Ezra facts for kids
Ezra (pronounced EZ-ruh) was an important Jewish scribe and priest who lived around 480–440 BCE. He is also known as Ezra the Scribe or Ezra the Priest. His name might mean "God helps."
Ezra was a descendant of important priests from the First Temple in Jerusalem. He returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, where many Jewish people had been taken captive. He played a key role in bringing the Torah (God's laws) back to the people in Jerusalem. Some traditions say he was buried in Iraq, while others say he was buried in Syria.
The Book of Ezra in the Hebrew Bible tells us how he led a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon back to their homeland, Jerusalem. There, he made sure people followed the Torah, especially the laws about not marrying people from other religions. Ezra is a highly respected figure in Judaism.
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Ezra in the Hebrew Bible
The main stories about Ezra come from the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible. These books were originally written as one long scroll. Ezra was skilled in both Aramaic and Hebrew.
Around 457 BCE, King Artaxerxes I of Persia sent Ezra to Jerusalem. His mission was to teach God's laws to anyone who didn't know them. Ezra led many exiles back to Jerusalem. When he arrived, he found that Jewish men had married non-Jewish women. Ezra was very upset and prayed to God, confessing the people's sins. He then worked to end these marriages, even though some people were against it.
Later, King Artaxerxes sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. After the walls were finished, Nehemiah asked Ezra to read the Law of Moses (the Torah) to all the people. The people and priests then promised to follow God's law and keep themselves separate from other peoples.
Ezra in Jewish Traditions
In Jewish traditions, Ezra is seen as a very important leader. He is believed to have started the Great Assembly, a group of scholars and prophets who helped shape many parts of traditional Judaism that are still practiced today. This includes how the Torah reading is done, the Amidah prayer, and the celebration of the feast of Purim.
Some Jewish traditions say that Ezra wrote the Books of Chronicles. There is also a discussion among scholars about whether Ezra served as a High Priest.
According to the Talmud, Ezra made ten important rules for Jewish life. These rules helped people learn the Torah, encouraged modesty, and set up daily routines. For example, he made sure that courts were open on Mondays and Thursdays, and that women would prepare for the Sabbath by doing laundry and baking bread.
Ezra in Other Religions
Ezra is also mentioned in other religious traditions:
- In Christian Traditions: Early Christian writers sometimes mentioned Ezra, especially in connection with other books attributed to him that contained prophecies.
- In Islam: Ezra is known as Uzair. He is mentioned in the Quran. While not always listed as a prophet, some Muslim scholars consider him one. His tomb near Basra, Iraq, is a place of pilgrimage for some.
Academic Views on Ezra
Many historians believe Ezra was a real person. They think his story in the Bible was made even more important to show his role as a "father of Judaism." Some scholars point out that Ezra's role as a leader and lawgiver is similar to that of Moses.
Some experts, like Richard Elliott Friedman, suggest that Ezra played a big part in putting together the Torah as we know it today. Even if he didn't write it all, he was very important in bringing these sacred texts together.
Images for kids
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The return from exile is depicted in this woodcut for Die Bibel in Bildern, 1860, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld.
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Site traditionally described as the tomb of Ezra at Al-Uzayr near Basra, Iraq
See also
In Spanish: Esdras para niños
