Die Inschriften Nabonids von Babylon und Kyros' des Großen, samt den in ihrem Umfeld entstandenen Tendenzschriften. Textausgabe und Grammatik |year=2001 |location=Münster |publisher=Ugarit-Verlag |language=de}}
-*{{cite book|last= Smith-Christopher| first= Daniel L.|authorlink= Daniel L. Smith-Christopher | chapter = 15. Ezra-Nehemiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 308–324 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
+* {{cite book|last=Smith-Christopher|first=Daniel L.|author-link=Daniel L. Smith-Christopher |chapter=15. Ezra-Nehemiah |title=The Oxford Bible Commentary |editor-first1=John|editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link=John Barton (theologian) |editor-first2=John|editor-last2=Muddiman |editor2-link=John Muddiman |publisher=Oxford University Press |edition=first (paperback) |date=2007 |pages=308–324 |isbn=978-0199277186 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ|access-date=February 6, 2019}}
-*{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Text_of_the_Old_Testament.html?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}
+* {{cite book |last=Würthwein |first=Ernst |author-link=Ernst Würthwein |title=The Text of the Old Testament |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids, MI |year=1995 |translator-first1=Erroll F.|translator-last1=Rhodes |isbn=0-8028-0788-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC |access-date=January 26, 2019}}
 ==External links==
-* [[Judaism|Jewish]] translations:
+* Jewish translations:
 ** [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16498 Ezra - Chapter 1 (Judaica Press)] translation [with [[Rashi]]'s commentary] at Chabad.org
-* [[Christianity|Christian]] translations:
+* Christian translations:
 ** [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Ezra+1 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
 ** [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=15&chapter=1&version=9 Book of Ezra Chapter 1. Bible Gateway]
@@ Line 86: / Line 81: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ezra 1}}
-<!--[[Category:Ezra 1| ]]-->
 [[Category:Book of Ezra chapters|01]]

v t e Book of Ezra
Bible chapters	Ezra 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Places	Ahava Babylon Ecbatana Jerusalem Sidon Tyre
People	Ahasuerus Asaph Artaxerxes Cyrus Darius David Ezra Haggai Iddo Jeshua/Joshua Judah Levites Shealtiel Tattenai Xerxes YHWH Zechariah Zerubbabel
Phrases	Nethinim Qos (deity)
Composition	The Chronicler Ezra–Nehemiah
Sources	Hebrew Bible Septuagint Wycliffe Version King James Version American Standard Version World English Version