Ezra is a record of two groups who return to rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It’s a book of recovery and restoration. It began with Cyrus, a gentile king, decreeing that anyone whose spirit was willing could return to rebuild their God’s temple in Jerusalem. The first group, with Joshua the priest, and Zerubbabel the governor, laid the foundation of the temple, but then became discouraged by opposition. After about 20 years, through the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, they were encouraged and finished the temple. About 60 years afterwards, Ezra came with another group of returnees to teach the law of God to the returned remnant. This cleansed their living, made them put away foreign wives, and brought their conduct more into line with God’s word.

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