Ezra 7

Ezra comes to Jerusalem

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest, 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. And he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. And the king granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.

7:6 Ezra was born and grew to manhood in Babylon among the exiles taken there by king Nebuchadnezzar.⚜

7 And some of the children of Israel and of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers and the Nethinims came up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he started his journey up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.

7:9 God’s almighty and gracious hand protected Ezra through the trials and dangers of a four month journey.⚜

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to search out the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach its statutes and judgments in Israel.

The letter of King Artaxerxes to Ezra

11 Now this is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes given to Israel:

12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and perfect peace be with you now.

7:12 The text of Ezra 7:12-26 is in Aramaic in the Hebrew Old Testament.⚜

13 “I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and of their priests and Levites in my realm who are willing to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king, and by his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in accordance with the law of your God which is in your hand, 15 and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling place is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem, 17 so that you can quickly buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their food offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 “And whatever seems good to you, and to your brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that, according to the will of your God. 19 Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver them into the presence of the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever more is needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to supply, supply it out of the king’s treasure house.

21 “And I, I Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires from you, let it be done speedily, 22 up to a hundred talents of silver, and a hundred measures of wheat, and a hundred baths of wine and a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

7:23 Ezra 6:10; 8:22. This generosity had a motive of self-interest. This is all too often the case even in Christian circles.⚜

24 Also we inform you, concerning all of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinims, and ministers of this house of God, it will not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or duty on them.

25 “And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who can judge all the people who are beyond the River, all those who know the laws of your God. And teach those who do not know them.

7:25 The king gave considerable authority to Ezra in both religious and secular matters.⚜

26 And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be for death, or for banishment, or for confiscation of goods, or for imprisonment”.

Ezra praises God

27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers who put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28 and who has extended mercy to me in the presence of the king and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to come up with me.