Chronological Outline of Ezra

1. First Year of King Cyrus (538/537 B.C.) - Ezra 1:1-11

Cyrus, the Persian king, issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. - Cyrus returns the vessels of the Temple that had been taken by the Babylonians.

2. First Return under Zerubbabel (538/537 B.C.)

Ezra 2:1-70 - A list of the families and individuals who returned to Jerusalem, including the number of people and the offerings they brought.

3. Rebuilding the Altar and Temple Foundation (537 B.C.)

Ezra 3:1-13 - The returnees rebuild the altar and begin to lay the foundation of the Temple. - They celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and other festivals.

4. Opposition from Local Inhabitants (536-530 B.C.)

Ezra 4:1-24 - The Samaritans and other local inhabitants try to halt the construction of the Temple. - They send letters to Persian officials to stop the work.

5. Continued Opposition and Haggai's Prophetic Encouragement (520 B.C.)

Ezra 5:1-6:15 - The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encourage the people to continue rebuilding the Temple. - Tattenai, the Persian governor, sends a report to King Darius about the construction.

6. Darius' Decree and Completion of the Temple (515 B.C.)

Ezra 6:1-22 - King Darius confirms Cyrus' decree and provides financial support for the construction. - The Temple is completed and dedicated with great joy and sacrifices.

7. Ezra's Mission and Second Return (458 B.C.)

Ezra 7:1-28 - Ezra, a scribe and priest, is sent by King Artaxerxes to Jerusalem to teach the law of God and to bring gifts for the Temple. - Ezra leads a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem.

8. Ezra's Arrival and Discovery of Intermarriage (458 B.C.)

Ezra 8:1-9:15 - Ezra arrives in Jerusalem and discovers that many of the people, including the priests and leaders, have intermarried with the local non-Jewish populations.

9. Ezra's Prayer and Call for Repentance (458 B.C.)

Ezra 9:1-15 - Ezra prays and confesses the sins of the people, calling for repentance and the dissolution of the intermarriages.

10. Repentance and Reformation (458 B.C.)

Ezra 10:1-44 - The people respond to Ezra's call for repentance and take steps to dissolve the intermarriages and return to God's laws. This chronological outline provides a clear sequence of the major events and themes in the Book of Ezra, highlighting the restoration of the Jewish people to their land and the rebuilding of the Temple.

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