Originally published: Downers Grove, Ill. : Inter-Varsity Press, c1979.

Introduction -- Ezra and Nehemiah in the setting of their times -- The religious policy of the Persian kings -- Some leading themes of Ezra-Nehemiah -- Commentary on Ezra -- Additional note on the list of vessels, 1:9-11 -- Commentary on Nehemiah -- Appendices -- The designation, sources, languages and authorship of Ezra-Nehemiah -- The identity of Sheshbazzar -- The Elephantine papyri and some statements of Josephus -- A question of chronology : Ezra-Nehemiah or Nehemiah-Ezra? -- Ezra's book of the law -- Ezra-Nehemiah as history.

Introduction and commentary to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah which chart the Jews' return from exile to Jerusalem and the beginnings of rebirth. --from publisher description