1 Esdras
1 Esdras has 9 chapters. Read 1 Esdras in the Brenton Septuagint Translation, chapter by chapter, free and without an account.
1 Esdras recounts Josiah’s Passover, Jerusalem’s fall, and the return of exiles to rebuild the temple. A debate among three royal guards places Zerubbabel’s praise of truth at the center of the restoration story. The later chapters follow Ezra’s journey, a crisis over marriages, and the public reading and explanation of the law.
1 Esdras is received in Orthodox Bibles, following the Greek Septuagint, and printed in the Apocrypha of some Protestant Bibles. It is not in the Catholic or Protestant canons or the Jewish Tanakh. See it on the shelf.
1 Esdras 1 moves from Josiah's great Passover and death to Judah's decline, Jerusalem's fall, and exile in Babylon.
1 Esdras 2 recounts Cyrus's restoration decree and sacred vessels before hostile accusations stop Jerusalem's rebuilding.
1 Esdras 3 introduces the three guards' contest before Darius and the first argument that wine is strongest.
1 Esdras 4 tells how Zerubbabel's declaration that truth is strongest wins Darius's support for rebuilding Jerusalem.
1 Esdras 5 follows the return under Zerubbabel, restored worship, temple foundations, mixed joy and tears, and opposition.
1 Esdras 6 recounts the prophets' encouragement, the resumed temple work, and Darius's confirmation of Cyrus's decree.
1 Esdras 7 celebrates the completed temple, its dedication, restored priestly service, Passover, and communal joy.
1 Esdras 8 follows Ezra's commissioned return, fasting and safe journey, temple gifts, confession, and call for reform.
1 Esdras 9 moves from difficult marriage reforms to Ezra's public reading of the law, generosity, and renewed joy.