[1] 1:1 first year That is, 538 b.c.
[2] 1:1 Lord's message . Jeremiah See Jer. 25:12-14.
[3] 1:4 survivors People who escaped some disaster. Here, this means the Jewish people who survived the destruction of Judah and Israel by its enemy armies.
[4] 1:8 Sheshbazzar This is possibly the man named Zerubbabel. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar is the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel is the second. Also in verse 11.
[5] 2:2 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.
[6] 2:62 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[7] 2:63 Urim The Urim and Thummim were probably small stone, metal, or wooden pieces that the high priest kept in the judgment pouch he wore. They were used, perhaps like dice, to get answers from God. See Ex. 28:30.
[8] 2:63 Thummim See "Urim."
[9] 2:69 1100 pounds Literally, "61,000 drachmas" (about 526 kg).
[10] 2:69 4 tons Literally, "5000 minas" (3450 kg).
[11] 3:1 seventh month That is, September-October, 538 b.c.
[12] 3:2 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second. Also in verse 8.
[13] 3:3 burnt offering A gift to God. Usually these were animals that were killed and completely burned on the altar.
[14] 3:4 Festival of Shelters A special week each year when the Israelites, and later the Jews, lived in tents to remember that their people wandered in the desert for 40 years during the time of Moses.
[15] 3:5 New Moon The first day of the month for Israelites or Jews, which they celebrated as a special day of rest and worship. The people met together and shared in the fellowship offerings like those described in Lev. 7:16-21.
[16] 3:8 second month That is, April-May, 536 b.c.
[17] 3:11 response songs Songs where one group (Levites) sang one part and the other group (the people) responded with another part. Here, these are probably Ps. 111-118 and Ps. 136.
[18] 4:1-2 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.
[19] 4:6 Xerxes King of Persia about 485-465 b.c.
[20] 4:7 Artaxerxes The king of Persia about 465-424 b.c. He was the son of Xerxes. See Ezra 4:7; 7:1.
[21] 4:7 Aramaic The official language of the ancient Persian empire. Similar to Hebrew, it later became the common language of many Jews and is the spoken "Hebrew" referred to in the New Testament.
[22] 4:7 The letter . translated Or, "The letter was written in the local language, but with Aramaic characters, and then translated into Aramaic." This would mean the scribe used the "modern" Aramaic alphabet rather than the older alphabet that was still being used in Judah.
[23] 4:8 Here, the original language changes from Hebrew to Aramaic.
[24] 4:12 building the walls This was a way of protecting a city, but these men wanted the king to think that the Jews were preparing to rebel against the king.
[25] 4:20 tribute Money paid to a foreign king or nation for protection.
[26] 4:24 work stopped . Temple Here, this refers to the time of Xerxes, when work on the Temple was stopped, not to the time of Artaxerxes, when work on the walls around Jerusalem was stopped.
[27] 4:24 second year That is, 520 b.c.
[28] 5:1 Haggai See Hag. 1:1.
[29] 5:1 Zechariah son of Iddo See Zech. 1:1.
[30] 5:1 prophesy To speak or teach things from God.
[31] 5:2 Zerubbabel This is possibly the man named Sheshbazzar. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel was the second.
[32] 5:12 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[33] 5:14 Sheshbazzar This is possibly the man named Zerubbabel. If they are not the same man, then Sheshbazzar is the first governor of Judah, and Zerubbabel is the second.
[34] 6:2 scroll A long roll of paper or leather used for writing on.
[35] 6:2 fortress A building or city with tall, strong walls for protection.
[36] 6:3 60 cubits 102' 3/8" (31.1 m).
[37] 6:4 large stones Or, "marble stones."
[38] 6:15 third . Adar That is, February-March. Some ancient writers have "23rd of Adar."
[39] 6:15 the sixth year . Darius That is, 515 b.c.
[40] 6:16 dedication The act of dedicating something to God. See "dedicate."
[41] 6:17 sin offering Or "purification offering," a sacrifice that was offered to God to remove impurities from sin and make a person fit to worship God.
[42] 6:19 Here, the original language changes from Aramaic back to Hebrew.
[43] 6:19 first month That is, March-April, 515 b.c.
[44] 6:19 Passover A very important holy day for the people of Israel and their descendants. They ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God freed them from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. The name may come from the word in Ex. 12:13, 23, 27 that means "to pass over" or "to protect."
[45] 6:21 unclean Or "unacceptable." Not pure or not fit to be eaten or used in worshiping God. See Lev. 11-15 for the Old Testament rules about clean and unclean things.
[46] 6:22 Festival of Unleavened Bread An important and holy week for the people of Israel and their descendants. In the time of the Old Testament it began the day after Passover, but by New Testament times the two festivals had become one. To prepare for it, the people threw out all their yeast and ate only bread without yeast for seven days."
[47] 6:22 king of Assyria This probably means King Darius of Persia.
[48] 7:1 After these things There is a time period of 58 years between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. The story of Esther takes place at this time.
[49] 7:1 Artaxerxes The king of Persia about 465-424 b.c. He was the son of Xerxes. See Ezra 4:7; 7:1.
[50] 7:6 teacher Literally, "scribe." This was a person who made copies of books. These men studied those books and became teachers.
[51] 7:8 fifth month That is, July-August, 458 b.c.
[52] 7:11 Artaxerxes The king of Persia about 465-424 b.c. He was the son of Xerxes. See Ezra 4:7; 7:1.
[53] 7:12 Here, the text changes from Hebrew to Aramaic.
[54] 7:22 3 3/4 tons Literally, "100 talents" (3450 kg).
[55] 7:22 600 bushels Literally, "100 cors" (22,000 l).
[56] 7:22 600 gallons Literally, "100 baths" (2200 l).
[57] 7:27 Here, the text changes from Aramaic to Hebrew.
[58] 7:27 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[59] 8:20 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[60] 8:21 fast To live without food for a time of prayer or mourning.
[61] 8:26 25 tons Literally, "650 talents" (22,425 kg).
[62] 8:26 7500 pounds Literally, "100 talents" (3450 kg).
[63] 8:27 19 pounds Literally, "1000 darics" (about 8.63 kg).
[64] 8:31 first month That is, March-April, 458 b.c.
[65] 8:35 sin offering Or "purification offering," a sacrifice that was offered to God to remove impurities from sin and make a person fit to worship God.
[66] 8:36 satrap An official who ruled over a Persian province.
[67] 9:7 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[68] 10:9 ninth month That is, November-December.
[69] 10:11 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
[70] 10:14 elders (Old Testament) Older men who were city leaders and helped make decisions for the people.
[71] 10:16 tenth month That is, December-January.
[72] 10:17 first month That is, March-April.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.