The Bible records that
some Jews returned to their homeland from Babylon, where
they had been settled by Nebuchadrezzar, to rebuild the
temple following an edict from Cyrus (Ezra 1. 1-4). This
appears to be confirmed by the Cyrus Cylinder
(above)
" From Babylon] to
Assur and (from) Susa, Agade, Esnunna, Zamban, MeTurnu,
Der, as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers
on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries had
been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of
the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in
Babylon], to their places and I let them dwell in
eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and
returned to them their dwellings. "
Ezra led
the return of the Jews to Jerusalem from their Babylonian
exile. Under his direction and inspiration, together with
the help of the King's cup bearer, Nechemiah, the Second
Temple was built, in a more modest scale and style than
the grandeur of Solomon's Temple.
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Ezra
also renewed the covenant of Moses between
Israel and God, staunched the flow of
intermarriage that afflicted the Jews returning
to Jerusalem, strengthened public and private
Sabbath observance, and created the necessary
schools and intellectual tools for the
furtherance of the knowledge and development of
the Law of God within the Jewish people.
A
man of incorruptible character, great
compassion, deep vision and erudition and
inspirational charisma, Ezra the Scribe
contributed to the survival of Judaism till this
very day.
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In August
of 458 B.C. Ezra, the High Priest, arrived in Jerusalem
with the gold, and silver, the vessels, instruments,
singers and priests. In October 458 B.C. at the feast of
Tabernacles the great dedication of the rebuilt Temple
was completed.
"And on
the second day were gathered together the chief of the
fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the
law. And they found written in the law which the Lord had
commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should
dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. And
all the congregation of them that were come again out of
the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for
since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had
not the children of Israel done so. And there was very
great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day unto
the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And
they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was
a solemn assembly, according unto the manner." Nehemiah
8:13,14,17,18
Nehemiah
10:32: Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and
the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not
all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come
upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our
priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on
all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria
unto this day. : Howbeit thou art just in all that is
brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have
done wickedly: .... And because of all this we make a
sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites,
and priests, seal unto it.1: Now those that sealed
were, Nehemiah, (the Governor) the Tirshatha, the son
of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2: Seraiah, Azariah,
Jeremiah, 3: Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4: Hattush,
Shebaniah, Malluch, 5: Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6:
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7: Meshullam, Abijah,
Mijamin, 8: Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the
priests. 9: And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of
Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10: And
their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan, 11: Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12: Zaccur,
Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13: Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 14: The
chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu,
Bani, 15: Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16: Adonijah, Bigvai,
Adin, 17: Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18: Hodijah, Hashum,
Bezai, 19: Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20: Magpiash,
Meshullam, Hezir, 21: Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22:
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23: Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24: Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25: Rehum, Hashabnah,
Maaseiah, 26: And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27: Malluch,
Harim, Baanah. 28: And the rest of the people, the
priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the
Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves
from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their
wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having
knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their
brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and
into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by
Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the
commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and
his statutes.
The Tomb
of Ezra the Scribe (shown) is located in Southern Iraq...
three hours' journey south from Bagdad and not far from
the Tigris and is venerated equally by Jews and Arabs .
