Ezra was a priest and scribe who led a group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem and played a key role in the spiritual reformation of the people.
Ezra was a prominent Jewish priest and scribe who lived during the Persian period. He was a descendant of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Ezr.7.1-5). Ezra was known for his devotion to the study and teaching of the Law of Moses (Ezr.7.6, 10). He led a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes of Persia (Ezr.7.7-8). Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many of the Jews, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the pagan peoples of the land (Ezr.9.1-2). Ezra prayed and confessed the sins of the people, leading to a spiritual reformation and the dissolution of the mixed marriages (Ezra 10). Ezra also played a significant role in teaching the Law to the people and leading them in a covenant renewal ceremony (Nehemiah 8). He worked closely with Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, in rebuilding Jerusalem and restoring the spiritual life of the Jewish community (Neh.12.26, 36).
Ezra and Nehemiah: scribe and governor
WorkStated in the textEzra led a group to Jerusalem with Artaxerxes' authority, and Nehemiah, cupbearer to Artaxerxes, rebuilt the walls. They appear together at the reading of the law in Nehemiah 8 and at the wall dedication.
Where the text shows it: Ezra 7:1-10 — Ezra's missionNeh 2:1-8 — Nehemiah's commissionNeh 8:9 — Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribeNeh 12:36 — Ezra at the wall dedication Sources: Ezra 7:1-10 · Neh 2:1-8 · Neh 8:9 · Neh 12:36
Ezra before or after Nehemiah?
RoleDebatedEzra arrives in Artaxerxes' seventh year and Nehemiah in his twentieth, which gives the traditional order Ezra then Nehemiah. Some scholars, observing that Ezra finds the city lightly populated and Nehemiah alone reorganises it, propose a different king or reverse order.
Where the text shows it: Ezra 7:7 — Seventh year of ArtaxerxesNeh 2:1 — Twentieth year of ArtaxerxesNeh 8:1-2 — Ezra reads the law Ways people read this (3)
- Traditional: Ezra 458 BC, Nehemiah 445 BC, both under Artaxerxes I.
- Reversal view: the "Artaxerxes" of Ezra 7 is Artaxerxes II, so Ezra arrives around 398 BC.
- Emendation view: Ezra 7:7 should read "thirty-seventh" year (428 BC).
Sources: Ezra 7:7 · Neh 2:1 · Neh 8:1-2
Artaxerxes: patron of both missions
RoleStated in the textArtaxerxes authorised Ezra with a letter granting funds and judicial authority, and, after first halting the work on the walls (Ezra 4), allowed Nehemiah to rebuild. Jewish community life in Judah depended on Persian goodwill.
Sources: Ezra 7:11-26 · Ezra 4:21-23 · Neh 2:5-8
22 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H5830