Volume II
The Book of Ezra
With John Brown’s marginal references, notes and reflections · Vol. II, p. ?
Was probably written by himself. It contains a history of eighty years; and exhibits the divine fulfilment of all those predictions of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, or others, which respected the deliverance from Babylon. It particularly informs us, (1) Upon what encouragement, and what numbers returned, i. ii. (2) How the temple was rebuilt and dedicated, notwithstanding repeated stops from their heathen neighbours, iii.-vi. (3) How Ezra, as Artaxerxes' deputy, came to Jerusalem, mourned over, and dissolved the marriages with heathen women, vii.-x. [The book of Ezra may be divided into two sections:—(1) Ch. i.-vi., containing an account of the return of the exiles from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, with the erection of the temple and the re-establishment of the Jewish worship. (2) Ch. vii.-x., detailing the journey of a second caravan of exiles under the leadership of Ezra himself. P.]