Who are some notable biblical characters in the book of Ezra?

Notable characters in the book of Ezra include Jewish leaders such as political leader Zerubbabel, Jeshua the High Priest and Ezra himself, who appears later on in the narrative. Also notable are Persian monarchs such as Cyrus the Great, Darius and Artaxerxes.

The book of Ezra was originally the first part of a longer book that was subsequently separated into two: Ezra and Nehemiah. These books are typically studied together, as Nehemiah continues the story of restoration that Ezra begins. Thus, in a sense, Nehemiah may be considered an important character as well, even though he does not appear until the book that bears his name.