preparatory to the dedication of the wall. On the appointed day the whole
population assembled, and the law was read aloud to them by Ezra and his
assistants (Nehemiah 8:3). The remarkable scene is described in detail.
There was a great religious awakening. For successive days they held
solemn assemblies, confessing their sins and offering up solemn sacrifices.
They kept also the feast of Tabernacles with great solemnity and joyous
enthusiasm, and then renewed their national covenant to be the Lord’s.
Abuses were rectified, and arrangements for the temple service completed,
and now nothing remained but the dedication of the walls of the city
(Nehemiah 12).
- EZRA, BOOK OF This book is the record of events occurring at the
close of the Babylonian exile. It was at one time included in Nehemiah, the
Jews regarding them as one volume. The two are still distinguished in the
Vulgate version as I. and II. Esdras. It consists of two principal divisions:
(1.) The history of the first return of exiles, in the first year of Cyrus (B.C.
536), till the completion and dedication of the new temple, in the sixth
year of Darius Hystapes (B.C. 515), ch. 1-6. From the close of the sixth to
the opening of the seventh chapter there is a blank in the history of about
sixty years.
(2.) The history of the second return under Ezra, in the seventh year of
Artaxerxes Longimanus, and of the events that took place at Jerusalem
after Ezra’s arrival there (7-10).
The book thus contains memorabilia connected with the Jews, from the
decree of Cyrus (B.C. 536) to the reformation by Ezra (B.C. 456),
extending over a period of about eighty years.
There is no quotation from this book in the New Testament, but there
never has been any doubt about its being canonical. Ezra was probably the
author of this book, at least of the greater part of it (comp. 7:27, 28; 8:1,
etc.), as he was also of the Books of Chronicles, the close of which forms
the opening passage of Ezra.
- EZRAHITE a title given to Ethan (1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89, title) and
Heman (Psalm 88, title). They were both sons of Zerah (1 Chronicles 2:6). - EZRI help of Jehovah, the son of Chelub. He superintended, under David,
those who “did the work of the field for tillage” (1 Chronicles 27:26).