1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 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— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon.
As the book of Ezra continues with a somewhat confusing chronological timeline, Ezra arrives in Judah during the reign of Artaxerxes. The temple was completed in 516 BC by Zerubbabel with the help of the Persian government. At that time the king of the Persian Empire was Darius I. Artaxerxes reign was approximately 50+ years after that. He arrives in power at the citadel in Susa at a time when Jerusalem has been inhabited for decades.
The point of the first six verses of this chapter is to show us that Ezra is a descendent of Aaron, who was Moses’ brother and the first priest of the Israelites as they came out of captivity. Other prominent names in the list is both Eleazar and Phineas, who were subsequent priests while the Jews were in the desert, and Zadok, who was a priest during David’s reign.
7 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. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 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. 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.
Ezra is painted as a good man of God. He is a teacher in the Law of Moses, which means he is a Scribe. A Scribe wasn’t just a person who copied the Law of Moses (first 5 books of the bible), but a lawyer of the law. Ezra is a learned man who loves God and His word.
It is also important to note that he had the backing of Artaxerxes. Not because of shifty legal maneuvers but because God had softened Artaxerxes’ heart. We see this also in the book of Nehemiah, when the king is predisposed to Nehemiah’s desires once expressed to him.
It is also important to understand that the trip to Jerusalem from Susa, is roughy nine hundred miles. There are no quick ways to traverse the rocky and unforgiving terrain. He made the trip, as many subsequent Jews did from Babylon over the years, because of his devotion to God. The journey, as we see it took them four months to accomplish.
Ezra is credited with writing this book, and although he writes it in third person, he acknowledges the hand of God was the reason for his successful journey. This is a telling view into Ezra’s character.
Next, Ezra is noted for devoting himself to:
1. Study: This is the inward, intellectual practice of learning who God is and how He relates to us and we to Him. Each God-seeker must have a rich desire to learn what God’s word says and how to apply it to their life.
2. Observance of the Law of the Lord: This is obedience. When one begins to understand the word of God and what it means, begins to understand the boundaries and promises that God offers, then it moves a God-seeker to obey. This is a difficult part of the process, for it causes us to choose a God-focused life over a world-focused life.
3. Teaching: When one understands the word of God and moves into a relationship based on obedience, then the natural third step is to teach others. As Christians, we are commanded to (Matthew 28:16-20).
King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra 11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel: 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. 13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 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.
Again we step back in time to see the actual letter Artaxerxes drafted to Ezra, which gave him the power, backed by the Persian government, to carry out managerial and spiritual duties in Jerusalem.
First, we see that Ezra has a mission: to check on Jerusalem, to make sure that the Jewish people are adhering to the law of God. You’ll notice that Artaxerxes refers to the law as a law of “your God”. The reason for this is that Persia believed in many gods and gave equal respect to all gods. Throughout the Persian culture the kings make respectful gestures to the gods of the land, just as Cyrus did in Ezra 1:1. But the God of Israel is one of many gods in their eyes, garnering respect.
15 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, 16 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. 17 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. 18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
Ezra’s next dictate is to bring all the riches that have been donated by both eh government and the people. But there is a caveat to these riches: they must be spent for the sole purpose of sacrifice. They aren’t to line any pockets or buy their way into places or out of trouble. Whatever is left over is to Ezra’s and the Israelites discretion, but only in accordance with God’s will. If there is anything that wasn’t provided for, they can go back to the Royal Treasury for more.
21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 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. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?
Artaxerxes reiterates that whatever Ezra wants, the Trans-Euphrates arm of the government must provide. This again is a great blow to the governorship of the region, for they were the very people who complained about the building of the temple, hoping to get the construction halted. They are required to pay up to 100 talents of silver. In our culture, it is hard to gauge what that means. It is equivalent to over 3 tons of silver, so it is an enormous amount. Ezra has an unending source of wealth he can flow into Judah. But this is why Ezra’s lineage and understanding of the Law of Moses comes into play. A lesser man may say ‘let’s get as much money into Jerusalem, bleed the Persians dry and build Israel back tot he superpower it was under Solomon’. But Ezra knows that his authority is God. But he also under the authority of Artaxerxes, who has been compelled to help. He knows that whatever God wants to happen will happen, so his job is to carry out God’s plans and listen to Artaxerxes.
It sounds like Artaxerxes is truly motivated to bring God into glory, but verse 23 shows his true motivation. Artaxerxes is afraid of God’s wrath. He is trying to appease the God of Israel. It was a common ploy of the Persians to do this, so each god, of each region, would find favor with them.
24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
Artaxerxes command is clear: he doesn’t carry the authority of the government. He only carries authority in the parameters of carrying out Artaxerxes wishes.
25 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. 26 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 instructs Ezra where his authority lies: to appoint people who understand God’s law and to teach the land what the God of Israel desires. This is in tandem with the law of Artaxerxes. Anyone who strays from it will reap a high price.
27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 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 leaders from Israel to go up with me.
Artaxerxes’ motive was of self-preservation; he didn’t want the gods to get mad at him. But Ezra’s motivation is much different. First, he is thankful that God has allowed Artaxerxes to aid Judah. Second, he thanks God the He has protected him before the king and his officials. In this timeframe, it wasn’t allowed to be in bad spirits in front of the king. The king could wave a hand and have you executed. But Ezra realizes God’s hand is in it and praises God for it. Third, and perhaps most importantly, Ezra realizes his mission is from God. Because he knows God is in it, it propels him into action. It causes him to have courage and strength in gathering the right people and moving toward Jerusalem to carry God’s and the king’s orders.