Ezra 7 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Ezra 7:1-10

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. 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.

A. Find Out:

1. Who was Ezra descended from? v.5
2. What also was he? v.6a
3. What had he obviously done? v.6b
4. How long did his journey take? v.9
5. Why was the Lord’s hand on him? v.9c,10

B. Think:

1. What were Ezra’s qualifications?
2. How was the Lord seen to be moving?
3. Why do you think the Lord now wants him to go to Jerusalem ?

C. Comment:

      The temple of the Lord in Jerusalem has now been finished and the Passover celebrated. The first stage of reinstating the people back in Israel has been completed. What will be the next stage? We start to see it today in this summary of what was to follow.

     Ezra is first of all a priest, descended from the family of Aaron. The writer of this book is careful to show us that his ‘pedigree’ is perfect for the job. Second, he is a teacher who knows the Law of Moses. In what he is going to do, that is also important. Third, he has sought the Lord earnestly about His Laws. BECAUSE of that, the Lord’s hand is now upon him to bring him to Jerusalem where He will use him. This man is chosen because a) he is part of the right family (to prove he was a Jew and a priest was important), b) because he has right knowledge and c) because he has a right heart.

     We also see that obviously he has asked the king if he can return to Israel and the king, at the Lord’s prompting, has granted him that request. We’ll start to see tomorrow some of the detail of how Ezra went to Jerusalem . This is all very much part of God’s plan to restore His people.

D. Application:

1. We are Christians because a) God is our Father (Jn 1:12 ,13) b) we  believe in Jesus and c) our heart is given over to him.
2. With these qualifications we can know “the gracious hand of God” upon us also.

Passage: Ezra 7:11-28

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 advisors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisors 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.

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? 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.

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.

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honour to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favour to me before the king and his advisors 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.

A. Find Out:

1. How is Ezra described? v.11,12
2. Why was he being sent? v.14,25
3. What was he to do with all the money he had received? v.17,20
4. What did the king order the area treasurers to do? v.21-23/v.24
5. What was the king seeking to do? v.27

B. Think:

1. How would you describe the overall purpose of Ezra’s trip?
2. How was the king providing materially for them?
3. What is obviously on the king’s heart?

C. Comment:

     In this remarkable letter from the king we see him giving two sets of instructions.

    First of all he instructs Ezra himself (v.13-20) to go and establish the Law of God at Jerusalem again. He seems to understand that the Temple should be the centre of a God-fearing people, a people who are ordered by the Law of God, and he is sending Ezra to see that that comes about. Ezra is to see that the people of Israel come under the Law of God again, in every area of their lives, and to ensure this happens he is also to establish judges and magistrates to administer justice under the Law.

     Second, the king instructs the treasurers in the local government set-up (v.21-24), in the area of Israel that is under his control, to provide financially for all their needs in respect of the Temple, and not to tax them. Most kings wanted more and more taxes but this king is wholehearted in his desire to bless the people at Jerusalem. How did all this come about? Why was the king so helpful? We aren’t told. All we know is that this royal court had been influenced by Daniel and now the king is completely for the Jews and for the re-establishing of the temple and the people in Israel. Surely the hand of God!

D. Application:

1. God is able to move on people in the highest places. Remember to pray for our rulers.
2. God is concerned to bring order to society. Pray for our society, for law and order and security.