outline of Ezra

1.  Return of the Exiles and Rebuilding of the Temple (chs. 1-6)

1. Return of the Exiles (chs. 1; 2)

   1.  The Decree of Cyrus (1:1-4)
   2.  Preparations for Returning (1:5-11)
   3.  The List of Returnees (ch. 2)
    

2. Rebuilding the Temple (chs. 3-6)

   1.  Rebuilding of the Altar (3:1-6)
   2.  Rebuilding of the Temple Proper (3:7-6:22)
        a.  Rebuilding Begun (3:7-13)
        b.  Opposition to Rebuilding (ch. 4)
        c.  Rebuilding Resumed (5:1, 2)
        d.  Opposition to Rebuilding (5:3-6:12)
        e.  Rebuilding Completed (6:13-22)

2.  Return of Ezra and Rebuilding of the Community (chs. 7-10)

1. Return of Ezra (chs. 7; 8)

   1.  Ezra's Return (7:1-10)
   2.  Ezra's Commission (7:11-26)
   3.  Ezra's Doxology (7:27, 28)
   4.  Ezra's Companions (8:1-14)
   5.  Ezra's Return (8:15-36)
    

2. Rebuilding of the Community (chs. 9; 10)

   1.  Ezra's Reaction to Intermarriage (ch. 9)
        a.  Ezra Hears (9:1, 2)
        b.  Ezra Grieves (9:3, 4)
        c.  Ezra Confesses (9:5-15)
   
   2.  The People's Reaction to Ezra (ch. 10)
        a.  The People Grieve (10:1)
        b.  The People Confess (10:2)
        c.  The People Repent (10:3-17)
        d.  The People Who Were Guilty (10:18-44)