Ezra

Who

Anonymous; traditionally Ezra, parts of it in the first person.

When

The return from exile, from 538 BC onward.

What it is

Two returns — one to rebuild the temple, one led by Ezra to rebuild the people around the law.

What to watch for

Long stretches are in Aramaic rather than Hebrew, because they are copies of imperial correspondence.

And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.Ezra 3:11