Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(help). The famous scribe and priest, resident at Babylon, who returned to Jerusalem with his countrymen, B. C. 458, where he began instant reforms. He collected and revised the previous O. T. writings and largely settled the O. T. canon. His book, 15th of O. T., tells the story of the return and the establishment of a new order of things at Jerusalem and in Judea.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
1. Son of Seraiah, and descendant of Aaron, priest and scribe. He “had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” He was among the captives in Babylon, and by his own request was permitted to return to Palestine. Rich presents of gold and silver were given to him for the service of the house of the Lord. He showed his faith in God in not asking for an escort for himself and his companions: he had declared that the hand of God would protect them. His piety was manifested also in his distress at hearing that the priests and princes had married heathen wives; and he called to God for relief. After this we do not again read of him until about twelve years later, when he stood upon a pulpit of wood and read to the people the book of the law, and the Levites sought to explain it. This at first caused weeping; but they were encouraged, and afterward rejoiced, and kept the Feast of Tabernacles with such joy as had not been known since the days of Joshua the son of Nun. Nothing more is recorded of Ezra in scripture. Josephus says he died at an advanced age at Jerusalem: but an early writer said there was a tomb near the junction of the Tigris and the Euphrates which was reported to be the tomb of Ezra (Ezra 7-10; Neh. 8:1-18; Neh. 12:26, 36).
2. A priest who went up with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:1). (An Ezra is also mentioned in Neh. 12:13,33.)
3. Descendant of Judah through Caleb (1 Chron. 4:17).
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