Ezra 6:22

And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

And kept {H6213} the feast {H2282} of unleavened bread {H4682} seven {H7651} days {H3117} with joy {H8057}: for the LORD {H3068} had made them joyful {H8055}, and turned {H5437} the heart {H3820} of the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} unto them, to strengthen {H2388} their hands {H3027} in the work {H4399} of the house {H1004} of God {H430}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}.

and joyfully kept the feast of matzah for seven days; for ADONAI had filled them with joy by turning the heart of the king of Ashur toward them, so that he assisted them in the work of the house of God, the God of Isra'el.

For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.

and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 6:22 captures a moment of profound joy and divine intervention, as the Jewish exiles in Jerusalem celebrate the completion of the Second Temple and the restoration of proper worship. This verse highlights God's faithfulness in orchestrating events and turning hearts to accomplish His purposes.

Context of Ezra 6:22

This verse marks the culmination of the temple rebuilding effort after the Jewish people returned from Babylonian exile. Following decades of opposition and delays (as detailed in Ezra chapter 4), King Darius I of Persia issued a decree allowing the work to resume and providing resources for it (Ezra 6:1-12). The temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius's reign (Ezra 6:15), leading to its dedication and the subsequent celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The mention of the "king of Assyria" is likely a general reference to the dominant foreign power of the time (Persia), whose empire now encompassed the former Assyrian territories, signifying God's control over powerful secular rulers.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Providence: The verse powerfully demonstrates God's active hand in history. He "turned the heart of the king of Assyria (referring to Darius) unto them," showing His ability to influence even powerful secular rulers to fulfill His divine plans, specifically for the rebuilding of the house of God.
  • Joy as a Divine Gift: The joy experienced during the Feast of Unleavened Bread was not merely human enthusiasm but a direct blessing from the LORD, who "had made them joyful." This emphasizes that true, lasting joy often flows from recognizing God's faithfulness and the completion of His work.
  • Strengthening for God's Work: The support from the king was specifically to "strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God." This underscores that God provides the necessary resources and removes obstacles for His people to accomplish His will, even when the task seems overwhelming.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "turned the heart" (Hebrew: haphak leb) signifies God's sovereign control over the will and disposition of individuals, even powerful rulers. This echoes the sentiment found in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
  • The emphasis on "joy" (Hebrew: simchah) throughout the passage is significant, marking the culmination of long years of struggle and the renewed opportunity for pure worship.

Practical Application

  • This verse reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of the world, capable of influencing leaders and circumstances to advance His kingdom. We can pray for those in authority, trusting that God can direct their decisions (1 Timothy 2:2).
  • When we witness God's faithfulness in our lives or communities, it should lead to genuine joy and celebration. This joy empowers us to continue serving Him, knowing that He strengthens our hands for the work He has called us to do. Even amidst challenges, we can find strength in the joy of the LORD.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:21

    ¶ And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto the LORD.

  • Ezra 1:1

    ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,

  • Proverbs 21:1

    ¶ The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

  • Proverbs 16:7

    ¶ When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

  • Ezra 7:27

    ¶ Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem:

  • 2 Chronicles 35:17

    And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

  • Exodus 13:6

    Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day [shall be] a feast to the LORD.

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