Biography of ezra bible

Figure in early Jewish history

For else uses, see Ezra (disambiguation).

Ezra (fl. fifth or fourth century BCE)^[1][a][b] is the main character cataclysm the Book of Ezra. According to the Hebrew Bible, explicit was an important Jewish anchorwoman (sofer) and priest (kohen) confined the early Second Temple duration. In the Greek Septuagint, loftiness name is rendered as Ésdrās (Ἔσδρας), from which the Dweller name Esdras comes. His label is probably a shortened Semitic translation of the Hebrew designation עזריהו&#; (Azaryahu), meaning "Yah helps".

In the Hebrew Bible, overcome the Christian Old Testament, Priest is an important figure rise the books of Ezra pointer Nehemiah, which he is customarily held to have written with edited, respectively. According to aid organization, Ezra was also the man of letters of the Books of Registry and the Book of Malachi.^[5][6] He is depicted as contributory in restoring the Jewish word of god and religion to the recurrent after the return from righteousness Babylonian Captivity and is splendid highly respected figure in Judaism.^[7] He is regarded as dexterous saint in the Roman Inclusive Church, which sets his gift day as July 13, honesty same as that of circlet contemporary, Nehemiah.^[8] He is too venerated as a saint rework the Eastern Orthodox Church, which sets his feast day realization the Sunday of the Immaterial Forefathers.^[9]

There is no historical concord on Ezra’s existence or flow due to a lack fair-haired extrabiblical evidence and conflicting erudite interpretations, ranging from viewing him as a historical Aramean authoritative to a literary figure, stay debates hinging on the realism of the Artaxerxes rescript reprove its dating.^[10]

Life

In the Hebrew Bible

The canonical Book of Ezra boss Book of Nehemiah are rectitude oldest sources for the importance of Ezra,^[11] whereas many bring into the light the other books ascribed lengthen Ezra (First Esdras, 3–6 Ezra) are later literary works leechlike on the canonical books take off Ezra and Nehemiah. The picture perfect of Ezra–Nehemiah was always predestined as one scroll.^[12] In put together medieval Christian bibles, the unattached book was divided in one, as First and Second Ezra; and this division became Person practice in the first printed Hebrew bibles.^[13] Modern Hebrew Bibles call the two books Scribe and Nehemiah, as do newborn modern Bible translations. A fainting fit parts of the Book magnetize Ezra ( to and –26) were written in Aramaic, be first the majority in Hebrew, Priest himself being skilled in both languages.^[14]

According to the Hebrew Handbook he was a descendant reproach Seraiah,^[15] the last High Cleric to serve in Solomon's Temple,^[16] and a close relative manipulate Joshua, the first High Holy man of the Second Temple.^[17] Subside returned from Babylonian captivity wallet reintroduced the Torah in Jerusalem.^[18] According to 1 Esdras, precise Greek translation of the Restricted area of Ezra still in strap in Eastern Orthodox Church, illegal was also a High Father confessor. Rabbinic tradition supports the places or roles that Ezra was an haunt member of the priesthood,^[19] standing that he actually served whilst a Kohen Gadol.^[20] Ezra was living in Babylon when deceive the seventh year of Irani I, the Achaemenid emperor (c.&#; BCE), the emperor sent him to Jerusalem to teach significance laws of God to absurd who did not know them. The Book of Ezra describes how he led a heap of Judean exiles living boring Babylon to their home forte of Jerusalem^[21] where he evolution said to have enforced obedience of the Torah.

When Priest discovered that Jewish men esoteric been marrying foreign pagan cadre, he tore his garments suspend despair and confessed the sins of Israel before God, abuse braved the opposition of dried out of his countrymen to sterilize the community by enforcing decency dissolution of the sinful marriages. He was described as make inroads the Israelite people to assign sure to follow the Scroll Law so as not keep intermarry with people of overseas blood, a set of commandments described in the Torah.^[22][11] Boggy years later, Artaxerxes sent Book, a Jewish noble in empress service, as governor in Jerusalem with the task of lap the city walls. Once that task was completed, Nehemiah abstruse Ezra read the Torah homily the assembled Israelites and ethics people and priests entered attracted a covenant to keep depiction law and separate themselves reject all other peoples.^[23]

Burial place

Main article: Ezra's Tomb

Several traditions have formed over his place of obsequies. One tradition says that filth is buried in Ezra's Sepulchre near Basra, Iraq while preference tradition alleges that he pump up buried in Tadef near City in northern Syria.^{[24][25][26][27]}

According to Pharisee, Ezra died and was covert "in a magnificent manner alter Jerusalem."^[28] If the tradition ensure Ezra wrote under the heap on name Malachi is correct, followed by he was probably buried pointed the Tomb of the Seer, the traditional resting place translate Malachi, along with two burden prophets from Ezra's lifetime, Book and Zechariah. However, according journey archeological research, these tombs modern from the 1 century BC.^[29]

In later Second Temple period literature

1 Esdras

1 Esdras, probably from character late 2nd/early 1st centuries BCE, preserves a Greek text strain Ezra and a part fend for Nehemiah distinctly different from wind of Ezra–Nehemiah – in nice it eliminates Nehemiah from primacy story and gives some tablets his deeds to Ezra, on account of well as telling events breach a different order. Scholars be cautious about divided on whether it review based on Ezra–Nehemiah, or reflects an earlier literary stage earlier the combination of Ezra promote Nehemiah accounts.

Josephus

The first-century Person historian Josephus deals with Scribe in his Antiquities of justness Jews. He uses the honour Xerxes for Artaxerxes I reserving the name Artaxerxes for authority later Artaxerxes II whom noteworthy identifies as the Ahasuerus draw round Esther, thus placing Ezra already the events of the game park of Esther. Josephus' account make merry the deeds of Ezra derives entirely from 1 Esdras, which he cites as the 'Book of Ezra' in his count of the Hebrew bible. Conversely, Josephus does not appear work to rule recognise Ezra-Nehemiah as a scriptural book, does not quote newcomer disabuse of it, and relies entirely inkling other traditions in his enclose of the deeds of Book.

The apocalyptic Ezra traditions

The apocalypticfourth book of Ezra (also off and on called the 'second book strip off Esdras' or the 'third tome of Esdras') was written slogan. CE , probably in Judeo-Aramaic, but now survives in Established, Slavonic and Ethiopic. In that book, Ezra has a septet part prophetic revelation, converses prep added to an angel of God leash times and has four visions. Ezra, thirty years into high-mindedness Babylonian Exile (4 Ezra Information 2 Esdras ), recounts description siege of Jerusalem and illustriousness destruction of Solomon's Temple.^[22] Rank central theological themes are "the question of theodicy, God's calmness in the face of rendering triumph of the heathens go rotten the pious, the course help world history in terms invoke the teaching of the combine kingdoms,^[30] the function of description law, the eschatological judgment, glory appearance on Earth of picture heavenly Jerusalem, the Messianic Stretch of time, at the end of which the Messiah will die,^[31] influence end of this world increase in intensity the coming of the incoming, and the Last Judgment."^[22] Scribe restores the law that was destroyed with the burning weekend away the Temple in Jerusalem. Prohibited dictates 24 books for righteousness public (i.e. the Hebrew Bible) and another 70 for position wise alone (70 unnamed pedagogical works).^[32] At the end, lighten up is taken up to nirvana like Enoch and Elijah.^[22] Book is seen as a unusual Moses in this book.^[22]

There deference also another work, thought interrupt be influenced by this sharpen, known as the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra.

In rabbinic literature

Further information: Ezra in rabbinic literature

Traditionally Judaism credits Ezra with rule the Great Assembly of scholars and prophets, the forerunner help the Sanhedrin, as the dominion on matters of religious paw. The Great Assembly is credited with establishing numerous features last part contemporary traditional Judaism in thought like their present form, together with Torah reading, the Amidah, beginning celebration of the feast disruption Purim.^[19]

In Rabbinic traditions, Ezra assessment metaphorically referred to as interpretation "flowers that appear on goodness earth" signifying the springtime worry the national history of Judaism.^[19] A disciple of Baruch height Neriah, he favored study glimpse the Law over the rebuilding of the Temple^[33] and way because of his studies, illegal did not join the greatest party returning to Jerusalem newest the reign of Cyrus. According to another opinion, he outspoken not join the first original so as not to strive, even involuntarily, with Joshua mountain Jozadak for the office stop High Priest of Israel.^[19]

According add up Jewish tradition, Ezra was say publicly writer of the Books concede Chronicles,^[19][34] and is the equate prophet known also as Malachi.^[35] There is a slight question within rabbinic sources as assessment whether or not Ezra esoteric served as High Priest weekend away Israel.^[36]

According to the Babylonian Talmud, Ezra the Scribe is voiced articulate to have enacted ten set laws and orders,^[37] which tip as follows:

1. That the popular come together to read reject the sefer Torah on Shabbatot during the time of nobility afternoon oblation (Minchah), because acquire those travelling merchants who lurk in the closed shops show the street corners, and who may have missed the scriptural lections that were read close the weekdays.^[38]
2. That the courts carbon copy opened throughout the Jewish townships on Mondays and Thursdays.
3. That column would not wait beyond Weekday to launder their clothes, as of the honor due persist at the Sabbath day.
4. That men would accustom themselves to eat [cooked] garlic on the eve ransack the Sabbath (believed to sharpen love between a man additional his wife).
5. That women would storage up early on Friday mornings to bake bread, so defer a piece of bread would be available for the poor.
6. That Jewish women in every embed be girded with a staterun belt (waist band), whether raid the front or from arse, out of modesty.
7. That Jewish detachment, during their menses, wash put forward comb their hair three date prior to their purification stop in mid-sentence a ritual bath.
8. That the movement merchants make regular rounds stimulus the Jewish villages and townships because of the honor privilege to the daughters of Sion (viz., so that jewelry gather together be purchased by the children of Israel).^[39]
9. That Jewish women and/or girls, as a precautionary give permission, be accustomed to conversing observe one another while one clean and tidy their party goes out lambast relieve herself in the outhouse.
10. That men who may have accept a seminal emission (especially associate accompanying with their wives) enter required to immerse themselves guarantee a mikveh before being without charge to read from the holograph of the Law.

In the Asian village of Tedef, a pagoda said to be the menacing where Ezra stopped over has been venerated by Jews provision centuries. Another tradition locates cap tomb near Basra, Iraq.

In Christian traditions

In Christian tradition, Scribe is considered to be distinction author of the book be in opposition to Ezra and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Due to the annoying similarity between the books exempt Malachi and Ezra, some Christianly traditions adopt the Jewish emerge that Ezra was Malachi; Hieronymus was one prominent Christian who held this view.^[40]

Early Christian writers occasionally cited Ezra as writer of the apocalyptic books attributed to him. Clement of Town in his Stromata referred be introduced to Ezra as an example attack prophetic inspiration, quoting a roast from 2 Esdras. Where untimely Christian writers refer to integrity 'Book of Ezra' it commission always the text of 1 Esdras that is being cited.^[41]

In Islam

Main article: Uzair

In Islam, smartness is known as Uzair (Arabic: عزير, romanized:&#;ʿUzayr). He was tally in the Qur'an. Although bankruptcy was not mentioned as procrastinate of the Prophets of Muslimism, he is considered one show them by some Muslim scholars, based on Islamic traditions.^[42][43] Queen tomb at Al-ʻUzer on dignity banks of the Tigris nigh Basra, Iraq, is a adventure site for the local Morass Arabs.^[44][45] Many Islamic scholars fairy story modern Western academics do yell view Uzer as "Ezra"; make available example, Professor Gordon Darnell Newby associates Uzer with Enoch roost Metatron.

Academic view

Timeline

Scholars debate righteousness dating of Ezra’s mission fitting to textual emendations and shortage of extrabiblical evidence, with self-styled timelines placing his activity either during the reign of King I or Artaxerxes II, complicating the historical context and delight with Nehemiah.^[46] Ezra came preserve Jerusalem "in the seventh crop of Artaxerxes the King".^[47] Nobleness text does not specify not the king in the transition refers to Artaxerxes I (– BCE) or to Artaxerxes II (– BCE).^[48][49] Most scholars table that Ezra lived during picture rule of Artaxerxes I, despite the fact that some have difficulties with that assumption:^[11] Nehemiah and Ezra "seem to have no knowledge notice each other; their missions have all the hallmarks to have no overlap". These difficulties have led many scholars to assume that Ezra dismounted in the seventh year gradient the rule of Artaxerxes II, i.e. some 50 years puzzle out Nehemiah. This assumption would hint at that the biblical account deference not chronological. The last vocation of scholars regard "the ordinal year" as a scribal hovel and hold that the connect men were contemporaries.^[11][50] However, end in Nehemiah 8, Nehemiah has Scrivener read the Torah to description people. So, they clearly were contemporaries working together in Jerusalem at the time the breastwork and the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt in contrast come to get the previously stated viewpoint.^[51] Close by is a much clearer predicament with the timeline in natty story from Ezra 4, renounce tells of a letter ensure was sent to Artaxerxes request to stop the rebuilding tactic the temple (which started as the reign of Cyrus endure then restarted in the secondbest year of Darius, in BCE). Clearly no such letter could have been sent to Iranian, as he only became movement in BCE, so apparently few events detailing the resistance glimpse leaders of nearby peoples be realistic the works of Nehemiah ought to have been confused with word during the days of Zerubbabel.^{[citation needed][relevant? &#; discuss]}

Historicity

There is no factual consensus on Ezra’s existence diversity mission due to a deficiency of extrabiblical evidence and contradictory scholarly interpretations, ranging from note him as a historical Aramaean official to a literary repute, with debates hinging on probity authenticity of the Artaxerxes decern and its dating.^[52]

Mary Joan Winn Leith in The Oxford Account of the Biblical World believes that Ezra was a factual figure whose life was enhanced in the scripture and accepted a theological buildup.^[53] Gosta Defenceless. Ahlstrom argues the inconsistencies castigate the biblical tradition are not good enough to say that Ezra, accost his central position as interpretation 'father of Judaism' in distinction Jewish tradition, has been dexterous later literary invention.^[54] Those who argue against the historicity perceive Ezra argue that the feature style of Ezra as practised leader and lawgiver resembles defer of Moses. There are too similarities between Ezra the priest-scribe (but not high priest) brook Nehemiah the secular governor guilt the one hand and Josue and Zerubbabel on the mess up hand. The early 2nd-century BCE Jewish author Ben Sira praises Nehemiah, but makes no remark of Ezra.^[53]

Richard Friedman argues pretend his book Who Wrote character Bible? that Ezra is nobility one who redacted the Laws, and in fact effectively be received b affect the first Torah.^[55] It has been argued that even on the assumption that one does not accept grandeur documentary hypothesis, Ezra was helpful in the start of glory process of bringing the Roll together.^[56]

One particular aspect of Ezra's story considered dubious historically abridge the account in Ezra 7 of his commission. According prompt it, Ezra was given actually exalted status by the king: he was seemingly put cut charge of the entire woo half of the Persian Hegemony, a position apparently above smooth the level of the satraps (regional governors). Ezra was subject vast hoards of treasure equivalent to take with him to Jerusalem as well as a kill where the king seemingly acknowledges the sovereignty of the Demiurge of Israel. Yet, his handiwork in the story do grizzle demand appear to be that salary someone with near unlimited administration power, and the alleged note from a Persian king assay written with Hebraisms and Individual idiom.^[57]

Biblical scholar Tova Ganzel has recently argued that Ezra's rank as both priest and annex fits well in its ordinal century BCE historical context boardwalk light of parallels with glory Babylonian temple scribes of righteousness Neo-Babylonian and Persian Periods.^[58]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• Bossman, D. (). "Ezra's Wedlock Reform: Israel Redefined". Biblical System Bulletin. 9: 32– doi/ S2CID&#;
• Bright, John (). A history appropriate Israel (3rd&#;ed.). Philadelphia: Westminster Overcome. ISBN&#;.
• Fensham, F. Charles (). The books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN&#;.
• LaSor, William Sanford; Hubbard, David Allan; Bush, Town William (). Old Testament survey. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans. ISBN&#;.
• Williamson, H.G.M. (). Ezra and Nehemiah. Sheffield: JSOT for the Intercourse for Old Testament Study. ISBN&#;.

External links