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presents many difficult problems. Part of it is found in the heart of the
book of Nehemiah; while another part is now found in the second half of
the book of Ezra. It is not entirely clear whether this dislocation is due
to the Chronicler, who desired to give Ezra, the priest and scribe, the
precedence before Nehemiah, the layman, or to the mistake of a scribe. A
recent writer (Professor Torrey, in _Composition of Ezra-Neh_.) has shown
convincingly that the Ezra story in its present form is at least from the
school to which the Chronicler belonged, if not from his own pen. Not only
does it abound in the characteristic phrases of this voluminous editor,
but it also reflects at many points his peculiar conception of the history
of this period. Ezra is described as a descendant of Aaron and "a scribe
skilled in the law of Moses." His work as interpreter of the law, which he
is represented as bringing in his hand, is typical of the scribes, who
were becoming the chief teachers of Judaism in the days of the Chronicler
(the Greek period). The decree of Artaxerxes found in the seventh chapter
of Ezra suggests at every point its late Jewish origin. It confers upon
Ezra, the scribe, royal authority far eclipsing that given by Artaxerxes
to Nehemiah, his favorite. A sum representing more than three million
dollars is placed at Ezra's disposal. At his summons seventeen hundred
priests, Levites, singers, and servants of the temple rally about the
standard of the faithful scribe. He is represented as going under the
royal protection to Palestine to instruct the Judean community, to reform
its abuses, and to institute the rule of the law of Moses which he bore in
his hand.

He first holds a great synagogue service in which the law is read and
interpreted to the people. They are then bidden to observe the Feast
of Booths or Tabernacles in accordance with its regulations. Later, when
he discovers that the people of the land have entered into foreign
marriages, he tears his clothes and hair and sits for hours overwhelmed
by the great crime that rests upon the community. When the people are
gathered about him, he upbraids them for their laxness and secures the
appointment of a commission with himself at the head to investigate and
put an end to these evil practices. When after three months the community
has been purified from this foreign element, the people are again
assembled to listen to the reading of the law. Then Ezra utters a f