1 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,
Artaxerxes means “Worthy to be king.” The Greek historians most of our history books draw from list this as a name of two specific kings.
However, Persian and Jewish histories have no king by that name. They use it as a title for Ahasuerus, Darius the Mede, and the man who killed Darius to please Alexander the Great. I find it more likely that those of the same nationality and language as these kings would know who was who than their enemies (the Greeks) who didn’t even speak the language.
So, this “Artaxerxes, king of Persia” was probably Darius the Persian, who was likely Esther’s son-in-law. Maybe she and her Uncle Mordechai had something to do with this event.
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:
Ezra was a Levitical priest by lineage.
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
This is the Ezra that is traditionally the author of this book. He is just now arriving on the scene. He was from the priestly line and was quite familiar with the Old Testament, at least, those parts that had already been written. Many believe Ezra wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles as well as this book.
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Cyrus the Great gave the command to return to Judah in 457BC, and then ruled about two more years, or until about 455BC, when he was murdered by his brother-in-law Ahasuerus.
Ahasuerus reigned about eleven years, was murdered and the kingdom ruled by Hamedetha for a short time (a couple of months?).
Darius, son of a noble man, who married Ahasuerus’ daughter, killed Hamedetha and retook the kingdom.
So the 7th year of Darius would have been about 21-22 years after Cyrus’ command to return, about 435BC.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
It took Ezra five months to travel to Jerusalem, since he brought quite a number of people with him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
He had a passion to teach the Law to his people.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.
And the king writes:
12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13 “I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of His priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
The second return.
14 “Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counselors, to enquirer concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Artaxerxes and his advisers sent Ezra to make sure the people were following the Mosaic Law.
15 “And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
It is known that Ahasuerus tried to move Persia to Zoroastrisme (at this time in history a monotheistic religion similar to, possibly a corruption of, Judaism).
16 “And all the silver and gold that thou canst 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 which is in Jerusalem:
They took up an offering.
17 “That thou may 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.
18 “And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 “The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezra was given a pretty free hand in using these gifts.
20 “And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
21 “And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 “Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
You know, with this generosity, I could easily believe Esther and Mordechai were the ones actually doing this.
23 “Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
He certainly appears to believe in the true God.
24 “Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
These people were to go to their homeland tax free.
25 “And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
Here is Ezra’s assignment: Teach the Word.
26 “And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.”
Not only has Artaxerxes Darius given Ezra a big budget and a totally free hand to use it, he has given him the power to enforce the Law.
Now we go to Ezra’s comments about this letter.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:
28 And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Ezra had a thankful heart. We should all follow his example.