Holier Than Thou

Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

Book of Ezra, the account of Israel's return to Palestine from Babylonian captivity, was written about the fifth century (450) B.C. by Ezra the scribe (whose name means "help"), a Levititical priest and teacher of the Laws of Moses. As a continuation of 2 Chronicles, it documents the rebuilding of the temple of God in Jerusalem and the difficulties encountered, a period from 536-450 B.C. Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead about 50,000 people back to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the temple, but receive a command from King Artaxerxes to halt construction. It is not until about sixty years later when King Darius II reissues the building of the temple that Ezra returns. Jewish tradition holds that Ezra headed the council that formed Old Testament canon. Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew Bible.

The Book of Ezra includes the following events:

The aide of Cyrus king of Persia

List of the exiles who returned to Israel

Rebuilding of the second temple under Zerubbabel

Opposition to rebuilding the temple

The aide of King Darius

Completion and dedication of the temple and the Passover celebration

Return of Ezra to Judah

Return of Ezra to Jerusalem

The confession and listing of intermarriage

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. (Ezra 3:11-13)