Ezra 1: The "Koresh Edict", commencing the return from Bavel to Yehudah under Sheshbatsar, circa 536 BCE
Ezra 2: The names and numbers of the returnees, led now by Zeru-Bavel rather than Sheshbatsar; it is unclear whether there were two separate groups, or the one group had two leaders, or even if Sheshbatsar was perhaps the governor's title, and Zeru-Bavel his birthname.
Ezra 3: the re-institution of the altar in Yeru-Shala'im on the 1st day of the 7th month, even before they started re-building the Temple, though it is Sukot that they celebrate, not Rosh ha Shanah or Yom Kippur. Followed, the next year, by the reinstallation of the Leviyim and the startof the re-building.
Ezra 4: The nations and cities surrounding Yeru-Shala'im are getting nervous about this return, and start a legal process to prevent it. At this stage they are successful; work is ordered to cease. And so it will continue, from Koresh to Darius to Xerxes to Artaxerxes, decades of obstacling, law-suits, petitions...
Ezra 5: The prophets Chagi (Haggai) and Zechar-Yah (Zechariah) were in Yehudah at the time of the return, probably in the large group that came with Zeru-Bavel. Both push for the resumption of the rebuild, which leads to Tatnai, the Persian governor, demanding an explanation; the response leads him to send his king, Darius, back to the archives.
Ezra 6: The archive search discovers the "Koresh Edict", the decree issued in chapter 1. Dar-Yavesh (Darius) gives it his full blessing. The work resumes, and the Temple is finished on the 3rd of Adar 516 BCE, the 6th year of Darius' reign.
Ezra 7: Ezra himself finally appears. His family names are all YAH names, but the lineage goes back to Aharon. He is a trained scribe. But only in verse 27 does the text become his - we had assumed he was writing up until now, but it may not have been so. This chapter records his arrival in Yerushala'im, probably in 458 BCE, some twenty years after the Greeks, driving the Persians out of Europe and back across the Levant, have destroyed the walls so lovingly rebuilt by Zeru-Bavel. The chapter contains the full text of Artachshasta's letter/edict in support of the mission, and ends with Ezra selecting from among the leaders of Yisra-El to go with him.
Ezra 8: The first 14 verses name the clan-chiefs who Ezra gathers, in verse 15, at the river Ahav'a. Ezra realises that none of the Kohanim or Leviyim have been called, so they are now, and their names are listed. A fast is declared, and fulfilled, after which twelve of the most senior priests are selected to carry all the gold and silver to Yeru-Shala'im, and the whole party sets out for the city. The goods are delivered to the satraps and governors, and the Beney Yisra-El carry out an enormous ceremony of sacrifices.
Ezra 9: Ezra turns out to be Abner Hale (from James Michener's "Hawaii") and Joseph Smith (the Mormon founder) and John Calvin (of Protestant fame) all wrapped up in one. Gush Emunim! "Abominations"! Which turns out to be just one: Beney Yisra-El marrying "foreign" wives. Ezra fasts again, using the time to decide what to do about the problem.
Ezra 10: To which the answer is: summon all the men of Yisra-El to Yeru-Shala'im within three days, on pain of excommunication and expulsion if you fail to attend, and everyone will swear an oath to cast off their foreign wives. And a detailed list is kept of those who carried through the divorce. Ezraic Judaism imposed by decree, at pain of excommunication and property confiscation. "Pagan" wives divorced by requirement; making Ezra Cromwell and Robespierre and Lenin and the Taliban too.
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