EZRA
“God is help.” Son of Seraiah and descendant of Aaron, priest and scribe. He was among the captives in Babylon, and at his request was allowed to return to visit Palestine.
“He had prepared his heart to search the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach Israel his statutes and decrees” (Ezra 7:10). By decree of King Artaxerxes, Ezra was given authority to reorganize on the basis of the law of Moses the Jewish community returned to Judea and Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 7:11-26).
Based on the previous decree, the temple utensils were also returned and silver and gold from the king’s treasures were given to Ezra. He entrusted himself to God, not asking for an escort for the journey (Ezra 8: 21-23). He rebuked the returnees by discovering the numerous marriages of Jews with pagan women, and achieving their annulment (Ezra 9:1-10:44).
Twelve years later he again visited Jerusalem, publicly teaching the Law (Neh. 9:1-9), and presiding over the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, in splendor such as had not been known since the time of Joshua (Neh. 8:17-18). After this the Scriptures are silent about Ezra. Josephus says that he died in Jerusalem at an advanced age.