Ezra

Sometimes referred to as ‘Ezra the Scribe’ he lived at the time of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile to the land of Israel and oversaw a renaissance in belief and practice of the Jewish people in their homeland. The book of the bible which bears his name is part of a larger work, which together is called Ezra and Nechemia. The section called ‘Ezra’ can be divided into the following sequence of events, which are thought to have been recorded for posteriety into this work by Ezra himself, since much of it is written in the first person.

The narrative covers approximately one hundred years of history, beginning with the first return of Zerubavel from Babylonia in the year 538 to the Holy Land. The first six chapters describe the first return and the rebuilding of the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter seven begins with Ezra speaking in the first person and describes events which take place about 50 years after the events which chapter six mentions. Chapters seven through ten discuss Ezra’s leadership and events which took place while he was the spiritual leader in Israel. Chapter nine includes a prayer and confession of Ezra and the decision and determination of the people to follow the commandments and cease from their sinful ways.

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