Ezra 7:17

KJV

That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem.

KJV (with Strong's)

That {H3606}{H6903} thou mayest buy {H7066} speedily {H629} with this {H1836} money {H3702} bullocks {H8450}, rams {H1798}, lambs {H563}, with their meat offerings {H4504} and their drink offerings {H5261}, and offer {H7127} them {H1994} upon {H5922} the altar {H4056} of the house {H1005} of your God {H426} which is in Jerusalem {H3390}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"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.

Berean Standard Bible

With this money, therefore, you are to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.

American Standard Version

therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 7:17 encapsulates a pivotal directive from King Artaxerxes I, granting the esteemed scribe and priest Ezra explicit authority and abundant resources to procure sacrificial animals and their accompanying offerings. This royal mandate was instrumental for the meticulous re-establishment and sustained operation of the sacrificial system at the Second Temple in Jerusalem, profoundly illustrating God's sovereign hand in orchestrating the spiritual restoration of His people in post-exilic Judah through the unexpected channels of a pagan empire.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 7:17 is an integral component of the comprehensive decree issued by King Artaxerxes I, meticulously recorded in [Ezra 7:12-26](/ezra/7-12-26 "Ezra 7:12-26 - Artaxerxes' Decree for Ezra's Mission"). This decree is far-reaching, not only empowering Ezra to return to Jerusalem with significant autonomy to implement the Law of Moses but also providing substantial financial and material provisions for the temple and its sacred services. The preceding verses, specifically [Ezra 7:15-16](/ezra/7-15-16 "Ezra 7:15-16 - Royal and Freewill Offerings"), detail the sources of these funds: a generous allocation from the king's treasury and voluntary offerings from the Jewish exiles and others residing in Babylon. This particular verse, therefore, serves as a concrete instruction for the immediate and practical application of these funds, directing Ezra to acquire the necessary elements—animals, grain, and wine—for the daily and festival sacrifices. Its placement highlights the transition from the physical rebuilding of the temple (completed in [Ezra 6](/ezra/6 "Ezra 6 - Completion of the Temple")) to the crucial spiritual re-establishment of proper worship and adherence to the Mosaic Law.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Ezra 7:17 is the mid-5th century BC, a period when the vast Persian Empire held sway over Judah. Following the initial return of exiles under Zerubbabel and the dedication of the Second Temple, the focus shifted from physical reconstruction to the spiritual and legal revitalization of the community. Persian imperial policy often involved supporting the local religious practices of its diverse subject peoples. This approach was pragmatic, fostering stability, loyalty, and perceived divine favor for the empire. King Artaxerxes' decree, while appearing as an act of royal benevolence, thus aligned with Persian administrative strategies. For the returning Jewish community, this royal endorsement and material provision were absolutely vital, as they lacked the independent economic means to fully support the extensive and costly requirements of the temple's sacrificial system. The meticulous detail of the instructions in the verse underscores the profound importance of the sacrificial system in ancient Israelite worship, which was central to their covenant relationship with God, serving as the primary means of atonement, communion, and thanksgiving.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching theological and narrative themes within the book of Ezra and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Provision**. It demonstrates how God can sovereignly move the hearts of even pagan rulers, like Artaxerxes, to provide generously for His people and the advancement of His kingdom work. This echoes the profound truth found in [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in God's Hand"), which states, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **Restoration of Proper Worship** in Jerusalem. After decades of exile and the initial rebuilding of the temple structure, the re-establishment of the full, divinely mandated sacrificial system was paramount for the spiritual health, identity, and covenant fidelity of the returning community. Finally, the specific mention of various animals and offerings underscores the theme of **Obedience to God's Law**. Ezra's mission was not merely to return, but to ensure that worship and communal life were conducted precisely as God had commanded through Moses, reflecting a deep commitment to the covenant stipulations found throughout the Pentateuch, particularly as outlined in books like [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Burnt Offering") and [Numbers](/numbers/15 "Numbers 15 - Laws for Offerings").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **speedily (Aramaic, _ʼoçparnâʼ'_):** This Aramaic adverb, of Persian derivation, emphasizes urgency and diligence. It conveys the expectation that Ezra was to act without delay in procuring the necessary items for the temple sacrifices. This suggests a desire for the immediate and full restoration of proper worship, reflecting the king's decree and, implicitly, God's desire for His people's prompt obedience and devotion in re-establishing His house.
* **meat offerings (Aramaic, _minchâh'_):** In the King James Version, "meat" refers to food in general, not animal flesh. The Aramaic _minchâh_ corresponds to the Hebrew _minchah_, specifically denoting a grain or meal offering. These offerings, typically made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, were often presented alongside animal sacrifices as a complete act of worship, symbolizing dedication, sustenance, and the fruits of the land. They are extensively detailed in [Leviticus 2](/leviticus/2 "Leviticus 2 - The Grain Offering").
* **drink offerings (Aramaic, _nᵉçak'_):** This term refers to libations, usually of wine, poured out as an act of worship. Drink offerings were an integral component of the Levitical system, frequently accompanying burnt offerings and peace offerings. They symbolized joy, communion, and the pouring out of one's life or devotion to God, as described in passages such as [Numbers 15:5](/numbers/15-5 "Numbers 15:5 - Drink Offerings").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That thou mayest buy speedily with this money":** This opening clause highlights the immediate purpose of the royal funds and the urgency with which Ezra was to execute the command. The "money" refers to the generous provisions from Artaxerxes' treasury and the freewill offerings from the exiles in Babylon, indicating a divinely orchestrated supply for God's work, emphasizing that the means for worship were divinely provided.
* **"bullocks, rams, lambs":** These are specific categories of animals prescribed for various Old Testament sacrifices, such as burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. Their inclusion signifies the intention to fully restore the comprehensive sacrificial system as mandated by the Mosaic Law, covering different aspects of atonement, dedication, and fellowship with God.
* **"with their meat offerings and their drink offerings":** This specifies the essential complements to the animal sacrifices. The grain offerings (_minchâh_) and libations (_nᵉçak_) were not optional but integral parts of the complete sacrificial act, representing the worshiper's wholehearted dedication, the provision of God's bounty, and the pouring out of life in devotion.
* **"and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem":** This final phrase clearly states the ultimate purpose and precise location of these provisions. The offerings were to be presented on the altar of the recently rebuilt Second Temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing the re-establishment of centralized, legitimate worship according to God's commands in the holy city, thereby consecrating the temple and the community's worship.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 7:17 primarily employs **Enumeration**, meticulously listing the specific types of animals (bullocks, rams, lambs) and offerings (meat offerings, drink offerings) required for the temple service. This detailed listing underscores the meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law and the comprehensive scope of Artaxerxes' provision, ensuring that no aspect of the sacrificial system would be neglected. Furthermore, the verse functions as part of a **Royal Decree**, carrying the authoritative tone and specific instructions characteristic of imperial mandates. In this biblical context, such decrees are understood to be undergirded by **Divine Providence**, showcasing God's sovereign control over earthly rulers to accomplish His purposes. The urgency implied by "speedily" also lends a sense of **Imperative**, highlighting the critical importance of promptly re-establishing proper worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 7:17 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people and His desire for their pure, obedient worship. Even in the post-exilic period, when Israel was under foreign dominion, God sovereignly moved the heart of a pagan king to provide the necessary resources for the meticulous re-establishment of the sacrificial system. This demonstrates that God's purposes will be fulfilled, and He will provide for His work, often through unexpected channels. The detailed nature of the offerings highlights the importance of obedience to God's revealed will and the seriousness with which worship was to be approached in ancient Israel. It serves as a powerful reminder that God not only calls His people to worship but also graciously enables them to do so, providing the means and the opportunity for faithful devotion.

* [Haggai 1:8](/haggai/1-8 "Haggai 1:8 - Build the House")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God's Provision")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in God's Hand")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the Old Testament sacrificial system, with its specific requirements for bullocks, rams, lambs, and their accompanying offerings, has been perfectly and eternally fulfilled by the single, ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the principles embedded in Ezra 7:17 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse calls us to consider the intentionality, generosity, and obedience required for true worship. Just as Artaxerxes, by divine prompting, provided abundantly for the physical needs of the temple service, God continues to provide for the spiritual and material needs of His church and kingdom work in every generation. We are called to be faithful stewards of the resources—time, talents, and treasure—He entrusts to us, using them "speedily" and generously for His purposes. Our worship is no longer about animal sacrifices, but about offering ourselves as "living sacrifices" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")), dedicating our whole lives to God in gratitude and obedience. This includes supporting the spread of His truth, building up His church, and serving those in need, all as expressions of our devotion to the One who gave His all for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's sovereign provision for the temple in Ezra's day encourage our faith in His provision for His work and our personal needs today?**
* **In what practical ways can we "speedily" and generously contribute our resources (time, talent, treasure) to God's kingdom work in our current context?**
* **How does the meticulous detail of the Old Testament offerings, as seen in this verse, inform our understanding of the seriousness and intentionality required for New Testament worship and our personal devotion to God?**

### FAQ
**What was the "money" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The "money" referenced in Ezra 7:17 came from two primary sources, as meticulously detailed in the preceding verses of King Artaxerxes' decree. Firstly, it included a significant allocation from the king's own treasury, explicitly mentioned in [Ezra 7:15](/ezra/7-15 "Ezra 7:15 - King's Treasury"). Secondly, it comprised the voluntary offerings collected from the Jewish exiles and others living in Babylon, as recorded in [Ezra 7:16](/ezra/7-16 "Ezra 7:16 - Offerings from Babylon"). This combined provision ensured ample resources for the temple's needs, demonstrating both royal support and the deep devotion of the Jewish diaspora.

**Why were "meat offerings" and "drink offerings" important alongside animal sacrifices?**

Answer: In the Old Testament sacrificial system, "meat offerings" (Hebrew _minchah_, meaning grain or meal offerings) and "drink offerings" (Hebrew _nesek_, meaning libations, typically of wine) were integral complements to animal sacrifices. They were not merely optional additions but were often divinely required to complete the act of worship, as prescribed in books like [Leviticus 2](/leviticus/2 "Leviticus 2 - The Grain Offering") and [Numbers 15](/numbers/15 "Numbers 15 - Laws for Offerings"). The grain offering symbolized dedication of one's labor, the fruits of the land, and God's provision for sustenance, while the drink offering often symbolized joy, communion, and the pouring out of one's life or devotion. Together with animal sacrifices, they formed a comprehensive expression of worship, atonement, and fellowship with God.

**How does a pagan king like Artaxerxes come to fund Jewish temple worship?**

Answer: From a biblical perspective, the funding of Jewish temple worship by a pagan king like Artaxerxes is a powerful demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over all rulers and nations. While Artaxerxes' motivations may have been politically driven (e.g., fostering stability within his empire, appeasing the gods of his subjects to ensure their loyalty and divine favor for his reign), the biblical narrative consistently portrays God as orchestrating these events for His divine purposes. As [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in God's Hand") profoundly states, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." God used Artaxerxes as an instrument to ensure the spiritual restoration of His people and the proper functioning of His house in Jerusalem, even through unexpected and seemingly secular channels.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 7:17, with its meticulous provision for "bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings," points forward with profound typological significance to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, though divinely ordained and essential for its time, was inherently incomplete and temporary, requiring repeated offerings because the blood of animals could never truly take away sin ([Hebrews 10:4](/hebrews/10-4 "Hebrews 10:4 - Inadequacy of Animal Sacrifices")). These various offerings, with their distinct purposes, foreshadowed different facets of Christ's singular, all-sufficient work. Jesus is the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who perfectly takes away the sin of the world, whose body was offered once for all time to accomplish eternal redemption ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")). The "meat offerings" (grain) and "drink offerings" can be seen as types of Christ, the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), and the source of living water ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")), whose life was poured out as a complete and fragrant offering to God ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Sacrificial Love")). The "speedily" aspect of Artaxerxes' decree resonates with the "fullness of time" ([Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4 - The Fullness of Time")) when God sent His Son, bringing to consummation all the types and shadows of the law. Thus, the provision for the physical temple and its worship in Ezra's day ultimately finds its spiritual and eternal fulfillment in Christ, the perfect sacrifice, the true temple ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the Temple")), and the High Priest through whom we now offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and good works ([Hebrews 13:15-16](/hebrews/13-15-16 "Hebrews 13:15-16 - Sacrifices of Praise and Good Deeds")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 12:5

¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Deuteronomy 12:11

Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

Numbers 15:4

Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth [part] of an hin of oil.

Numbers 15:13

All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Matthew 21:12

¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

Matthew 21:13

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

John 2:14

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: