The Old Testament Book of Ezra tells the story of the people of God returning from their two generation long exile in Babylon, present day Iraq. Their Babylonian conquerors had in turn been conquered by the Persians (present day Iranians.) The Persian king released the Jews (called the Jews since the only tribes left was that of Judah and Benjamin) to return to their homeland. The stated reason in Ezra is because God has “charged me [i.e., the king of Persia!] to build him a house in Jerusalem.” So accordingly the exiles returned to the Holy Land “to go up to build the house of the Lord.” In the Bible, therefore, the people of God exist not for their own comfort but to praise God.
