The Book of Ezra is about the faithfulness of God toward Israel. Israel's gloomy history has given way to the dawning of a new day. Their Babylonian captivity is coming to an end. God told His people, through the prophet Jeremiah and others, that He would bring them back into their land after 70 years of captivity. God is faithful to His word. A new world power is on the horizon, and it is through this new world power that God will allow Israel to return to their land. The Book of Ezra records this historic return. A small remnant of Jews, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, will be the first to return, followed by another group under Ezra's leadership years later. These faithful Jews sought to reestablish their homeland, and the worship that had been so long neglected; those efforts were met with adversity. The Book of Ezra records both the struggles and victories of the return of Israel.