History · Chapter 7 of 10

Ezra 7

In the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra, a priest and skilled scribe descended from Aaron, goes up from Babylon to Jerusalem. He had set his heart to study, do, and teach God's law. The king grants his request, sending a letter authorizing him to lead willing exiles, carry offerings for the temple, draw on the treasury, appoint judges, and teach God's law. Ezra blesses God for His favor.

What happens in Ezra 7

In the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra, son of Seraiah traced back to Aaron the chief priest, a ready scribe in the law of Moses, goes up from Babylon. The king grants all his requests, for the hand of the LORD is upon him. Some Israelites, priests, and Levites go up with him to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes' seventh year. Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, to do it, and to teach its statutes in Israel. The king's letter appoints Ezra to inquire concerning Judah by the law in his hand, to carry the silver and gold freely offered for the temple, and to draw further needs from the royal treasury.

It authorizes Ezra to appoint judges and teach God's law, and prescribes penalties for disobedience. Ezra blesses the LORD, who put this in the king's heart to beautify the temple and extended mercy to him, and he gathers leaders to go up with him.

Ezra 7 in context

Ezra's mission, around 458 BC, came about sixty years after the temple's completion, addressing not the building but the spiritual and legal life of the community. As a priest and scribe, Ezra embodies the shift toward Torah study and teaching that shaped postexilic Judaism.

Artaxerxes' generous commission reflects Persian policy of governing subject peoples by their own laws. The refrain that the hand of the LORD was upon him frames the whole mission.

Main themes of Ezra 7

Ezra 7 (KJV)

1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: 6This 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. 7And 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. 8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For 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. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 11Now 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. 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13I 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. 14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; 15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16And 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: 17That 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. 18And 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. 19The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. 20And 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. 21And 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, 22Unto 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. 23Whatsoever 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? 24Also 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. 25And 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. 26And 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. 27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: 28And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, 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.

Verses to carry from Ezra 7

“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.”Ezra 7:6

“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.”Ezra 7:10

“Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, 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 7:27-28

Reflection

Ezra sought God's word, obeyed it, and only then taught it. That order still matters. Do you long to teach or influence others before you have let the word master you? Let Scripture shape your own life first. And remember, the good hand of God goes before those who prepare their hearts to seek Him.

A prayer from Ezra 7