Ezra 7 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Possible title: Ezra begins his religious reforms

Ezra’s geneology

Ezra’s genealogy in [7:1–5](../07/01.md) traces Ezra back to Aaron in a list of 16 ancestors. As is common in ancient genealogies, this list almost certainly does not include all of the generations between Aaron and Ezra. Aaron ([7:5](../07/05.md)) was the first high priest under the law of Moses and the first to serve in the tabernacle. Azariah ([7:3](../07/03.md)) was the first high priest to serve in the temple that Solomon built, which this book describes in [5:11](../05/11.md). Seraiah was the last high priest to serve in that temple. The Babylonians executed him when they conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The names in the list are arranged so that there will be seven generations between Aaron and Azariah, and seven generations between Azariah and Ezra, with Seraiah listed as the last generation before Ezra. If you have the freedom to use formatting creatively in your translation, you could make the implicit information about Aaron, Azariah, and Seraiah explicit and format this genealogy in a way that will highlight its purpose and design. Alternate translation and formatting for [verse 1](../07/01.md) through the first 2 words of [verse 6](../07/06.md):Ezra— the descendant of Seraiah, the last high priest in Solomon’s temple, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the descendant of Ahitub, the descendant of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the first high priest in Solomon’s temple, the descendant of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the first high priest in the tabernacle—this Ezra

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

God’s Law

The people no longer know the law of Moses. Therefore, the king allows Ezra to return to Judea to teach the people about God’s law. Many people go with him. (See: lawofmoses)