Ezra Enters Upon the Scene

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Chapter 7 introduces Ezra to the book. The Prophets Haggai and Zechariah have finished their testimony and Ezra is called upon the scene some 20 years later or approximately 458 BC.

The chapter gives Ezra's pedigree:

  1. He was one of the "sons" of Aaron, the first High Priest. (16 times removed)
  2. He was a student of the Law.
  3. He was a very righteous man.

He was in Babylon and was commissioned by Artaxerxes, King of Persia, to go to Jerusalem and inquire into the affairs of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He was entrusted with the king's money which he was to use as he saw fit in Jerusalem. He was given a "blank check" in the event more money and supplies were needed, all of which would come directly out of the kings account. He was charged to spare nothing in the rebuilding of God's Temple. He was empowered to exempt all Priests from paying tribute to Persia and to appoint Judges over the Jews. For all this, Ezra thanked the Lord.

Just a reminder: Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Forty-seven years later, Cyrus II conquered Babylon. One year later, 538 BC, He issued a decree allowing the Jews to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Sixteen years later, 522 BC., Jerubbabel led a small group of Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Six years later, 516 BC., the new Temple was completed. Approx. 37 years later, 479 BC., Xerxes I takes Esther to be his Queen and 5 years later she discovers and destroys a plan to kill all Jews. At the death of Xerxes I, 465 BC., Arterxerxes I replaced him as King of Persia. Seven years later, 458 BC., Ezra the Priest leads a group of Jews back to Jerusalem. This is where we pick up in Chapter 7

Notice the qualifications of Ezra:

  1. He was a Levite, a descendant of Aaron, 16 generations removed.
  2. He had been a Jewish religious leader.
  3. He was well versed in the Law.
  4. He was concerned about the religious ignorance of his people.

He asked permission from King Arterxerxes I to return to Jerusalem to teach the people and to establish again the worship of the God of Israel. The King decreed that he and any others that wanted to could return to Jerusalem and do the following:

  1. Take with them a copy of God's Law.
  2. Take with them a gold and silver offering from the king.
  3. Take with them voluntary offerings from the Jews that chose to stay in Babylon.
  4. Use the money for animal and grain offerings unto the Lord. Any left over was to be used as the Lord would lead.
  5. If they ran out of anything, they were to requisition it from the King's treasury.

This decree was sent to all the Provinces of Persia west of the Euphrates River (Gilead, Judea, Samaria and Galilee).

Notice who went with Ezra:

  1. Many ordinary people.
  2. Priests and Levites.
  3. Singers and Gate Keepers.
  4. Temple Workers.

Notice what other regulations the king decreed:

  1. No Temple Worker would have to pay taxes.
  2. Ezra was to appoint Judges and other officials.
  3. Ezra was to teach then God's Law.
  4. If anyone refused to obey God's Law, they would be put to death or banished.

The chapter ends with Ezra's phrase of God. He phrased God for giving the King of Persia a "spirit" to want to beautify the Temple and establish its worship. He phrased God for honoring him, Ezra, before the King of Persia and causing the King to grant him power and permission to return to Jerusalem.


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