Theme - Ezra relates the story of the return of a group of Babylonian exiles under Zerubbabel soon after the decree of Cyrus granting this permission in 536 B.C., and of the laying of the foundation of the new temple. Subsequently, in 458 B.C., Ezra himself led a second expedition of Jews to Palestine, and under his leadership the law and ritual of worship was revived. Still later, a third expedition returned to Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Ezra's chief object in going to Jerusalem was to bring about a religious reformation and to re-establish the Mosaic institutions; he was imminently successful in both.

Outline - The Book falls into two chief divisions: I. From the Decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C. to the Dedication of the New Temple in 515 B.C. (1:1-6:22) (A period of about sixty years is passed over in silence.) II. The Ministry of Ezra beginning in 458 B.C. (7:1-10:44)

According to Ussher, the events recorded in Ezra cover a period of 80 years.