Ezra, Book of: This book is the record of events occurring at the close of the
Babylonian exile. It was at one time included in Nehemiah, the
Jews regarding them as one volume. The two are still distinguished in
the Vulgate version as I. and II. Esdras. It consists of two
principal divisions:1. The history of the first return of exiles, in the first year of
Cyrus (B.C. 536) till the completion and dedication of the new
temple, in the sixth year of Darius Hystapes (B.C. 515)
(Ezra 1:1-6:22) From the close of the sixth to the opening of the
seventh chapter there is a blank in the history of about sixty
years.
2. The history of the second return under Ezra, in the seventh year
of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and of the events that took place at
Jerusalem after Ezra's arrival there
(Ezra 7:1-10:44).
The book thus contains memorabilia connected with the Jews, from the
decree of Cyrus (B.C. 536) to the reformation by Ezra (B.C. 456)
extending over a period of about eighty years. There is no quotation
from this book in the New Testament, but there never has been any
doubt about its being canonical. Ezra was probably the author of this
book, at least of the greater part of it (comp.)
(Ezra 7:27,28; 8:1)
etc.), as he was also of the Books of Chronicles, the close of which
forms the opening passage of Ezra.
