EZRA and NEHEMIAH
In 606–605 b.c., the Babylonians began their conquest of Jerusalem, deporting many of the people and finally destroying the city and the temple in 587–586 b.c. In 538, Cyrus issued a proclamation allowing the Jews to return to their land and rebuild their temple, and nearly fifty thousand returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1–6). The seventy years of captivity were ended. In spite of difficulty and delay, the temple was completed in 515.
Ezra the scribe went to Jerusalem in 458 with about two thousand Jews, including some Levites to help in the temple ministry (Ezra 7–10). In 444, Nehemiah, a layman, went to rebuild the walls (
Following their restoration to the land, the Jewish nation experienced times of trial and reproach, but the Lord saw them through. The emphasis in Ezra and Nehemiah is on trusting God for a new beginning and doing His work—no matter what obstacles and opposition are encountered. Although the days may be dark, God is there to guide us, protect us, and help us.