Esdras 7
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Esdras 7:1-7
7:1 "Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia" The date seems to be 457 B.C. as derived from Ezra 7:7 (i.e., "the seventh year"). This means that there was a 57-58 year interval between the end of chapter 6 and the beginning of chapter 7. Chapter 6 deals with Darius I, who reigned from 522 to 486 B.C., while chapter 7 deals with Artaxerxes I, who reigned from 464 to 423 B.C. Modern scholarship has split over the chronological relationship between Ezra, Nehemiah, and Artaxerxes I or II. For a good brief summary and evaluation of the three theories see R. K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp. 193-197. The three theories are: Artaxerxes I sent Ezra in the seventh year, 457 or 458 B.C. Nehemiah precedes Ezra, who came to Jerusalem in 398 B.C., which was the seventh year of Artaxerxes II. The letter (Ezra 7:11-26) is from the 37 th year of Artaxerxes I or 428 B.C. This commentary follows theory #1. Special Topic: Kings of Persia ▣ "Ezra" Ezra is the great-grandson of Seraiah (high priest who was killed in the fall of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, cf. 2 Kgs. 25:18-21; Jer. 52:24), who is also the ancestor of Jeshua, the High Priest who returned with Zerubabbel (cf. Ezra 2). Ezra 7-10 describes the personal memoirs of Ezra (cf. Neh. 8, 12). He is not mentioned in the first six chapters. His name means "help" (BDB 740) and may be a shortened form of Azariah, which means "YHWH has helped" (BDB 741). ▣ "Hilkiah" He was High Priest under King Josiah (cf. 2 Kgs. 22:4-14) and Seraiah was High Priest at the time of the Exile and was killed by Nebuchadnezzar (cf. 2 Kgs. 25:18). 7:2-5 This is the ancestry of Ezra in an attempt to prove his lineage as a priest. We know from 1 Chr. 6:3-15 that several names have been left out (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 601). The length of the list denotes Ezra's importance (especially in later rabbinical Judaism). This clearly shows that the genealogies in the OT cannot be used to arrive at a date for certain events in the Bible (cf. Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 48-50). 7:6 "Ezra went up from Babylon" To the Jews going to Jerusalem was always spoken of as going up (theological imagery). Nehemiah left from the city of Susa; Ezra left from the city of Babylon. ▣ "a scribe skilled in the law of Moses" Ezra is an important figure in rabbinical Judaism (cf. II Esdras 14). He is seen as the compiler and editor of the entire OT, as well as the founder of the great synagogue (i.e., Sanhedrin), which historically begins the period of rabbinical Judaism (all sects except the Pharisees were wiped out in the fall of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in A.D. 70). The term "scribe" (BDB 708) referred to someone who could read and write and who had been trained in a particular area. Here it would refer to Hebrew OT literature and its interpretation (cf. Ezra 7:11). The scribes later became the rabbis in Jewish history. One would ask them a question and they would apply the teachings of Scripture to that issue (particularly the writings of Moses). Special Topic: Scribes ▣ "skilled" This term (BDB 555) literally means "rapid," which is a metaphor for proficiency or enthusiasm (cf. Ps. 45:1; Isa. 16:5). ▣ "which the Lord God of Israel had given" This VERB (BDB 678, KB733, Qal PERFECT) seems to refer to the law of Moses, but it is equally true that God's equipping and gifting is also necessary for effective ministry (cf. Dan. 1:17-20). ▣ "because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him" This is a recurrent idiom (cf. Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; Neh. 2:8, 18). Ezra's effectiveness was a combination of his yieldedness to God's will (cf. Ezra 7:10) and God's call and equipping for ministry. Special Topic: Hand 7:7 There are several groups of people listed. Jews from all the tribes, except Levi (i.e., sons of Israel) Jews from the tribe of Levi priests Levites Levitical singers (cf. 1 Chr. 15:16) Levitical gatekeepers (cf. 1 Chr. 23:5) Levitical temple servants (1) some are Levites (2) some are foreigners captured by Israel and turned into temple servants (i.e., Nethinim, cf. Ezra 8:20; Jos. 9:23,27; 1 Chr. 9:2)
Esdras 7:8-10
7:8 "in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king" This would be July/August of 457 B.C. 7:9 "on the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem" The journey took approximately 4 months and covered about 900 miles. ▣ "the good hand of his God was upon him" Israel used anthropomorphic language to describe their God, though they knew He was spirit (e.g., 1 Kgs. 8:27) and did not take any physical form (cf. Exod. 20:4). These human metaphors quickly and adequately communicate God's personhood. God's hand was a metaphor for His activity in His creation. It is used both positively of God's presence and blessing as in this verse (cf. Exod. 4:17; 13:3) or for His judgment. 7:10 "Ezra had set his heart" This VERB (BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil PERFECT) means "be resolute," "be firm," "be prepared," "be committed to." Ezra responded to God's call and actively allowed God to equip him. This is the covenant concept. God's initiation and provision human faith response Special Topic: Covenant Special Topic: The Heart ▣ "to study. . .to practice. . .to teach" This is a chronologically appropriate order for studying (BDB 205), practicing (BDB 793 I), and then teaching (BDB 540) the truths of God. The first two are Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS and the last is a Peel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT. Knowledge brings responsibility (cf. Luke 12:48) to God, to ourselves, and to others!
Esdras 7:11-20
7:11 Notice the different ways to identify Ezra: the priest the scribe the one learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord ▣ "the commandments. . .His statutes" The teachings of God go by several names in the OT. Two good examples are Ezra the Law (BDB 435) ‒ Ezra 3:2; 7:6,10; 10:3 the ordinance (BDB 1048 ‒ Ezra 3:4; 7:10 the statute (BDB 349) ‒ Ezra 7:10,11 commandment (BDB 846) ‒ Ezra 7:11; 9:10,14; 10:3 the Law (BDB 1089) ‒ Ezra 7:12,14,21,25,26 Psalm 19:7-9 the law of the Lord (BDB 435) ‒ Ps. 19:7 the testimony of the Lord (BDB 730), Ps. 19:7 the precepts of the Lord (BDB 824), Ps. 19:8 the commandment of the Lord (BDB 846), Ps. 19:8 the fear of the Lord (BDB 432), Ps. 19:9 the judgments of the Lord (BDB1048), Ps. 19:9 Also notice the number of descriptive phrases used in the acrostic, Psalm 119! Special Topic: Terms for God's Revelation 7:12-26 The section (Ezra 7:12-26) is written in royal Aramaic, which was the diplomatic lingua-franca of the Persian Empire. 7:12 "king of kings" This is a Semitic superlative regularly describing Mesopotamian kings (i.e., Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 2:37; Ezek. 26:7), here Artaxerxes I, but the Jews took it and used it of their coming Davidic, anointed king (Messiah, cf. Zech. 14:9; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16). This same kind of superlative is used of YHWH in Deut. 10:17 and Ps. 136:2 (i.e., "God of gods"). NASB, NKJV "perfect peace" NRSV, Peshitta "Peace" ------- "greetings" "and so forth" "the message and its answer have been completed" The TEV has a footnote, "Aramaic has an additional word, the meaning of which is unclear" (p. 419). The Aramaic VERB "complete" (BDB 1086, KB 197) is the Peal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, used as an ADJECTIVE, "peace," which was a way of addressing the king. 7:13 This is the decree that allowed Ezra and other Jews to return (i.e., the third wave). The first group came with Sheshbazzar and the second group with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. 7:14 "his seven counselors" We learn from Xenophon Anabasis 1.6.4-5 that Cyrus had seven close counselors. Apparently this was continued (cf. Esther 1:14). Herodotus 3:84 states that these were seven major families who had unrestricted access to the king. The UBS Text Project, p. 507, gives the JPSOA version of the MT a "B" rating (some doubt), but also mentions that the word is an idiom for "couplet" (p. 508). 7:15-21 Four sources of revenue are defined: free-will gifts from anybody, Ezra 7:16 free-will gifts from Jews, Ezra 7:16 objects of gold and silver (not the vessels of the temple), Ezra 7:19 the rest of the needs came from the royal treasury from the Province Beyond the River, Ezra 7:20-24 (cf. Ezra 6:8-10). 7:17 "grain offerings" This Aramaic term (BDB 1101) is literally "gift," but it is used regularly for "grain offering." The grain offering is described in Lev. 2. A small part was offered on the altar and the priests were able to eat the rest. ▣ "drink offerings" The grain offering was to be accompanied by an offering of wine (cf. Exod. 29:40-41; Lev. 23:18; Num. 6:15,17; 15:4-5; 28:5,7; 29:6). Special Topic: Biblical Attitudes Toward Alcohol (Fermentation) and Alcoholism (Addiction) 7:18 This verse implies that the Jewish leadership had some discretion on how to spend the money for the temple and its procedures and festivals. It had to be spent for religious purposes, but exactly how was not specified. The Persian king trusted these religious leaders. 7:19 Mentioning of the utensils here is confusing because they were mentioned first in chapter one as being given to Sheshbazzar during the reign of Cyrus (Ezra 1:8-11). He returned to Jerusalem and laid the foundation of the temple (cf. Ezra 5:16). Then they were given to the next "prince" of Judah (also called governor), Zerubbabel (cf. Ezra 2-6), who is said to have completed the temple in the reign of Dairus. However, 57 years later in the reign of Artaxerxes I they are mentioned again as if they were not delivered! Ezra 7-10 focuses not on the temple, but on the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
Esdras 7:21-24
7:21 "it shall be done diligently" This term "diligently" (BDB 1082) is used often in Ezra. "this work is going on with great care," Ezra 5:8 "the full cost is to be paid," Ezra 6:8 "let it be (the decree) carried out with all diligence," Ezra 6:12 "carried out the decree with all diligence," Ezra 6:13 "you shall diligently buy bulls," Ezra 7:17 "it shall be done diligently," Ezra 7:21 "let the judgment be executed upon him strictly," Ezra 7:26 7:22 "talents. . .kors. . .baths" These ancient measurements are very difficult to define precisely. Talents are a weight of metal, kors are a dry volume, and baths are a liquid volume. This describes a large amount of goods. Special Topic: Ancient Near Eastern Weights and Volumes (Metrology) ▣ "as needed" This phrase shows that the governmental provision was ongoing and expandable. 7:23 This verse describes the historical and religious atmosphere of the Persian kingdom. We learn that in the year 457 B.C., Egypt revolted against Persia and this may be a plea for divine help. This phrase is characteristic of Cyrus', Darius', and Artaxerxes' desire for the national gods to be placated and supplicated on their behalf. 7:24 This describes the taxation being lifted or prohibited from the servants of the temple. The price of these cultic provisions would have been very costly for the Province Beyond the River because it contained several of these rebuilt national temples.
Esdras 7:25-26
7:25 This describes Ezra's appointing (BDB 1101, Pael IMPERATIVE) of the provincial Judicial system under Jewish law. The Persians had overall political power in the satraps but allowed local autonomy in areas of religion and customs. ▣ "the wisdom of your God which is in your hand" The "wisdom of your God" parallels "the law of your God which is in your hand" (Ezra 7:14). This strongly implies that Ezra had a complete copy of the writings of Moses (i.e., Torah, Gen. - Deut., cf. Ezra 3:2; 6:18; 7:6; Neh. 8:1). 7:26 The various consequences of disobedience are spelled out clearly. Notice there is a scale for differing offenses!
Esdras 7:27-28
7:27-28 This text reverts to Hebrew and records Ezra's prayer of thanksgiving to God. 7:27 "Blessed" The term (BDB 138, KB 159, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE is a metaphorical extension from the word "to kneel." It can be used for honoring deity, humans, and objects. ▣ "the God of our fathers" Ezra's prayer expresses the covenant renewal theology reflected in all of the post-exilic historical books. Special Topic: Covenant Promises to the Patriarchs ▣ "who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart" This phrase is theologically parallel to Ezra 6:22. God is in control of world events (also the recurrent theme of Daniel). "to adorn" NKJV, Peshitta "to beautify" NRSV, REB, JPSOA, LXX "to glorify" "to honor in this way" "to restore beauty" The Hebrew term (BDB 802, KB 908, Peel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) may be an intentional allusion to the prophecy of Isa. 60:7,9,13. 7:28 "has extended lovingkindness to me" The VERB (BDB 639, Hiphil PERFECT) is anthropomorphic for God's hand. The NOUN "lovingkingness" is the special covenantal word hesed (BDB 338), which denotes YHWH's faithfulness and loyalty to His promises. Special Topic: Lovingkindness (Hesed) ▣ "his counselors. . .mighty princes" Ezra was affirmed before the highest leaders of Persia, which may have included the seven special families who made up the advisory council (cf. Ezra 7:14; 8:25). ▣ "I was strengthened" This VERB (BDB 304, KB 302, Hithpael PERFECT) means "to be or grow firm, strong, strengthen." Ezra was empowered by God to perform his task (cf. Dan. 1:17)