Who was Ezra in the Bible? Ezra was an important figure in the Old Testament of the Bible. Here is an overview of who Ezra was and his significance: Background – Ezra was a priest and scribe who led a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon back to Jerusalem around 458 BC (Ezra 7:1-10). He was well-versed in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6). – Ezra came to Jerusalem about 60 years after Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back and rebuilt the temple. Jerusalem still lied in ruins during Ezra’s time (Ezra 9:9). – The Persian King Artaxerxes…
Author: Emma Price
David was one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament. He is introduced in 1 Samuel 16 as the youngest son of Jesse from Bethlehem. When the prophet Samuel goes to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel, David – though insignificant in the eyes of his own family – is chosen by God. David soon gained fame as a courageous warrior who trusted in God to deliver him from physically superior foes. As a boy, he killed the Philistine giant Goliath with just a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17). He went…
Who was Ruth in the Bible? Ruth was a Moabite woman who lived during the time of the judges in Israel. She married an Israelite man named Mahlon who had moved to Moab with his family during a famine in Israel. After her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law died, Ruth chose to accompany her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem in Israel, despite the fact that as a foreigner she faced hardship and uncertainty there. Ruth demonstrated remarkable faithfulness and devotion to Naomi by refusing to abandon her even after Naomi encouraged her to return to her own family and gods in…
Ecclesiastes 7:3 says “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” This verse speaks to a profound truth about the nature of sorrow and its ability to impact our hearts for the better. In order to understand this verse fully, we must examine the context. Ecclesiastes contains the philosophical musings of King Solomon as he reflects on the meaning of life “under the sun” (without God). Solomon explores the vanity of pleasure, wisdom, labor, and more. This verse comes as part of his thesis that acceptance of mortality and life’s difficulties leads to…
The Edict of Milan was a proclamation issued in 313 AD by the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius that granted religious toleration and legal rights to Christians in the Roman Empire. Here is a 9,000 word article explaining what the Bible says about this historic edict and its implications: The Edict of Milan was a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity. For the previous two centuries, Christians had faced overt persecution from the Roman authorities. They were seen as a dangerous sect that undermined traditional Roman religious practices. Several emperors had instituted laws aimed at suppressing Christianity in…
Zerubbabel was an important figure in the history of Israel during the time of the return from the Babylonian exile. Here is a 9,000 word overview of who Zerubbabel was according to the Bible: Zerubbabel’s Family Background The Bible first introduces Zerubbabel in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 3:19 states that Zerubbabel was the son of Pedaiah and the grandson of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the son of King Jeconiah, who was one of the last kings before the exile to Babylon (1 Chronicles 3:17). So Zerubbabel was part of the Davidic royal lineage. In Ezra 3:2 and Haggai…
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) is a Bible translation of the Old and New Testaments into English. It was produced by Robert Young, compiler of the analytical concordance known as Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible and Concise Critical Comments on the New Testament. Young produced his translation in the mid-19th century (1862 for the Old Testament and 1898 for the New Testament). The most distinctive feature of Young’s Literal Translation is that it translates the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts into English as literally as possible. Young sought to adhere very closely to the original languages and grammatical structures,…
The Book of Habakkuk is one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. It records a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God concerning injustice in Judah and God’s use of the Babylonians to punish Judah. Some key themes in Habakkuk include living by faith, God’s sovereignty, God’s justice, and waiting patiently on the Lord. Background Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah around 600 BC, likely during the reign of King Jehoiakim. The Babylonians were growing in power and would soon conquer Judah. Habakkuk grappled with how God could use such a wicked nation to punish His chosen people.…
Jacob was one of the most prominent figures in the Old Testament. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. Jacob’s life story spans multiple chapters in the book of Genesis, and he plays a central role in the history of the nation of Israel. Here is an overview of Jacob’s life and significance according to the Bible: Jacob’s Birth and Early Life Jacob and his twin brother Esau were born to Isaac and Rebekah after Isaac prayed for Rebekah to conceive (Genesis 25:21). Even in the womb, Jacob and Esau struggled against each other…
The Book of Joel is the second of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. Joel likely wrote it between 835 and 800 B.C. The book is comprised of three chapters and focuses primarily on two major events: a devastating locust plague that had recently occurred in Judah and a future judgment of all nations by God. Chapter 1 describes the locust plague that had recently afflicted Judah. Joel urges the priests to weep and lament this terrible judgment from God. He calls on all inhabitants of Judah to repent in sackcloth and fasting. Joel also commands that a…