Ezra 7:8

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king.

And he came ^{H935} to Jerusalem ^{H3389} in the fifth ^{H2549} month ^{H2320}, which was in the seventh ^{H7637} year ^{H8141} of the king ^{H4428}.

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

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

Ezra 7:8 marks a significant moment in the post-exilic history of Israel, detailing the arrival of Ezra, a pivotal figure, in Jerusalem.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative describing Ezra's journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra, identified earlier in the chapter as a priest and a skilled scribe, an expert in the Law of Moses, was granted a decree by King Artaxerxes I of Persia (Ezra 7:6). This decree empowered Ezra to bring resources for the temple, establish administrators, and teach God's law in Judah and Jerusalem. The journey itself began on the first day of the first month and concluded on the first day of the fifth month, as noted in Ezra 7:9. Thus, Ezra 7:8 simply states the successful completion of this approximately four-month journey, placing it in the seventh year of Artaxerxes' reign (around 458 BC).

Key Themes

Divine Providence and Timing: Ezra's safe arrival in Jerusalem, after a long and potentially perilous journey through the wilderness, underscores the belief that "the hand of his God was upon him" (Ezra 7:9). This journey's completion in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king, highlights God's precise timing for the next phase of Judah's spiritual restoration.
Ezra's Dedication to God's Law: While not explicitly stated in this verse, Ezra's arrival is directly linked to his primary mission: to study, practice, and teach the Law of the Lord (Ezra 7:10). His arrival signifies the beginning of a crucial period of spiritual revival and instruction for the returned exiles.
Ongoing Restoration of Judah: Ezra's mission represents a significant step beyond the initial return under Zerubbabel and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 3:8). His focus was on the spiritual and moral condition of the people, aiming to re-establish the covenant relationship with God through adherence to His statutes and ordinances.

Linguistic Insights

The term "scribe" (Hebrew: sopher) for Ezra was not merely a copyist, but an expert interpreter and teacher of the Law. His arrival was thus anticipated as a moment of profound theological and practical instruction.

Practical Application

Ezra's journey and arrival serve as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in guiding His servants and fulfilling His purposes. For believers today, this verse can inspire perseverance in our own spiritual journeys, trusting that God's hand is upon us as we seek to follow His will. It also emphasizes the importance of diligent study and application of God's Word, just as Ezra was dedicated to the Law.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.