I. Political, Administrative, and Legal Terms (Persian Period Context):;xNLx;;xNLx;Decree / Edict (e.g., Ezra 1:1; 4:19, 21; 5:3, 9, 13, 17; 6:1, 3, 8, 11-12; 7:13, 21): An official order, proclamation, or law issued by a ruler or governing authority, in this case, primarily by Persian kings like Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, authorizing the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the Temple.;xNLx;King of Persia (e.g., Ezra 1:1-2, 8; 3:7; 4:3, 5, 7, 24; 5:13, 17; 6:1, 3, 14-15, 22; 7:1, 7): The supreme ruler of the Persian Empire, which had conquered Babylon and controlled the territories where the Jewish exiles lived and to which they returned. Key Persian kings mentioned are Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.;xNLx;Governor (e.g., Ezra 5:3, 6, 14; 6:6-7, 13; 8:36): A high-ranking official appointed by the Persian king to rule over a province or region (satrapy) of the empire. Tattenai was the governor "Beyond the River" (the Trans-Euphrates province). Zerubbabel is also referred to as a governor (Haggai 1:1).;xNLx;Province Beyond the River / Trans-Euphrates (e.g., Ezra 4:10-11, 16-17, 20; 5:3, 6; 6:6, 13; 7:21, 25; 8:36): The Persian administrative district west of the Euphrates River, which included Judah and Jerusalem.;xNLx;Satrap (Implied by "governor," as satraps were governors of major Persian provinces. The "governor Beyond the River" would have been a satrap or reported to one): The governor of a major province (satrapy) in the Persian Empire.;xNLx;Treasurer (e.g., Ezra 1:8; 7:21): An official responsible for managing the funds and valuable items of the royal court or the temple. Mithredath was the treasurer for King Cyrus.;xNLx;Tribute / Tax / Custom / Toll (e.g., Ezra 4:13, 20; 6:8; 7:24): Various forms of payment (in money, goods, or services) exacted by the ruling Persian Empire from its subject peoples and provinces, including the returned Jewish community. The decree of Artaxerxes exempted Temple personnel from certain taxes.;xNLx;Royal Archives / Treasury / House of the Rolls (Ezra 5:17; 6:1): The place where official documents, records, decrees, and historical annals of the Persian Empire were stored. A search was made in these archives to find Cyrus's original decree concerning the Temple.;xNLx;Letter / Dispatch (e.g., Ezra 4:7-8, 11, 17-18, 23; 5:5-7; 7:11): Official correspondence between Persian officials, or between local officials and the Persian king, often concerning administrative matters, requests, or accusations. Many of these are quoted in Ezra.;xNLx;Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe (Ezra 4:8-9, 17, 23): Persian officials in Samaria who wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes to stop the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, accusing the Jews of rebellious intent.;xNLx;Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7-23; 7:1-28; 8:1): A king of Persia. Two kings by this name are relevant: Artaxerxes I, who initially halted the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls (Ezra 4) but later commissioned Ezra (Ezra 7), is generally accepted. Some scholars debate if references in chapter 4 could be to a different ruler.;xNLx;Darius (Ezra 4:5, 24; 5:5-7; 6:1-15): A king of Persia (Darius I or Darius the Great) who, after a search of the archives confirmed Cyrus's decree, authorized the continuation of the Temple rebuilding and provided resources for it.;xNLx;Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-8; 3:7; 4:3, 5; 5:13-17; 6:3, 14): The founder of the Persian Empire who conquered Babylon and issued the decree in 539/538 BC allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.;xNLx;Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1:8, 11; 5:14, 16): Called "the prince of Judah," he was appointed by Cyrus to lead the first group of returning exiles and was given the Temple vessels. He laid the foundation of the Temple. Some identify him with Zerubbabel, or as an earlier, distinct leader.;xNLx;Zerubbabel (e.g., Ezra 2:2; 3:2, 8; 4:2-3; 5:2; Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; Zechariah 4:6-10): A descendant of David and a key leader of the returning exiles, serving as governor of Judah under the Persians. He played a crucial role in rebuilding the Temple alongside Jeshua the high priest.;xNLx;Jeshua / Joshua (the high priest) (e.g., Ezra 2:2; 3:2, 8-9; 4:3; 5:2; 10:18; Nehemiah 7:7; Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; Zechariah 3:1-9; 6:11): The high priest who returned with Zerubbabel and was instrumental in restoring the altar and Temple worship.;xNLx;Heads of fathers' houses / Chiefs of the fathers (e.g., Ezra 1:5; 2:68; 3:12; 4:2-3; 8:1; 10:16): Leaders of the main family or clan groups within the Jewish community, who played a significant role in decision-making and organizing the return and rebuilding efforts.;xNLx;II. Temple, Religious, and Cultic Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;House of God / House of the LORD / Temple (e.g., Ezra 1:2-7; 2:68; 3:3-13; 4:1, 3-5, 24; Chapters 5-6 [rebuilding]; 7:15-20, 23-24, 27; 8:17, 25, 29-30, 33, 36; 9:9; 10:1, 6, 9): The central sanctuary in Jerusalem dedicated to the worship of Yahweh, the rebuilding of which is a primary focus of the first half of Ezra.;xNLx;Altar (Ezra 3:2-3): The structure for offering sacrifices. The returning exiles first rebuilt the altar of burnt offering to restore the sacrificial system.;xNLx;Foundations (of the Temple) (Ezra 3:6, 10-12; 4:1-2; 5:2, 16): The base structure upon which the Temple was to be rebuilt. Laying the foundation was a significant and emotional event.;xNLx;Sacrifice / Offering (Burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings) (e.g., Ezra 3:2-5; 6:9-10, 17; 7:17; 8:35; 9:2, 4 [figurative, "trembled at the words"]; 10:19): Ritual presentations to God. The restoration of sacrificial worship was a priority for the returning exiles.;xNLx;Priests (e.g., Ezra 1:5; 2:36-39, 61-63, 70; 3:2, 8, 10, 12; 6:16, 18, 20; 7:5, 7, 11-12, 21, 24; 8:15, 24, 29-30, 33; Chapter 9-10 [many involved in mixed marriages]): Descendants of Aaron responsible for officiating at sacrifices, leading worship, and teaching the Law.;xNLx;Levites (e.g., Ezra 1:5; 2:40-42, 70; 3:8-10, 12; 6:16, 18, 20; 7:7, 13, 24; 8:15-20, 30, 33; 9:1; 10:5, 15, 23-24): Members of the tribe of Levi who assisted the priests in Temple service, including music, gatekeeping, and other duties.;xNLx;Singers / Gatekeepers / Temple Servants (Nethinim) (e.g., Ezra 2:41-42, 43-54, 58, 70; 3:10; 7:7, 24; 8:17, 20; 10:24): Specific classes of Levites or other Temple personnel with designated roles in worship and the maintenance of the sanctuary.;xNLx;Nethinim: Temple servants assigned to assist the Levites, possibly descendants of earlier temple servitors or captives dedicated to temple service.;xNLx;Vessels (of the House of the LORD) (Ezra 1:7-11; 5:14-15; 6:5; 7:19; 8:25-30, 33-34): The sacred utensils (bowls, dishes, etc.) made of gold and silver that had been taken from Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar and were returned by Cyrus for use in the rebuilt Temple.;xNLx;Scribe (Ezra 7:6, 11-12, 21): A highly educated person skilled in writing, copying, interpreting, and teaching the Law of Moses. Ezra was a "scribe skilled in the Law of Moses.";xNLx;Law of Moses / Law of God / Law of your God (e.g., Ezra 3:2; 6:18; 7:6, 10, 12, 14, 21, 25-26; 9:11; 10:3): The body of divine instruction and commandments given through Moses, found in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). Adherence to this Law was central to Ezra's reforms.;xNLx;Assembly / Congregation (e.g., Ezra 2:64-65; 3:1; 6:16; 8:35; 9:4; 10:1, 7-9, 12, 14): The gathering of the returned exiles or the Jewish community for religious, legal, or communal purposes.;xNLx;Holy Seed (Ezra 9:2): A term used to describe the people of Israel as set apart by God, emphasizing the concern about intermarriage with foreign peoples which could dilute this unique identity and lead to religious compromise.;xNLx;Intermarriage / Mixed Marriages (Ezra Chapters 9-10): Marriages between Israelites (especially priests and Levites) and the non-Jewish peoples of the land (e.g., Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, Amorites). This was seen as a violation of God's Law and a threat to the religious purity and covenant faithfulness of the community, leading to a major crisis and reform under Ezra.;xNLx;Oath / Swear (e.g., Ezra 10:3, 5): A solemn promise, often invoking God as a witness, to undertake a particular course of action. The people took an oath to put away their foreign wives.;xNLx;Fast / Fasting (Ezra 8:21-23; 9:5 [implied context of mourning]; 10:6): Abstaining from food (and sometimes drink) for a period, usually for purposes of prayer, repentance, seeking God's guidance, or mourning.;xNLx;Freewill Offering (e.g., Ezra 1:4, 6; 2:68; 3:5; 7:13, 15-16; 8:28): Voluntary gifts or contributions given for the rebuilding of the Temple or for its services, beyond what was required.;xNLx;Passover (Ezra 6:19-22): The annual feast commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt, celebrated by the returned exiles after the dedication of the rebuilt Temple.;xNLx;Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ezra 6:22): The seven-day festival following Passover, during which unleavened bread was eaten.;xNLx;Dedication (of the Temple) (Ezra 6:16-18): The formal ceremonies and sacrifices to consecrate the rebuilt Temple for God's service.;xNLx;III. Social and General Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Exiles / Returned Exiles / People of the Exile / Community of the Exile (Throughout Ezra): The Jewish people who had been deported to Babylon and those who subsequently returned to Judah and Jerusalem under Persian decrees.;xNLx;Adversaries / Enemies (Ezra 4:1; 5:5 [implied through opposition]): Those who opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of Jerusalem, including some of the "peoples of the land" or officials in Samaria.;xNLx;People(s) of the land (Ezra 3:3; 4:4; 9:1-2, 11; 10:2, 11): The non-Jewish inhabitants of Judah and surrounding areas, including those who had been settled there by the Assyrians or who had intermarried with Israelites. Their influence and intermarriages with them were a major concern for Ezra and the leaders.;xNLx;Genealogy / Record of enrollment (Ezra 2:1-63; 8:1-14; see also Nehemiah 7): Lists tracing lineage and family connections, which were crucial for establishing identity, rights (especially for priests and Levites), and participation in the restored community.;xNLx;Daric (Ezra 2:69; 8:27; Nehemiah 7:70-72): A Persian gold coin, named after King Darius.;xNLx;Mina (Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:71-72): A unit of weight and money (silver or gold).;xNLx;This list provides definitions for many of the key terms encountered in the Book of Ezra (ESV). Understanding these within their historical, cultural, and religious context is essential for appreciating the challenges and triumphs of the Jewish community in the early post-exilic period as they sought to restore their worship and community according to God's Law.