Ezra & Nehemiah

Continuing the Royal Arch theme, two offices exist which need some explanation.

Scribe Ezra, a descendent of Aaron, was well-versed in the Law of Moses and was commissioned by King Artaxerxes of Persia , was born in Babylon, the leader of the second group of Israelites to return to Jerusalem. Much of the building was completed, so his task was to ensure the restoration of the Law of Moses. Lesser known is the Russian connection. The origin and tradition of Russian kabbalist lore is attributed to Ezra who is said to have given back to man the sacred books that were once lost.

Who was Scribe Nehemiah?

The name Nehemiah means ‘God’s consolation’. He was the leader of the third group of the Children of Israel returning to Jerusalem. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the key literary sources for the period of the Restoration, the formation of the Jewish religious community after the Babylonian Captivity. An initial group returned to Jerusalem with Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah (1:11). The prophets Haggai and Zechariah also played important roles in encouraging the people of Judah and their leaders Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and the high priest Joshua to return to their homeland and rebuild the Jerusalem Temple following the Babylonian Exile. Later, Ezra restored the Mosaic Law and the liturgical practices of Judaism, while Nehemiah restored the gates and walls of Jerusalem. The Book of Ezra was originally combined with the Book of Nehemiah and served as a continuation ofFirstandSecondChronicles. Therefore it is quite appropriate that Scribe Ezra is the secretary of a chapter.