Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Ver. 1. Now after these things] After that Zerubbabel had done his part in building the altar and temple, Ezra (according to the notation of his name) began his, and became a singular helper of the afflicted Church of God, as appeareth in this chapter, and those that follow.
In the reign of Arlaxerxes] sc. Longimanus, Esther's son, and the same that thirteen years after sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem, Nehemiah 2:1; Nehemiah 2:11, while Ezra was yet alive, Nehemiah 8:1 .
Ezra the son of Seraiah] That is, the grandson: for Seraiah was slain when Jerusalem was last taken, 2 Kings 25:18; 2 Kings 25:21 .