As an expert in ancient history and biblical studies, I can provide some insights into the figure of Ezra. Ezra is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, particularly within the historical books that detail the return of the Jewish people from exile in Babylon to their homeland in Judah. His story is primarily found in the biblical Book of Ezra, which is part of the Jewish and Christian scriptures.

Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and a scholar who was well-versed in the Mosaic Law, which is the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. He is described as a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. This lineage gave him a high status within the Jewish community and a deep connection to the religious and cultural traditions of the Jewish people.

The context you've provided refers to a specific period in Jewish history known as the Second Temple period, which began after the Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This marked the end of the Babylonian exile, a time when many Jews had been forcibly relocated to Babylon following the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.

In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes I, which is traditionally dated around 457 BCE, Ezra was commissioned by the Persian king to lead a group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem. His mission was to ensure that the Jewish community there was adhering to the laws of God as laid out in the Torah. This was a critical time for the Jewish people, as they were trying to re-establish their religious identity and community after the long years of exile.

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many Jewish men had intermarried with non-Jewish women, which was a violation of the Jewish law. This was a significant issue because it threatened the religious purity and the continuity of the Jewish community. Ezra took decisive action to address this problem. He led a large-scale effort to dissolve these mixed marriages and to encourage the Jewish people to return to their ancestral faith and practices.

Ezra's journey and his work in Jerusalem are seen as a pivotal moment in Jewish history. He is credited with helping to re-establish the religious and cultural foundations of the Jewish people after their return from exile. His commitment to the law and his efforts to educate the people in the ways of God are remembered as a key part of the Jewish tradition.

Ezra's legacy is also significant for his role in the preservation and transmission of the Jewish scriptures. As a scribe, he would have been involved in the copying and study of the sacred texts. His expertise in the Mosaic Law was instrumental in guiding the Jewish community during a time of great change and uncertainty.

In summary, Ezra was a priest and scribe who played a crucial role in the religious and cultural revival of the Jewish people after their return from exile in Babylon. His dedication to the law of God and his efforts to educate and lead the Jewish community have left a lasting impact on Jewish history and tradition.

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Ezra was living in Babylon when in the seventh year ( c. 457 BCE) of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, the king sent him to Jerusalem to teach the laws of God to any who did not know them. Ezra led a large body of exiles back to Jerusalem, where he discovered that Jewish men had been marrying non-Jewish women.read more >>