Ezra

I. Decree of Cyrus the Persian (1:1-4)

II. Return of the Exiles Led by Sheshbazzar to Jerusalem (1:5-11)

III. Return of Exiles Led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua to Jerusalem (2:1-6:22)

A. List of those who returned (2:1-67)
B. Temple building fund (2:68-69)
C. Living arrangements (2:70)
D. Rebuilding of Temple (3:1-6:18)

1. Initial preparations (3:1-9)
2. Laying the foundation (3:10-13)
3. Opposition halts the rebuilding (4:1-24)
4. Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua encourage people (5:1-2)
5. Darius allows rebuilding to continue (5:3-6:13)
6. Work proceeds well (6:14)
7. Completion of Temple (6:15)
8. Dedication of Temple (6:16-18)

E. Celebration of Passover (6:19-22)

IV. Work of Ezra (7:1-10:44)

A. Introduction (7:1-6)
B. Ezra's journey and companions (7:7-10)
C. Artaxerxes' letter empowering Ezra (7:11-26)
D. Ezra's expression of thanks to God (7:27-28)
E. Ezra's journey (8:1-36)

1. His companions (8:1-20)
2. Prayer and fasting for a safe journey (8:21-23)
3. Priests and Levites carry gold, silver, and vessels (8:24-30)
4. Journey (8:31-32)
5. Gold, silver, and vessels delivered (8:33-34)
6. Further actions after arrival in Jerusalem (8:35-36)

F. Problem of Jews who married non-Jewish women (9:1-10:44)

1. Ezra discovers the problem (9:1-4)
2. Ezra's prayer of confession (9:5-15)
3. People seek to repent (10:1-5)
4. Required meeting in Jerusalem (10:6-8)
5. Ezra leads people in confession (10:9-15)
6. Investigative committee formed (10:16-17)
7. List of those married to non-Jewish women (10:18-44)