The Second Moses: Ezra’s Compilation of the Old Testament

Ezra came from a priestly family (Ezra 7:1; 2 Kings 22:8) and was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6). In 458 BC, he received a command from King Artaxerxes of Persia to lead the second group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:11-28). In Jerusalem, he taught the returning Jews to understand the Law, and to confess and repent for violating it (Ezra 9-10). He further collaborated with Nehemiah, who was later appointed governor of Judah and led the third group back to Jerusalem, to teach the Jewish people to observe the Law (cf. Nehemiah 8-9).

Tradition holds that around 400 BC, Ezra and 120 other Jews formed a body of scribes to compile the books of the Old Testament. They gathered the existing Old Testament writings, arranged them into volumes, and compiled the thirty-nine canonical books of the Old Testament. This laid the foundation for the next four hundred years, a period during which God did not raise up any prophets, and only His previously spoken words—the Scriptures—remained.

Jewish tradition regards Ezra as the “Second Moses” (2 Esdras Chapter 14). However, Ezra was not a modifier or compiler of the Law in the way some modern critical scholars suggest. On the contrary, he believed that the Law was “the Book of the Law of Moses given by God,” which could only be “studied and obeyed,” never arbitrarily altered. Therefore, this book repeatedly emphasizes that everything he did was due to God’s help.

During these 400 years, scribes specialized in reading and interpreting the Scriptures. Within Israeli society, two factions emerged: the conservative faction, who believed in resurrection and eternal life and were called the Pharisees; and the liberal faction, who did not believe in resurrection and eternal life and were called the Sadducees. During this four-hundred-year gap, the conservatives and liberals continuously debated. Later, when Jesus came, the common people loved to listen to Him preach because His words carried authority, unlike those of the scribes.

Chronology of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Approximate Dates)

538 BC: King Cyrus issues decree to rebuild the Temple.

538 (or 537) BC: Zerubbabel returns to Jerusalem.

536 BC: Foundation of the Temple laid.

535 BC: Work on the Temple ceases.

520 BC: Haggai and Zechariah begin their ministries.

520 BC: King Darius issues decree to continue Temple construction.

516 BC: Temple construction completed.

486 BC: King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) begins his reign.

479 (or 478) BC: Esther becomes queen.

457 BC: Ezra returns to Jerusalem.

444 BC: Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem.

444 BC: Walls of Jerusalem completed.

420 BC: Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem again.