When we were last in the history books we had got to the end of 2 Chronicles and Judah had been defeated with many carried off to Babylon. We now come to the return of the Jews to Judah and Jerusalem after captivity. The Babylonian invasion had led to the destruction of the temple (586 BC). So rebuilding of the temple, and the city as a whole, is an overriding theme of Ezra and Nehemiah. These events are also accompanied by the last three Minor Prophets. Haggai, whom we have just looked at, being one of them.
The return happened after Cyrus the Persian had conquered Babylon. Cyrus issued decrees that various peoples should return to their homelands (539 BC). Isaiah prophesied all this. They were also encouraged to reestablish their religious observances.
We should also get the return in perspective. It is estimated that there were about 2 million Jews in the pagan kingdoms, of these only about 50 000 returned. The chance to return was there, but only a small percentage took advantage of it. One can see a parallel with the Cross here. The cross provides the means of salvation, but most choose to ignore it, preferring to live in captivity.
Ezra came to Judah in 458 BC. He came with a mandate to establish God's Law as the official law. While Ezra was concerned mostly with the Law, Nehemiah was focused more on the rebuilding. Both were needed.
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