Esdras

(Greek form of Ezra), The First Book of, the first in order of the apocryphal books in the English Bible. The first chapter is a transcript of the last two chapters of 2 Chron., for the most part verbatim, and only in one or two parts slightly abridged and paraphrased. Chapters 3,4, and 5 to the end of ver. 6, are the original portions of the book, and the rest is a transcript more or less exact of the book of Ezra, with the chapters transposed and quite otherwise arranged, and a portion of Nehemiah. Hence a twofold design in the compiler is discernible—one to introduce and give scriptural sanction to the legend about Zerubbabel; the other to explain the great obscurities of the book of Ezra, in which, however, he has signally failed. Its author is unknown, and it was probably written in Egypt. It has no historical value. the form of the name of Ezra the scribe in 1 and 2 Esdras.

ES'DRAS, THE BOOKS OF. These two Apocryphal books are not of any historical value. First Esdras is little more than a compilation, after the Septuagint, of the canonical Ezra, prefaced by the last two chapters of 2 Chronicles, with a piece of Nehemiah at the end. It contains a history of the temple and its services from Josiah to Ezra. But chs. 3 and 4 are original, and contain a legend of a contest in wisdom between Zerubbabel and two others, held before Darius. The question in debate was, "Which is the strongest power?" The king was so much pleased with Zerubbabel's answer that he promised to give him anything he might ask, and, further, a seat next him and the name of "cousin." Zerubbabel took this occasion to ask that the Jews might have permission to rebuild their city and temple. The book breaks off abruptly; indeed, the present First Esdras seems to be only a fragment of a much larger work. We do not know the name of the compiler. It was probably written in Egypt, some time in the second century b.c. Its object was to present a picture of the liberality of Cyrus and Darius toward the Jews as a pattern to the heathen rulers of Judaea in the author's time. Second Esdras is of less value than First. It exists in a Latin translation. The Greek original has not been found. It is, however, curious as a revelation of the Jewish mind of the day upon their future. It purports to contain a series of visions vouchsafed to Ezra. They are upon certain mysteries in the moral world and the final triumph of the righteous. The book was written in Egypt, probably before Christ, but interpolated by Christians.