The first return of Israel from their captivity (see note Ezra 1:1^1a) needed the kingly leadership of Zerubbabel, a royal descendant who knew how to govern and who took the lead in building up the altar and the temple. After this, the need shifted from the royal family to the priesthood, to Ezra, a descendant of the high priest Aaron (vv. 1-5). Ezra was not only a priest but also a scribe, a person who was skilled in the law of God (v. 6). As such a one, Ezra had the capacity to meet the need.

After the rebuilding of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the people were still unruly, for they had become Babylonian in their constitution. Therefore, there was the need for an Ezra, one who was both a priest who served God and also a scribe, a scholar, who was skilled in the Word of God, skilled in the law of Moses. Ezra bore the totality of the heavenly and divine constitution and culture. He brought the people back to the Word of God that they might be re-educated and reconstituted with the heavenly truths in the divine Word. See note Neh. 8:1¹.

The first return from Babylon to Jerusalem was initiated by God (Ezra 1:1, 5). The second return was initiated by Ezra, who went to the king and appealed to him to grant his request. Ezra realized that the first return was not perfect, not complete. He realized that there was the need for someone who was skilled in the law of God and who knew God’s heart, God’s desire, and God’s economy, to help the people to know God not merely in a general way but according to what God had spoken. Ezra had such a capacity, so he volunteered to go to the king and to request a decree from the king permitting the Jews to return to the land of their fathers.

This book does not speak of the Spirit of God, but the hand of God is mentioned a number of times (see reference). When God’s Spirit works inwardly, that is the Spirit. When God’s Spirit works outwardly, that is God’s hand.

See note Luke 1:6⁴. Ezra set his heart not only to seek and do the main part of the law of Jehovah but also to teach His statutes, the details, and His ordinances, the verdicts and judgments.

From here through Ezra 7:26 the text is in Aramaic, not in Hebrew.