Ezra 2 - Introduction

Chapter Two
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

1.

Why do you suppose this list of names and numbers was regarded as important enough to be included in the Bible?

2.

Does this list give you any mental image of the kinds of people that made the trip?

3.

Do you suppose they all remained, after they arrived?

4.

What can you figure out about their financial status?

5.

How does their number compare with those who came originally from Egypt into the Promised Land under Moses and Joshua?

OUTLINE

B.

This is a list of the leaders and groups among the returnees.

1.

Their leaders (Ezra 2:1-2 a).

2.

Men of the people (Ezra 2:2-20).

3.

Men of certain towns (Ezra 2:21-35).

4.

Men of certain classes: Priests, Levites, Temple servants (Ezra 2:36-58).

5.

Some whose ancestral records were lost (Ezra 2:59-63).

6.

Totals (Ezra 2:64-65).

7.

Number of their livestock (Ezra 2:66-67).

8.

Their offering for restoring the Temple (Ezra 2:68-69).

9.

Their location in the land (Ezra 2:70).

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.

Is Ezra named among the returnees?

2.

Who is the one most prominent person mentioned?

3.

What groups of people were mentioned?

4.

How would you have changed the order of these groups, if you had been writing the story?

5.

What reminder is in the list, of a prophecy of Jeremiah? of Isaiah?