dangers of such a journey, which will emerge in the full account. Here, however, we learn the length of time involved (four months, verse 9), and in verse 10 the secret of Ezra’s lasting influence. He is a model reformer in that what he taught he had first lived, and what he lived he had first made sure of in the Scriptures. With study, conduct and teaching put deliberately in this right order, each of these was able to function properly at its best: study was saved from unreality, conduct from uncertainty,