Ezra as Priestly Scribe
About This Entry
First Esdras, referred to as 3 Esdras in the Vulgate, largely overlaps in content with the biblical book of Ezra but with some variation. The work is usually dated to the second century BCE. This selection depicts Ezra as a priest and biblical scribe par excellence. Ezra’s skill as a scribe, his favor among rulers, and his expansive knowledge make him an example of an “ideal scribe” in Second Temple literature. His lineage as a priest is also well established in Ezra 7:1–4.
3This Ezra came up from Babylon as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which was given by the God of Israel; 4and the king showed him honor, for he found favor before the king in all his requests. 5There came up with him to Jerusalem some of the people of Israel and some of the priests and Levites and temple singers and gatekeepers and temple servants, 6in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month (this was the king’s seventh year); for they left Babylon at the new moon of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem at the new moon of the fifth month, by the prosperous journey that the Lord gave them. 7For Ezra possessed great knowledge, so that he omitted nothing from the law of the Lord or the commandments, but taught all Israel all the ordinances and judgments.
Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.
Credits
New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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First Esdras, referred to as 3 Esdras in the Vulgate, largely overlaps in content with the biblical book of Ezra but with some variation. The work is usually dated to the second century BCE. This selection depicts Ezra as a priest and biblical scribe par excellence. Ezra’s skill as a scribe, his favor among rulers, and his expansive knowledge make him an example of an “ideal scribe” in Second Temple literature. His lineage as a priest is also well established in Ezra 7:1–4.
Related Guide
Scribes in Early Jewish Literature
You may also like
An Ideal Scribe
Ben Sira 39:1–11
Scribes Appointed by David
Scribes as Tax-Exempt Temple Administrators
Eleazar, Scribe and Martyr
2 Maccabees 6:18–23
Scribes Slain by Seleucids
Criticism of Scribes
Mark 12:28–40