Ezra-Nehemiah gives us a side by side view of religion and politics; money and power; community and exclusion.
Ezra provides the ritual guidance to build a singular community identified by the worship and devotion to YHWH. This gives the community something to focus on during/after the crisis and keeps (in theory) people on task to maintain the community and protect it from outside oppression yet again. Ezra's publically demonstrative prayer inspires each member of Israel to decide if they were going to be "in" or "out". Smith-Christopher suggests that group exclusivity here encourages communal stability; very much welcomed postexile I imagine. Smith-Christopher further suggests that there may have been safety in keeping Israel separated by avoiding imperial attention/conflict.
Nehemiah has a more administrative focus stressing the importance of attending to the contextual realities of building and maintaining a new community. Just as Ezra was able to use his status and lineage to reach his goal, Nehemiah gets permission to rebuild Jerusalem. His focus on infrastructure and funding the priesthood points to the connection between religion and administration. Smith -Christopher suggests that Nehemiah's rebuilding of the wall was an act of communal participation. What better way to bring a group together than over a shared project? This resonates with Ezra and the temple, however, a wall indicates preparation for war. Nehemiah also addresses abuses of power and Smith-Christopher points out, is likely still addressing (political) power inequities when inter-marriage comes up again.
These books are valuable in that they offer insight into the balance and relationship needed between politics and religion. Why is group identity so important? Is it power? Safety? Both? What do community and loyalty look like? What sustains a community in real-time?