Esdras

(Books of,) (ěz'dras.) [Esdras is the Greek form of the Heb. Ezra.] (Script.) In the Vulgate, the first book of Esdras means the canonical book of Ezra; and the second, the canonical book of Nehemiah; while the third and fourth are what Fig. 312. we call the first and second books COAT OF ARMS OF THE of Esdras. But in the Vatican RUSSELL FAMILY. and other editions of the LXX., what we call the first book of Esdras comes first, and is followed by the canonical book of Ezra, which is termed the second book of Esdras. In all the earlier editions of the English Bible, the order of the Vulgate is followed. The Geneva Bible was the first to adopt the cla ification now used, according to which Ezra and Nehemiah give their names to2 canonical books, and the 2 apocryphal become first and second ofEsdras. [s. 341]