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Nehemia, and Ezra, are two of the least read books of the Scriptures by Christians.

Which is why I was eager to illustrate them. I must add that they were as difficult as any I've attempted; by contrast, I've moved on now to Esther, which is as easy as any.

more devoted than ever after the return, then they ever were before their captivity

If true, it demonstrates God's wisdom: captivity >>>yields>>> devotion. But seemingly their deeper devotion still tripped over Israel's classic Stumbling Block of Self-Salvation, as it does even today.

I've moved on now to Esther, which is as easy as any.

You could have done one post since both books were originally one. Yet I look forward to your presentation of Ezra.

But seemingly their deeper devotion still tripped over Israel's classic Stumbling Block of Self-Salvation, as it does even today.

Yes, but in their defense, even the Disciples who walked with Christ for 3 years stumbled with it. It's hardly fair to expect the Scholars at the time of the return from exile to understood it 400 years before Christ was even born.

Now by the time Christ showed up, They, had ample opportunity and time to study the Greek Translated Scriptures to figure it out. Especially since the religious leaders of Christ's time had better access and were much more educated than at any time of their history. They had the writings of the Prophets and the Torah, something very few of Nehamiah's time had. Besides the fact that during the return they were much more preoccupied, mentally and physically, rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple.

You should read the commentary I have on Isaiah from a series titled, "Word Biblical Commentary". Their commentary on Isaiah, is a 2 part series. In it the author, (John W. Watts), points out how Isaiah 53:13-53:12, was considered by the Religious leaders at the time to have pointed to what happened to Zerubabbel. To save time of typing, I just took a pic of the page for you to read it.

Later in the commentary, he expounds upon his theory that Zerubbabel was murdered, and suggests from his investigation of Jewish writings that at the time the Religious scholars thought the murder is what Isaiah had prophesied since Isaiah also prophesied of Cyrus and the return. In their bubble of not seeing the valley between the Mountains they erred.

To this day, the Jews use this and various other misguided beliefs to explain away, not only Isaiah's prophecies related to Christ, but of things learned from the Dead Sea Scrolls. As I stated before, I can understand the blindness 400 years before Christ showed up, not for those who were present when Christ walked amongst them.

The image is high enough quality for you to zoom in and read it.

I have a couple different commentaries by various authors on Isaiah. My library is slowly growing. I love books. It's much more relaxing to sit back on the couch to some soundscape music and a book than sitting in front of a pc screen all day.