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.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:1.
‘The words mark an interval of 57 years, if, with most commentators, we take Artaxerxes to be Longimanus. Three kings named Artaxerxes, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Artakhshatra, and the Persian Artakhshatra, ruled over Persia, namely, Longimanus, Mnemon, and Ochus. The evidence is in favour of the first being meant here, he was the grandson of Darius Hystaspes, Jeshua’s contemporary.’
The list of names we find here, Ezra 7:1-5, 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, Ezra 8:10, 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, Ezra 7:5. We read about Ezra’s character, he was a teacher and well versed in God’s law, Ezra 7:6, 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, Ezra 7:6, notice that not all but some of God’s children travelled to Jerusalem, Ezra 7:7, others were happy to stay in Babylon, Zechariah 2:6-7. This journey would have taken around four months, Ezra 7:8 / Ezra 8:24-32.
Cook in his commentary, says the following.
‘The direct distance between Babylon and Jerusalem is about 520 miles but the circuitous route usually followed by armies or other large groups was not direct, but went through Carchemish and the Orontes Valley, a distance of about 900 miles.’
Ezra recognises that God is very much involved in what’s happening, Ezra 7:9.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the gracious hand of his God was on him, Ezra 7:9.
‘The use of this phrase in a good sense is rare elsewhere, 1 Kings 18:46, but is a favourite one with both Ezra and Nehemiah, Nehemiah 2:8 / Nehemiah 2:18.’
Notice that Ezra devoted himself to three things.
1. He devoted himself to studying the Law of the Lord, Ezra 7:10.
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, Ezra 7:10.
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, Ezra 7:10.
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.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Beginning with Ezra 7:12, the letter of Artaxerxes is written in Aramaic, following which, in Ezra 7:27, Ezra again wrote in Hebrew.’
In Artaxerxes’ letter to Ezra, Ezra 7:11-12, which was to go with him to Jerusalem, we see that the king commissions helpers, Ezra 7:13. Notice Artaxerxes refers to the ‘volunteers’ Ezra 7:13, 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 commissions a copy of the Law, Ezra 7:14. 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, Ezra 7:14 / Ezra 4:7.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It is very likely that the privy council of the king consisted of seven persons simply. The names of these seven counsellors or chamberlains may be found in the book of Esther, Esther 1:10.’
The king commissions gifts for the temple, Ezra 7:15. 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, Ezra 7:15-16. It’s an incredible thought, the amount of money, 2 Kings 23:33, which was given to Ezra by the king but 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, Ezra 7:17-18. 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, Ezra 7:19-22.
Rawlinson, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ezra 7:21.
‘Artaxerxes did not believe that the God of Israel was merely a local deity.’
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?’ Ezra 7:23. He comes across as though he is desperate to help Ezra in his efforts and with everything concerning the temple. 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, Ezra 7:24.
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.
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 7:25. Ezra is also given authority to teach those who returned from captivity, especially those who don’t know God’s laws, Ezra 7:25. 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, Ezra 7:26 / Ezra 10:8.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Having recorded, without translating it, the important document in Aramaic by which Artaxerxes conveyed to Ezra his commission, Ezra then resumed the use of the more sacred Hebrew language and employed it uninterruptedly to the end of the narrative.’
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, Ezra 7:27. God had moved the heart of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:27, 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, Ezra 7:28.
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.