Ezra 7, A Trained Priest Sent From Babylon

After a pause forced by local enemies, the building of Jerusalem and the temple is back on. There was a temple dedication (around 515 BC) but now we need a true priest to finish setting up the temple service.

Ezra 7: 1-6, Ezra
After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest-- this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.

Some time has passed since chapter 6, maybe as much as sixty years. The Artaxerxes identified here is most likely Artaxerxes I, who began his reign in 465 BC. He was the son of Xerxes the Great whose reign we have skipped over and who is the king in the book of Esther. (See, for example, the online commentary on Ezra 7 at enduringword.com.)

Ezra is an impressive character. He is a direct descendant of Aaron, through at least sixteen generations. (There is a lot of history in this lineage!) Ezra leaves Babylon, with Darius' blessing and prepares to minister in Jerusalem. This is the Ezra after whom the book is named, who is most likely the author of most of Ezra and Nehemiah and possible 1 & 2 Chronicles.

Ezra 7: 7-10,  Ezra arrives
Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Ezra takes only four months to travel from Babylon to Jerusalem.  He would have traveled around the Fertile Crescent, going northwest along the Euphrates into southeastern Turkey and Syria, then traveling southwest through the Syrian grasslands to Israel. The short time (four months) for this travel, with a caravan including children and the elderly, is viewed as evidence of God's grace on him, as Ezra has devoted himself to studying and obeying the Law. This trip will be described in more detail in the next chapter.

From our knowledge of the reigns of Babylonian leaders (and assuming the king identified earlier is Artaxerxes I), we can date Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem to about 458 BC.

Ezra 7: 11-20, Letter of Artaxerxes

This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel:

Artaxerxes, king of kings,  To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.

Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

 

Artaxerxes fully endorses the actions of Ezra. YHWH is described as the God of Israel and the people who are to go to Judah include all Israelites. Ezra will attempt to unite in Judah as many descendants to the twelve tribes as wish to return. (Gleason Archer, in his commentary on Daniel (p. 114), dates this decree to 457 BC.)

The text of Ezra 7:12-26 is in Aramaic. The letter of Artaxerxes continues:

Ezra 7: 21-26, Artaxerxes offers all support

Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you--up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.

Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons?

You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God. 

And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates--all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.

Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Artaxerxes appears here to be fully endorsing the God of the Hebrews and Ezra's plans. Considerable riches travel with Ezra.

Ezra 7: 27-28, Ezra offers praise

Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

These last two verses, returning to Hebrew, are written by Ezra as praise to YHWH Who continues to bring success to this project. More Israelites are returning home, to complete the temple and return it to service!