Introduction
As we enter this chapter, it’s important to note that sixty years have now passed between the end of chapter six and chapter seven.
It was during those sixty years that the events recorded in Esther took place in Babylon. The ruler of Persia at the end of that period was Artaxerxes, who is also known to history as Artaxerxes Longimanus, the successor to Xerxes, the king who married Esther.
Other scholars suggest that the events recorded in Malachi took place during these sixty years too.
Ezra Comes To Jerusalem
‘After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.’ Ezra 7:1-10
The list of names we find here is parallel with that of Ezra 3:3-19, and there are many similarities. Basically, the same family names appear in both lists, although not in the same order. Only in Ezra 8:5, Shekaniah, Ezra 8:9, Joab and Ezra 8:10, Shelomith, do we find new families mentioned, and two of these are disputed.
Earlier we saw that Artaxerxes stopped the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem because of the opposition to the Jews in Judah, Ezra 4:7-23. But what we read in the chapters which follow, is that he allowed Ezra to return from Babylonian exile in order to spiritually lead the people.
Nehemiah served as a cupbearer to Artaxerxes in Susa, Nehemiah 1:1 / Nehemiah 1:11. Artaxerxes commissioned Nehemiah to be the governor of Judah, Nehemiah 2:1-6 / Nehemiah 5:14, and more importantly, he also granted Nehemiah permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 6:15.
Ezra was the grandson or great-grandson of Seraiah, who was the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 25:18. Ezra was one of the later Jews who returned from captivity to Judea and Jerusalem. Though there was a first great return, Ezra 1-2, there were also many others who returned in the years following.
So that Ezra could establish his Levitical ministry and the priesthood, Ezra was identified by his genealogy as a direct descendant of Aaron. When we read about Ezra’s character, he was a teacher and well versed in God’s law, that is a scribe, Psalm 45:1, and His heart was ready to seek God’s laws and share them with others.
After being granted his request, notice that not all but some of God’s children travelled to Jerusalem, others were happy to stay in Babylon, Zechariah 2:6-7. This journey would have taken around four months and Ezra recognises that God is very much involved in what’s happening.
Notice that Ezra devoted himself to three things.
1. He devoted himself to studying the Law of the Lord.
If we want to really get to know God and His ways, we must devote ourselves to God and His Word, 2 Timothy 2:15.
2. He devoted himself to the observance of the Law of the Lord.
If we want people to take us seriously, we must practice what we preach, we must not only listen to what God says but do what He says, James 1:22-25.
3. He devoted himself to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Teaching God’s Word to others comes with great responsibilities because people’s souls are at stake. If we’re going to teach God’s Word, we must take God’s Word seriously, James 3:1.
King Artaxerxes’ Letter To Ezra
‘This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel: Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury. Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you—up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.’ Ezra 7:11-24
In Artaxerxes’ letter to Ezra, which was to go with him to Jerusalem, we see that the king commissions helpers, a copy of the Law, and gifts for the temple. It’s clear that the king sees Ezra as an expert in God’s laws and it’s clear that the king himself and his seven advisors were sending Ezra to Jerusalem to gather information about Judah and Jerusalem.
Notice Artaxerxes refers to the ‘volunteers’ who wanted to go to Jerusalem. He obviously wanted others to go to Jerusalem with Ezra so that every effort could be made for Ezra to do what he needs to do.
The king also authorised the giving of many silver and gold gifts to the temple, Ezra 1:7-11, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests.
It’s an incredible thought, the amount of money, 2 Kings 23:33, which was given to Ezra by the king, he had to be careful how he spent it. The money was to be spent on sacrificial animals and the promotion of temple worship in Jerusalem.
There’s no doubting Artaxerxes’ generosity to Ezra and the work in Jerusalem, this is seen in the fact that he’s allowing Ezra to draw on the king’s treasury for whatever he needed. Along with giving some tax relief to those who work in the temple.
Notice that Artaxerxes says, ‘Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?’ He comes across as though he is desperate to help Ezra in his efforts and with everything concerning the temple.
The reason he comes across as desperately trying to help the Jews out is simply because all the kings of Persia, after conquering a nation, wanted to appease all the gods, of all the people they had conquered, Acts 17.22-34. By doing so, the Persian kings believed that the people in turn would be more loyal to them if they had the religious freedom to do so.
‘And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.’ Ezra 7:25-26
Notice also that Ezra is given some legal power to enforce God’s Law, we see this in how the priests and other workers at the temple were to be given some tax relief. Using wisdom from God, James 1:5, Ezra is also given authority in civil administration as he was to set in place magistrates and judges, using God’s wisdom.
Ezra is also given authority to teach those who returned from captivity, especially those who don’t know God’s laws. It must be noted that Ezra’s authority to punish anyone for disobeying God’s laws or disobeying the king’s law may be too much authority for one man.
‘Praise be to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honour to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favour to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.’ Ezra 7:27-28
There’s no doubt that Ezra knew that what Artaxerxes was doing was a result of God’s blessings, hence why he gives thanks to God. God had moved the heart of Artaxerxes, in the same manner, He moved the heart of Darius, Ezra 6:1-12 / Proverbs 21:1.
No wonder Ezra is feeling encouraged because everything which Artaxerxes had done and was doing, was clear evidence that God was supporting and blessing Ezra himself.
If we learn anything from this chapter, we learn that Ezra did such a great job in sharing God’s Word and His laws with Artaxerxes, that Artaxerxes felt moved to understand the spiritual importance of God’s law. He understood how important it was for God’s people to become educated in God’s laws, to such an extent, that he made a new decree and went over and above the normal to help Ezra and God’s people.
