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The first return of Israel from their captivity (seenote Ezra 1:11a) needed the kingly leadership of Zerubbabel, a royal descendant who knew how to govern and who took the lead in building up the altar and the temple. After this, the need shifted from the royal family to the priesthood, to Ezra, a descendant of the high priest Aaron (vv. 1-5). Ezra was not only a priest but also a scribe, a person who was skilled in the law of God (v. 6). As such a one, Ezra had the capacity to meet the need.

After the rebuilding of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the people were still unruly, for they had become Babylonian in their constitution. Therefore, there was the need for an Ezra, one who was both a priest who served God and also a scribe, a scholar, who was skilled in the Word of God, skilled in the law of Moses. Ezra bore the totality of the heavenly and divine constitution and culture. He brought the people back to the Word of God that they might be re-educated and reconstituted with the heavenly truths in the divine Word. Seenote Neh. 8:11.