Ezra7

Ezra, a priest and a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, journeyed from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. The king issued a comprehensive decree, granting Ezra authority and resources to transport offerings for the temple, inquire into the state of Judah, and establish God's law. Many Israelites, priests, and Levites accompanied Ezra, whose mission was enabled by the good hand of his God.

Introduction of Ezra the Scribe

After these events, during the reign of Artach'shashta king of Persia, 'Ezra the son of S'rayah, the son of 'Azaryah, the son of Hilkiyah,

the son of Shalum, the son of Tzadok, the son of Achituv,

the son of Amaryah, the son of 'Azaryah, the son of M'rayot,

the son of Z'rachyah, the son of 'Uzi, the son of Buki,

the son of Avishua, the son of Pinchas, the son of Eli'ezer, the son of Aharon the cohen hagadol -

Ezra Prepares for the Journey

this 'Ezra went up from Bavel. He was a scribe, expert in the Torah of Moshe, which ADONAI the God of Isra'el had given; and the king granted him everything he asked for, since the hand of ADONAI his God was on him.

In the seventh year of Artach'shashta the king, some of the people of Isra'el, and some of the cohanim, L'vi'im, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants went up to Yerushalayim.

['Ezra] arrived at Yerushalayim in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

He began going up to Yerushalayim from Bavel on the first day of the first month and arrived on the first day of the fifth month, since the good hand of his God was on him.

For 'Ezra had set his heart on studying and practicing the Torah of ADONAI and teaching Isra'el the laws and rulings.

The Decree of King Artaxerxes

Here is the letter that King Artach'shashta gave 'Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher, the student of matters relating to ADONAI's mitzvot and his laws for Isra'el:

"From: Artach'shashta, king of kings "To: 'Ezra the cohen, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, etc.: "Herewith

I decree that everyone in my realm who belongs to the people of Isra'el, including their cohanim and L'vi'im, who, of his own free will, chooses to go with you to Yerushalayim, should go.

You are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire how the law of your God, of which you have expert knowledge, is being applied in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

You are also to bring with you the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have voluntarily offered to the God of Isra'el, whose dwelling is in Yerushalayim;

together with all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Bavel and the voluntary offerings of the people and the cohanim that have been offered willingly for the house of their God in Yerushalayim.

"You are to spend this money carefully on young bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and drink offerings; and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Yerushalayim.

Whatever seems good to you and your kinsmen to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.

"The articles given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver to the God of Yerushalayim.

"Whatever else may be needed for the house of your God that you have to supply, you may supply from the royal treasury.

"I, Artach'shashta the king, herewith order all the treasurers in the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River to do carefully anything 'Ezra the cohen, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you,

up to three-and-a-third tons of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 500 gallons of wine, 500 gallons of olive oil and unlimited amounts of salt.

Whatever is ordered by the God of heaven is to be performed exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should wrath come against the realm of the king and his sons?

Moreover, we herewith proclaim to you that it will be illegal to impose tribute, taxes or tolls on any of the cohanim, L'vi'im, singers, gatekeepers, servants or laborers in this house of God.

"And you, 'Ezra, making use of the wisdom you have from your God, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the territory beyond the River, that is, all who know the laws of your God; and you are to teach those who don't know them.

Whoever refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him swiftly, whether it be death, banishment, confiscation of goods or imprisonment."

Ezra's Doxology and Response

Blessed be ADONAI, the God of our ancestors, who has put such a thing as this in the heart of the king, to restore the beauty of the house of ADONAI in Yerushalayim,

and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's most powerful officials. So I took courage, since the hand of ADONAI my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Isra'el key men to go up with me.

Study Notes for Ezra 7

Verse 1

This verse sets the historical context, placing Ezra’s journey in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I (458 BC), 57 years after the first return. Ezra’s lineage is listed to establish his high priestly credentials.

Verse 5

The genealogy traces Ezra’s ancestry back to Aaron, the first high priest, via Phinehas and Eleazar. This linkage establishes his unquestionable authority to handle sacred matters and the Law.

Verse 6

Ezra is characterized as a 'ready scribe' (Hebrew: *sopher mahir*), meaning he was skilled not only in copying but in interpreting and applying the Law of Moses. His success in obtaining royal favor is attributed to the 'hand of the LORD,' a theological theme denoting divine favor and enablement.

Verse 7

The returning group included diverse temple functionaries (priests, Levites, singers, porters, and Nethinims), indicating that the primary goal of this second wave was the formal establishment of Temple worship and administration.

Verse 9

The journey took exactly four months. The repetition of the phrase 'according to the good hand of his God upon him' highlights the belief that God actively guided and protected them during the dangerous travel period.

Verse 10

This verse is the theological cornerstone defining Ezra’s life and mission. He models leadership by prioritizing three actions: seeking (studying the Law), doing (obeying it personally), and teaching (disseminating it to Israel).

Verse 11

The narrative transitions here into Aramaic (the official language of the Persian Empire) until 8:1. This official royal letter provides the legal mandate for Ezra's mission and the authority needed for reform.

Verse 12

Artaxerxes uses the imperial title 'king of kings,' a common Persian claim of universal sovereignty. He refers to the Jewish deity as 'the God of heaven,' a respectful, diplomatic title used by the Persians.

Verse 14

Ezra is commissioned as a royal commissioner, empowered by the king and his seven chief counselors to conduct an official investigation into the religious compliance of Judah based on the Torah.

Verse 21

The king issues a direct command to the provincial treasurers west of the Euphrates ('beyond the river') to provide Ezra with whatever supplies he requests for the Temple upkeep.

Verse 22

The decree authorized massive specific quantities of resources (100 talents of silver is roughly 3.4 tons), demonstrating the significant financial support the Persian Empire provided to ensure the Temple’s operation.

Verse 23

This verse reveals the pragmatic motivation behind the royal generosity: the Persians sought to appease the powerful 'God of heaven' to avoid incurring divine wrath upon their empire and dynasty.

Verse 24

This crucial provision grants full tax exemption (toll, tribute, or custom) to all individuals engaged in Temple service, ensuring the financial viability and stability of the entire religious infrastructure.

Verse 25

Ezra is granted the authority to establish the Law of God as the civil law for the province, appointing judges and magistrates. This empowered Ezra to restructure the Jewish community based on the Torah.

Verse 26

The decree is backed by severe legal penalties (including death and banishment), confirming that the laws established by Ezra, based on the Torah, now carried the full weight of Persian imperial enforcement.

Verse 27

Ezra returns to the Hebrew language here and offers immediate praise to God. He recognizes that the extraordinary goodwill and detailed support from the pagan king were ultimately God’s sovereign work on behalf of His people.

Verse 28

Ezra credits his own strength and success in gathering leaders for the return entirely to the divine assistance, reinforcing the theme that God’s 'hand' was the true source of his authority and effectiveness.

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Ezra7

Introduction of Ezra the Scribe

Ezra Prepares for the Journey

The Decree of King Artaxerxes

Ezra's Doxology and Response

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