# Day 205

# Ezra Returns to Jerusalem

Ezra 7:1–10:44

Meanwhile, the Jews had been living in Judea for ninety years. Jerusalem was still a small town. Its houses were in ruins and it had no wall. The people were helpless against the desert bandits who robbed them.

In Babylon lived a Jewish priest and scribe named Ezra. He studied and kept God’s law. He also taught the law. He gathered all the ancient writings. For the first time, the Old Testament books were all together. Ezra and other priests took these scrolls to Jerusalem.

There he found that some had married people who worshiped idols. Even the Jewish leaders had done this. Their children didn’t know the Hebrew language or Israel’s God. Ezra was horrified. He stopped eating and only prayed: “We have escaped and are only the leftovers of Israel. But our guilt has piled up to heaven. We cannot face you because of this.”

While Ezra prayed, the people gathered around, sitting in heavy rain. Ezra sent away everyone who had married a foreigner. And so they left Jerusalem with their wives and children.

Questions: What did Ezra do with the ancient writings? What did Ezra find out when he came to Jerusalem?