Is Sefer Ezra connected to other Seforim?
Rashi: In Bava Basra 14b, Ezra is ordered after Daniel. Daniel said "Binosi ba'Seforim Mispar ha'Shanim... Lemale'os l'Charvos Yerushalayim Shiv'im Shanah" (9:2). His Sefer tells of the Churban, the length of Galus Bavel, and his Viduy of Yisrael's sins. Ezra begins after Belshatzar was killed, "v'Daryavesh Mada'ah Kabel Malchusa" (ibid. 6:1). After Daryavesh died, Koresh Melech Paras ruled. The 70 years, from Galus Yehoyakim, finished in his first year - "l'Fi Melos l'Bavel Shiv'im Shanah Efkod Eschem." That year they returned from Bavel and founded the Beis ha'Mikdash - this was Pekidah. Tzari Yehudah and Binyamin slandered them to Koresh, and he commanded to cease building. They ceased for the rest of Koresh's rule and Achashverosh's, until the second year of Daryavesh ben Esther. There were 18 years in between, to fulfill "Lemale'os l'Charvos Yerushalayim", for the Churban was 18 years after Galus Yehoyakim. Then, they built and completed the Bayis. So is proven in Seder Olam, Megilah and this Sefer.
Refer to 1:1:2:1.
Why does it say "uvi'Shnas", with the prefix Vov?
Malbim: Ezra wrote his Sefer 1 and Divrei ha'Yamim. This is the continuation of Divrei ha'Yamim, which ends with Yirmeyah's Nevu'ah that Yisrael will serve Nebuchadnetzar and his sons until Malchus Paras, and that 70 years after the Churban, Koresh will authorize to build the Beis ha'Mikdash. The last two verses are the first two verses of this Sefer.
Really, Ezra and Nechemyah are one Sefer. Long after Rashi, they were divided into two via the Goyim (refer to Tzefanyah 1:10:1:1*). When Rashi cites Nechemyah, he calls it Sefer Ezra. (The only two exceptions are Rashi on Shmuel I, 6:18 and Iyov 38:28; he cites "Nishkah" from Sefer Nechemyah. Surely scribes 'fixed' it to say so. In Shmuel I, 27:10 Rashi cites "Nishkah" from Sefer Ezra!) Sanhedrin 93a explains why Nechemyah's (this) Sefer was not called on his name. Bava Basra 14b lists Ezra among the 24 Seforim of Tanach, but not Nechemyah. (PF)
Was this truly his first year?
Ibn Ezra: It was the first year that he ruled over Bavel. He was Melech Paras even before this.
What is the significance of the name Koresh?
Ibn Ezra: It is based on Kosher, but it is switched. Yeshayah already named him so based on Kisharon (proper deeds) with Yisrael - "Hu Yivneh Iri v'Galusi Yeshale'ach."
What is the meaning of "Lichlos"?
Ibn Ezra: At the time of Kelos (finishing) Hashem's word via Yirmeyah to be Poked Yisrael when 70 years are completed for Malchus Bavel. It says in Divrei ha'Yamim II, 36:20-21 "va'Yihyu Lo ul'Vanav la'Avadim Ad Meloch Malchus Paras." The Avodah will not return until "Ratzesah ha'Aretz Es Shabsoseha 1 ." In the second year of Daryavesh, 70 years were completed from Churban Yerushalayim - "Za'amta Zeh Shiv'im Shanah" (Zecharyah 1:12).
Malbim: The decree of Galus Bavel was until Malchus Bavel will fall, after 70 years. Due to the sin of Bitul Shemitos, the land needed to rest for 70 years. Yisrael were still on their land for the first 18 years of Malchus Bavel, so they needed to delay 18 years after Bavel fell before they could return.
What Ru'ach did Hashem arouse?
Rashi: It was desire.
Ibn Ezra: He aroused him to build His city.
Malbim: The time to build the Beis ha'Mikdash was 70 years after the Churban. Now was time only for Pekidah. Hashem needed to arouse Koresh to permit building the Bayis, for if not, Yisrael would not have returned from Galus. Yosifun wrote that when Daniel interpreted the writing, that Belshatzar will be punished for profaning Klei ha'Mikdash, Daryavesh and Koresh found out, and vowed to build the Mikdash. Or, we can say that Koresh heard Yeshayah's Nevu'ah "Hu Yivneh Iri v'Galusi Yeshale'ach"; this aroused him.
What was the Kol?
Rashi: An announcement in his entire kingdom.
Why does it say "Gam b'Michtav"?
Rashi: He also sent a letter about this.
Ibn Ezra: He stamped it with his signet ring. Malbim - if it is not written, it can be changed. However, what is written in the name of the king and stamped with his ring cannot be retracted in the statutes of Paras and Madai (Esther 8:8). The command to cease building was not a retraction of the first letter, like I will explain (refer to 4:21:3:1).
What do we learn from "Leimor"?
Rashi (1, 4): The following three verses are the content of the announcement and letter.
