Detailed outline of the Book of Ezra - Exiles' return, rebuilding of the Temple, reforms introduced

  1. First Return from Exile and Rebuilding of the Temple (chs. 1–6)
    1. First Return of the Exiles (ch. 1)
      1. The edict of Cyrus (1:1–4)
      2. The return under Sheshbazzar (1:5–11)
    2. List of Returning Exiles (ch. 2)
    3. Revival of Temple Worship (ch. 3)
      1. The rebuilding of the altar (3:1–3)
      2. The Feast of Tabernacles (3:4–6)
      3. The beginning of temple reconstruction (3:7–13)
    4. Opposition to Rebuilding (4:1–23)
      1. Opposition during the reign of Cyrus (4:1–5)
      2. Opposition during the reign of Xerxes (4:6)
      3. Opposition during the reign of Artaxerxes (4:7–23)
    5. Completion of the Temple (4:24—6:22)
      1. Resumption of work under Darius (4:24)
      2. A new beginning inspired by Haggai and Zechariah (5:1–2)
      3. Intervention of the governor, Tattenai (5:3–5)
      4. Report to Darius (5:6–17)
      5. Search for the decree of Cyrus (6:1–5)
      6. Darius’s order for the rebuilding of the temple (6:6–12)
      7. Completion of the temple (6:13–15)
      8. Dedication of the temple (6:16–18)
      9. Celebration of Passover (6:19–22)
  2. Ezra’s Return and Reforms (chs. 7–10)
    1. Ezra’s Return to Jerusalem (chs. 7–8)
      1. Introduction (7:1–10)
      2. The authorization by Artaxerxes (7:11–26)
      3. Ezra’s doxology (7:27–28)
      4. List of those returning with Ezra (8:1–14)
      5. The search for Levites (8:15–20)
      6. Prayer and fasting (8:21–23)
      7. The assignment of the sacred articles (8:24–30)
      8. The journey and arrival in Jerusalem (8:31–36)
    2. Ezra’s Reforms (chs. 9–10)
      1. The offense of mixed marriages (9:1–5)
      2. Ezra’s confession and prayer (9:6–15)
      3. The people’s response (10:1–4)
      4. The calling of a public assembly (10:5–15)
      5. Investigation of the offenders (10:16–17)
      6. The list of offenders (10:18–43)
      7. The dissolution of mixed marriages (10:44)
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