1 Esdras
This Book is similar to the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. But it offers additional material. It is in Orthodox Bibles.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
The Book of First Esdras is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
SUMMARY
Title
The word “Esdras” is the Greek form of the Hebrew personal name “Ezra.”
The Book of First Esdras is from the Greek Bible, also known as the Septuagint.
In the Septuagint, 1 Esdras is called Esdras A, where the “A” stands for “alpha.”
In contrast, the combined book of Ezra and Nehemiah are called Esdras B (beta).
Finally, in the Latin Bible, also known as the Vulgate, 1 Esdras is called 3 Ezra.
Author
Most scholars hold that the work was written by more than one author.
Date
Scholars are at a loss to date 1 Esdras with any accuracy.
That said, most scholars assume it is from the second century BCE.
It had to be in circulation by the first century AD. That is because Josephus relied on it to compose his Antiquities of the Jews.
See our study of The Chronology of the Deuterocanonical Books.
Purpose
There seems to be no clear theme to 1 Esdras. The very reason for its existence is not apparent.
Three topics are prominent in 1 Esdras, and yet when read in the context of the entire book of 1 Esdras, they are seen as not the theme:
- The temple
- The leaders Zerubbabel and Ezra
- The debate of the three bodyguards in chapters 3–4
The book culminates in Ezra reading the Bible to the people. Perhaps that is the theme.
OUTLINE
THE END OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH
1 Esdras 1:1-22. Josiah celebrates the Passover
1 Esdras 1:23-33. The end of Josiah’s reign
1 Esdras 1:34-46a. The last days of Josiah
1 Esdras 1:46b-58. The fall of Jerusalem
THE RETURN OF THE EXILES
1 Esdras 2:1-15. Cyrus permits the exiles to return
1 Esdras 2:16-30. Opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem
1 Esdras 3:1-17a. The debate of the three bodyguards
1 Esdras 3:17b-24. The speech about wine
1 Esdras 4:1-12. The speech about the king
1 Esdras 4:13-32. The speech about women
1 Esdras 4:33-41. The speech about truth
1 Esdras 4:42-57. Zerubbabel’s reward
1 Esdras 4:58-63. Zerubbabel’s prayer
1 Esdras 5:1-46. List of the returning exiles
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
1 Esdras 5:47-55. Worship begins again
1 Esdras 5:56-73. Foundations of the temple laid
1 Esdras 6:1-22. Work in the temple begins again
1 Esdras 6:23-34. Official permission granted
1 Esdras 7:1-9. The temple is dedicated
1 Esdras 7:10-15. The Passover
THE MINISTRY OF EZRA
1 Esdras 8:1-67. Ezra’s Arrival in Jerusalem
1 Esdras 8:68-96. Many of them had intermarried
1 Esdras 9:1-37. The Expulsion of Foreign Wives
1 Esdras 9:38-55. Ezra reads the Law to the people
MEMORIZE
Here are some great verses to memorize:
TBD
SEE ALSO:
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
1 ESDRAS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.