Joe: Alright, so, we got a Bible expert on the show today. Let's talk about the book of Ezra.

Bible Expert: Well, Ezra 1 is all about the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon.

Joe: Hold on, are you talking about the ancient Babylon?

Bible Expert: Yes, it was an ancient kingdom in what is now modern day Iraq.

Joe: Wow, that's incredible. So, what did the Israelites do when they returned home?

Bible Expert: Well, the first thing they did was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This was done in accordance with the edict from Cyrus, the King of Persia.

Joe: Interesting. So, this was a big project?

Bible Expert: Absolutely. It took several years to complete, and it required a lot of labor and resources.

Joe: Unbelievable. So, were there any other significant events in Ezra 1?

Bible Expert: Yes, during the rebuilding of the temple, the people also rededicated themselves to following the law of Moses. They celebrated the Passover, and they also read the Torah aloud to the people.

Joe: That's amazing. So, what was the outcome of all this?

Bible Expert: Well, the people were filled with joy and they celebrated the rebuilding of the temple with an offering of one hundred bulls, one hundred rams, and one hundred lambs. This was a sign of their commitment to following the law of Moses.