Ezra 7:1 ¶ 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,
Ezra 7:2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
Ezra 7:3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
Ezra 7:4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
It’s at this point that Ezra becomes part of the narrative; he served under King Artaxerxes of Persia. The opening verses establish that he is a descendant of Aaron through his son Eleazar.
Commentators note that some 55-60 years pass between chapters 6 and 7, during which time the events recorded in Esther took place.
Interesting historical note from Courson: “Most scholars believe that Ezra wrote First and Second Chronicles, along with Psalm 119.”
Ezra 7:6 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.
Ezra 7:7 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.
Ezra 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezra 7:9 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.
Ezra 7:10 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.
Ezra was a skillful scribe or teacher of God’s law as recorded by Moses. This gives evidence of a determination to stay faithful to the LORD through the study of His word despite living among the Gentiles. He recognized the importance of preparing his heart to seek the truth of God’s word and be able to share it.
Guzik clarifies: “To us a scribe sounds like a glorified secretary, someone who simply writes. That is not the idea of this description of Ezra. For the Jewish culture of that day, a skilled scribe was an expert in the Law of Moses, someone who was like a highly trained lawyer in the word of God.”
Ezra asked the king for permission to go to Israel and see how the reconstruction was going. God had softened the king’s heart to grant Ezra’s request. Others accompanied him on his journey to Jerusalem, including priests, Levites, singers, porters and Nethinims (temple servants). His journey is dated to the 7th year of the reign of Artaxerxes. He left Babylon on the 1st day of the 1st month and arrived in Jerusalem on the 1st day of the 5th month (July/August).
I liked the NIV for verse 10: “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.”
Ironside made a pointed application: “One reason there is so little power with much of the preaching and teaching of the day is a lack of consistently doing the truth ere proclaiming it. Men preach the Lord’s near coming, who give no evidence that the ‘blessed hope’ has moulded their ways. Men teach the truth of the mystery of the one body, who yet, for filthy lucre’s sake, or because of other circumstances, abide in what practically denies it. Men proclaim the heavenly calling who have never learned to walk on earth as strangers and pilgrims. Is it any wonder their words are without power and their ministry but as clouds without water? The path of blessing is doing-then teaching. It was thus with the true Servant. Luke writes ‘of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach’ (Acts 1:1). Woe be to any man, however able and gifted, who ventures to neglect the first while carrying on the second. Ezra was a pattern man in this respect. He undertook to do what he found written; then ‘to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.’”
Ezra 7:11 ¶ 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.
Ezra 7:12 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.
Ezra 7:13 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.
Ezra 7:14 Forasmuch 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;
Ezra 7:15 And 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,
Ezra 7:16 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:
Ezra 7:17 That 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.
Ezra was given a letter from King Artaxerxes authorizing the trip and making provision for beautifying the temple and making the required offerings. He decreed that any of the people, priests and Levites in his realm that wanted to go with Ezra could do so. He specified that Ezra was acting on behalf of the king and his advisors to find out whether the people were acting in obedience to the law of God, a copy of which Ezra took with him. He also designated that Ezra take from the king and his counselors a gift of silver and gold for the God of Israel that dwells in Jerusalem. He was also take the silver and gold freely offered for support of the temple by friends and family remaining in Babylon. He was to use some of the money to make offerings to “your God” upon arriving in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:18 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.
Ezra 7:19 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 7:20 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.
The king authorized Ezra to use the rest of the money as he saw fit in accordance with the will of “your God.” The king evidently also sent a gift of items to be used in the service of the house of “thy God” in Jerusalem. He also authorized Ezra to take whatever else was needed from the king’s treasury to facilitate service at the house of “thy God.”
Ezra 7:21 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,
Ezra 7:22 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.
Ezra 7:23 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?
Ezra 7:24 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.
The king then made a decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates to give Ezra whatever he required of them up to the sum of 100 talents of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil and salt (no limit). Everything was to be done in accordance with the command of the “God of heaven” because he did not want to incur God’s wrath against the kingdom or his family. The king also decreed that the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims and any other ministers of the house of God be exempt from paying any toll, tribute or custom.
According to the NIV Commentary:
100 talents = 3.75 tons of silver
100 measures (cors) = 650 bushels of wheat
100 baths = 600 gallons each of wine and oil
Ezra 7:25 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.
Ezra 7:26 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.
The king then authorized Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges from those who know the laws of God and commanded that he teach those laws to those that did not know them. The king decreed that any person who would not follow the law of God or the king was to be judged and sentenced speedily (as required by law is implied)—either death, banishment, confiscation of goods or imprisonment.
I truly think this is one of main reasons that our prisons are so full in America today. The court system moves at a snail’s pace. The consequences of sin are not sufficient to deterrence. It often seems that the government is more concerned with the welfare of the guilty than of their victims. Worst of all—many that are a part of the judicial system are corrupt and self-serving, and they certainly don’t care about God’s law. There is a verse in Ecclesiastes that applies.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
Ezra 7:27 ¶ 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:
Ezra 7:28 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 closes this chapter praising “the LORD God of our fathers” for putting it in the king’s heart to beautify the temple and for extending mercy to him before the king and his counselors. Ezra credits God with giving him the courage to gather some of the leaders of Israel to go with him.
It struck me how many times the king made reference to God as Ezra’s God. That is something I pray that people will note as obvious about me and my family—that we serve the one true God in the name of His Son Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
This chapter opens with a listing of the leaders of Israel that chose to go with Ezra to Jerusalem.
Ezra 8:1 ¶ These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
Ezra 8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
Ezra 8:3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
Ezra 8:4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
Ezra 8:5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
Ezra 8:6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
Ezra 8:7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
Ezra 8:8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
Ezra 8:9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
Ezra 8:10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
Ezra 8:11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
Ezra 8:12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
Ezra 8:13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
Ezra 8:14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
JFB notes: “The number given here amounts to 1754. But this is the register of adult males only, and as there were women and children also (Ezra 8:21), the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between six thousand and seven thousand.”
Ezra 8:15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
After Ezra had gathered everyone together at a place by the river that flows to Ahava, they spent three days living in tents making preparations to leave. Ezra noticed that no sons of Levi were represented (other than the priests, descendants of Aaron).
Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
Ezra 8:17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
Ezra 8:18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
Ezra 8:19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
Ezra 8:20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
Ezra then appointed a group of the chief men to go to Iddo, the leader of the Levites in Casiphia, and urge him to get some ministers for the house of God to go with them. The response was positive, and Ezra immediately credits the LORD for the response. The Levites that traveled with them totaled 38 descendants of Mahli and Merari. A group of 220 Nethinims, descendants of those appointed by David to serve in the temple, also became part of the group. Though we aren’t given the full listing, Ezra notes that he recorded the name of each man that volunteered to go.
The NIV commentary makes this note regarding the Nethinims: “Socially they were a caste of mixed origins and were inferior to the Levites in status. But God’s Spirit had motivated them to respond in larger numbers than the Levites.”
Ezra 8:21 ¶ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Ezra next proclaimed a fast to humbly seek God’s favor and protection for their journey. Maybe he was thinking about the words of David from Psalm 34.
Psalms 34:6–9 “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”
Ezra did not want to ask the king for a group of soldiers to protect them since he had told him that God’s hand was upon all those that honor and obey Him and that His wrath was against those that rejected Him. Ezra was glad to report that God answered their prayers. Scripture is ever clear that God values the honor of His name.
Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
Isaiah 48:9–11 “For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”
Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”
Ezekiel 36:22–23 “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
Ezra 8:24 ¶ Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
Ezra 8:25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
Ezra 8:26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
Ezra 8:27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
Ezra 8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
Ezra 8:29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
Ezra 8:30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
Ezra then selected 12 of the chief priests (Sherebiah, Hashabiah and 10 of their relatives) to take custody of the silver, gold and other offerings that had been contributed for use at the temple. I liked the CJB for verses 26-27: “I weighed out and handed over to them twenty-one-and-a-half tons of silver, three-and-a-third tons of silver articles, three-and-a-third tons of gold, twenty gold bowls weighing twenty-one pounds, and two vessels of fine burnished bronze as precious as gold.”
Ezra told the priests that just as they were consecrated to the LORD, so too were these treasures with which they had been entrusted. He emphasized that they were a free will offering to the LORD. Once they reached Jerusalem, they were to weigh them before the religious and civil leaders in Jerusalem and hand them over to use for the house of “our God.”
I would assume that the fact that they were to weigh them was a way of ensuring that all that been donated was given over for use in the temple.
Ezra 8:31 ¶ Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
Ezra 8:32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
Ezra 8:33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
Ezra 8:34 By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
The group headed out on 12th day of the first month, and God’s hand of protection was on them the whole way. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they rested for three days. On the 4th day the priests took the money and gifts and weighed them. Each gift was recorded by number and weight.
Wiersbe made a good application: “God’s people are on a difficult and dangerous journey to the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22), and the Lord has committed certain of His treasures to us. Our task is to protect what He has entrusted to us and be ready to give a good account of our stewardship when we get to the end of the journey. The only difference is that, in our journey, God expects us to invest and increase the treasure and not just guard it. (Matthew 25:14-30)”
Ezra 8:35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Ezra 8:36 And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
The returning exiles then made burnt offerings to “the God of Israel,” including 12 bulls (one for each tribe), 96 rams, 77 lambs, and then 12 goats for a sin offering. They also delivered the king’s orders to his lieutenants and governors west of the Euphrates. All did as commanded to support the people and service at the temple.