CHAPTER VIII

The Greek Ezra

(1 (3) Esdras)

[LITERATURE.—Fritzsche, in _Exegetisches Handbuch zu den Apokryphen_ (1851); Lupton, in Wace, I, pp. 1-69; Sir H. H. Howorth in the _Academy_ (1893), and in the _Proceedings_ of the “Society for Biblical Archæology” (1901-1902); Torrey, _Ezra Studies_ (1910); S. A. Cook, in Charles, I, pp. 1-58. The articles by Thackeray in Hastings’ _Dict. of the Bible_, and by Volz in the _Encycl. Bibl._]

I. THE TITLE OF THE BOOK

The book now to be considered has, with few exceptions, been treated with scant respect by scholars for many centuries. Jerome, in his Preface to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, condemned both the Esdras books in our Apocrypha with their “dreams,” and the Church has followed him in relegating them to a very inferior position. It is only during the last decade or so that, owing, in the main, to the labours of Sir Henry Howorth, scholars have come to realize the importance of 1 (3) Esdras, with which we are at present concerned.

The various titles of the Ezra books are apt, thanks largely to Jerome, to cause confusion; it will therefore, be advisable to set forth these different titles in tabular form, which will also explain how they have arisen:

_Hebrew _Septuagint_ _Vulgate_ _English _English Bible_ Bible_ Apocrypha_

Ezra[457] } { 1 Esdras Ezra Nehemiah[457] } 2 Esdras, { 2 Esdras Nehemiah 2 Esdras } or Esdras B. { i. ii.[458]

{ 1 Esdras, or Esdras } { A, together with 2 } { Chronicles xxxv., } Ezra { xxxvi. and most of } 3 Esdras Ezra 1 Esdras { Nehemiah viii. (the } { “Greek Ezra”). }

Not extant 4 Esdras 2 Esdras iii.-xiv.

No equivalent 5 Esdras 2 Esdras xv., xvi.

It will conduce to clearness if we speak of our present book as the “Greek Ezra” and ignore these confusing titles. By the “Hebrew Ezra” is meant, of course, the canonical book of Ezra.

II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOK

As will be seen by referring to the table given above, the contents of our book correspond substantially with parts of the canonical Scriptures[459]; but the “Greek Ezra” does not run wholly parallel with the “Hebrew Ezra,” so that in enumerating the contents of the former it will be necessary to record against each section to what passage in the canonical Scriptures it corresponds, whether to some passage in the “Hebrew Ezra,” or in 2 Chronicles, or in Nehemiah.

i. 1-58 (= 2 Chron. xxxv., xxxvi. 1-21): The book begins very abruptly with a long account of Josiah’s celebration of the Passover in Jerusalem (verses 1-24). Then follows the story of Josiah’s death at the battle of Megiddo where he was defeated by the king of Egypt; reference is made to “the book of the histories of the kings of Judæa,” where these things are written (verses 25-33). The rest of the section deals with Josiah’s successors down to the destruction of Jerusalem (verses 34-58).

ii. 1-15 (= 2 Chron. xxxvi. 22, 23 and Ezra i. 1-11): Cyrus the Persian issues a decree permitting the return of the people and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem; the sacred vessels of the Temple are given back.

ii. 16-30 (= Ezra iv. 7-24): The Samaritans address a letter to Artaxerxes accusing the Jews of the intention to rebel in rebuilding the walls of the city, and warning him of what the result will be if the building is persisted in (verses 16-24). The purpose of the letter is successful, and the building ceases until the second year of Darius (verses 25-30).

iii. 1-v. 3 (no corresponding passage in the canonical Scriptures): The wisdom competition among three young men of Darius’ bodyguard. Zerubbabel proves himself to be wisest and is rewarded by the king (iii. 1-iv. 46); the reward consists in granting Zerubbabel his request that the king would issue a decree permitting the Jews to return to their country and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple (iv. 47-57). Zerubbabel’s thanksgiving (iv. 58-63), and the return of the exiles (v. 1-3).