Ezra (Hebrew origin: Strength of God)
(Ezra 7:1). 5th century b.c.e.
Ezra, a priest, scribe, and scholar, was one of the most influential religious leaders in the history of the Jewish people. In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra asked the king for permission to return to Jerusalem along with any other exile who also wished to do so. Thirteen years later, Nehemiah, appointed governor of Jerusalem by the Persian king, came and rebuilt the walls of the city. After the work was finished, the entire population of Jerusalem assembled in the square before the Water Gate; and Ezra, standing on a wooden pulpit, read the Book of the Law of Moses to the people. The priests and the Levites explained the teachings to the people, who cried and wept, until the Levites told them to rejoice and not to be sad, for this was a holy day. On the next day, the priests and the Levites met with Ezra to study the books of Moses. They read that God had commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Booths, which had not been done since the days of Joshua. The people immediately went to the fields, brought back branches of trees and built booths on their roofs, in their courtyards, and in many public places.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
| ||||||||||
Your shopping cart is empty. |