1 Sometime later, during Artaxerxes’ rule as the king of the Persians, Ezra arrived. He was the son of Seraiah son of Azariah son of Hilkiah son of Shallum
2 son of Zadok son of Ahitub son of Amariah son of Uzzi son of Bukki son of Abishua son of Phinehas son of Eleazar son of the high priest Aaron.
3 Ezra came up from Babylon as a legal expert well trained in the Law from Moses, a gift from the God of Israel.
4 The king showed him honor because he found favor with the king in all of his requests.
5 Going up to Jerusalem with him were some of the Israelites and some of the priests, Levites, temple singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ rule, in the fifth month.
6 They left Babylon on the new moon of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the new moon of the fifth month, since the Lord gave them a safe journey.
7 Ezra had such a great understanding that he left out nothing from the Law that came from the Lord or the commandments, but he taught Israel all the regulations and decisions.