Ezra

The book of Ezra describes the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem, led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua, where they began rebuilding the temple with the help of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. However, their work was initially halted by King Artaxerxes due to accusations from the people of the land, but later resumed after King Darius issued a decree allowing the Jews to rebuild the temple. The temple was eventually completed in the sixth year of Darius' reign, and the Jews celebrated its dedication with sacrifices and the Passover. Later, Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, traveled from Babylonia to Jerusalem with a group of Israelites, priests, and Levites, and was granted a letter by King Artaxerxes authorizing him to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of God. Upon his arrival, Ezra discovered that the Israelites had intermarried with the surrounding peoples and were not following God's commandments, leading him to call for the Israelites to separate themselves from their foreign wives and make a covenant with God.