The Book of Ezra
Study #13
(Ezra 7:11-28)
The Preaching Pagan: Artaxerxes
Introduction:
• Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years.
• The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters.
• We now find ourselves at a point of transition.
• Although the people had re-established the Temple worship under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, they were not living in complete obedience to the Law.
• Unfortunately, they had lapsed into sin; and it was Ezra’s task to bring them back to the Lord.
• It was to the task of teaching and preaching the Law that Ezra had resigned himself (vs. 10). (Wiersbe and KJV Bible commentary)
• Last week we studied the way the Ezra had prepared himself for leadership and the Lord’s blessings.
NOTE: Verses 12 to 28 have been preserved for us in Aramaic, not Hebrew. We can by this have confidence that we have an exact copy of the very letter of Artaxerxes.
I. THE DECREE OF ARTAXERXES (1-26)
A. THE PERMISSION (11-14)
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. [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. [14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors,
• Evidently, Ezra worked for the King.
• He is called both priest and scribe.
• The permission is needed so that he may be absent from his job.
• Also that he might take others with him,
• And so that he will have protection from anyone that will stop him along the journey.
NOTE: Seven Counselors. These were the supreme court of the land. (Cf., Esther 1:14)
Esther 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
B. THE PROVISION (15-22)
1. The Receiving of the Funds (15-16,19-22)
NOTE: There are FOUR (4) SOURCES OF FUNDS.
a. From the King (15) (and His Counselors)
[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,
b. From the Neighbors (16) (Freewill offerings of the neighbors in Babylon)
[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:
• This would include the Jews as well as those gentiles who respected the Jews.
• Remember, only a small portion of the Jews went home under Zerubabbel.
c. The vessels (19)
[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.
• Perhaps more of the original temple treasures that had been taken away by Nebuchadnezzar.
• These had been awarded to Zerubabbel by Cyrus (ch. 1)
• It may be that some were overlooked.
• Or these could be new furnishings provided by the local Jews, etc.
• Or, perhaps Artaxerxes is simply placing Ezra in charge of the vessels that were returned with Zerubabbel and are already in Jerusalem.
d. From the Province (20-22) The Kings Treasuries in the Province of Judah
• Note: Verse 20 may be saying that the king will give more funds FROM Babylon AND that more will be given from his treasury in Jerusalem.
• In that case, verse 20 would be discussed with verse 15.
• Or, it may be all referring to the kings money collected in Jerusalem.
[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.
2. The Reason for the Funds (17-18)
[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. [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.
C. THE PURPOSE (14B, 23, 25)
1. THE CONSIDERATION (14B)
[14B] to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
"enquire” - seek, search. Ezra was concerned about the conditions in Jerusalem.
2. THE CONFORMITY (23)
[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?
• The king is here no doubt echoing the very words of Ezra.
• I wonder how many times Ezra had shared with the king his burden.
• “They cannot be blessed unless they conform to the law,” he would say.
The Word of God is the measure of our lives.
ILLUS: Building a house with everyone measuring by their foot, not tape measure.
3. THE CORRECTION (25)
a. Those Defiant of the Word (25A)
[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;
b. Those Deficient in the Word (25B)
(25B) and teach ye them that know them not.
• When you do not do right, one of two things are true.
• You know what to do, and are being defiant.
• Or you do not know what to do, and are thus deficient.
• The provision is made for both.
• It makes only a small difference as to your reason for DISOBEDIENCE!
D. THE PROHIBITIONS (24, 26)
1. Taxing the Ministers (24)
[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.
2. Defying the Law (26)
[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.
• You cannot uphold the law and excuse the law breaker.
• You cannot uphold righteousness and wink at sin.
• Judgment must begin in the house of God.
• Even a pagan king knows that you cannot live contrary to God’s laws and then receive God’s blessings.
II. THE DIRECTION OF THE ALMIGHTY (27-28)
• We have seen the hand of the leader (in his letter).
• But there is also here the hand of the Lord! (more on this in conlcusion)
• When government gets its hand in things, that can be dangerous.
• But when God gets his hand in our affairs, that will be delightful.
A. THE PRAISE (27-28A)
[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: [28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes.
B. THE POWER (28B)
[28B] 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 studied the word.
• He had been moved to action.
• He boldly asked the king to allow him to go to Jerusalem.
• God granted his request and the king made it possible.
• Seeing God moving in his life in this way “strengthened” Ezra’s hand!
• He would need it, for it is one thing to get permission to go preach.
• It is another to get the people to follow.
CONCLUSION:
EXTRA: One of the emphases in these chapters is hands. God’s hand. Ezra was a gifted man (7:10), but he could do nothing unless God’s hand was upon him and the people traveling with him.
• God’s hand is a providing hand (7:6; 8:18),
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 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;
NOTE: Without these Levites, Ezra could not have gone. The trip would have been useless. But God provided.
• a protecting hand (8:22, 31),
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 8:31 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.
• an encouraging hand (7:28),
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.
• and a guiding hand (7:9). (Wiersbe, W. W.)
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.
