King Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple—Cyrus returns vessels of house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar.

Children of the captivity who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah are listed—Children of priests whose genealogy is lost are denied the priesthood—Faithful people contribute to building of the temple.

Altar rebuilt—Regular sacrifices reinstituted—Foundations of temple laid amid great rejoicing.

Samaritans offer help, then hinder the work—Building of temple and of walls of Jerusalem ceases.

Haggai and Zechariah prophesy—Zerubbabel renews building of temple—Samaritans challenge the Jews’ right to continue their building work.

Darius renews decree of Cyrus to build the temple—It is finished and dedicated, and sacrifices and feasts commence again.

Ezra goes up to Jerusalem—Artaxerxes provides for beautifying the temple and sustains the Jews in their worship.

Those who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem are listed—Levites are called to accompany them—Ezra and the people fast and pray for and gain guidance and protection in going to Jerusalem.

Many Jews intermarry with, and follow the abominations of, the Canaanites and others—Ezra prays, and confesses the sins of all the people.

Jews covenant to put away wives taken from Canaanites and others—Ezra assembles the people at Jerusalem—Levites who married strange wives are listed.