Ezra himself in that order (Ezra 7:1–10, 11–26, 27–28a). The perspectives do not contradict each other, but each support his character of uniform godliness.83 He is given the key titles of ‘priest’ and ‘scribe’ (re-used many times). These epithets define his agenda, the one relating to the temple (or cult) and the other to the law; and a key issue for understanding Ezra, namely, who he is and what he does, is to understand the relationship between these two affixed titles properly. He is a temple-centred