Ezra

Introduction 1 ESDRAS - Introduction THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. INTRODUCTION. This Book taketh its name from the writer, who was a holy priest and doctor of the law. He is called by the Hebrews Ezra, (Challoner) and was son, (Tirinus) or rather, unless he lived above 150 years, a descendant of Saraias, 4 Kings xxv. 18. It is thought that he returned first with Zorobabel; and again, at the head of other captives, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, with ample authority. Esdras spent the latter part of his life in exhorting the people, and in explaining to them the law of God. He appeared with great dignity at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, 2 Esdras xii. 26, 35. We have four books which bear his name. (Calmet) --- This and the following book of Nehemias, originally made but one in Hebrew, (St. Jerome, &c.) as the transactions of both those great men are recorded.…

• Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible
• Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum
• Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993)
• University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible
• St. Jerome, Vulgate and biblical prefaces
• Cornelius a Lapide, The Great Commentary