Reading Ezra

This week we read both Ezra and Nehemiah in our daily Bible reading.  The books share a common historical background.

The people had been taken into captivity to Babylon in three different segments, the first in’ 605 B.C., then 597 and 586.   Jeremiah prophesied in 605 that Judah would face a 70-year captivity (Jer. 25:1).  Daniel recalled this prophecy in Dan. 9:2 and began to pray for a release from the captivity. The resulting decree of Cyrus in 538, which allowed the release of the Jews and then their return in 536, fulfilled this prophecy and was God’s gracious answer to Daniel’s prayer.

For more information about Ezra, download “Reading Ezra.”