Page "Ezra" Paragraph 15

In Rabbinic traditions, Ezra is metaphorically referred to as the " flowers that appear on the earth " signifying the springtime in the national history of Judaism.

A disciple of Baruch ben Neriah, he favored study of the Law over the reconstruction of the Temple and thus because of his studies, he did not join the first party returning to Jerusalem in the reign of Cyrus.

According to another opinion, he did not join the first party so as not to compete, even involuntarily, with Jeshua ben Jozadak for the office of chief priest.

According to Bamidbar Rabbah, Ezra was doubtful of the correctness of some words in the Torah and said, " Should Elijah ... approve the text, the points dots that he scribed above the letters will be disregarded ; should he disapprove, the doubtful words will be removed from the text ".