JANUARY
4, 2015
FIRST THOUGHTS
“Within
the Persian Empire, Judea was designated a ‘temple-state,’ a community whose
laws and organization were based on temple codes and conduct. Like other
Persian kings, Artaxerxes's government helped assure the proper administration
of religious life among its subject people. Ezra, a Jewish priest known for his
integrity and piety, was commissioned by the king to travel to Jerusalem to
bring social and religious order.”
Excerpt
From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament
Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.
This
material may be protected by copyright.
“Artaxerxes
I, called by the Greeks Longimanus (Long-Hand) because his right hand was
longer than his left, signaled the beginning of Persia's decline. Though it
would take 135 years before Alexander the Great completed its destruction, the
Persian monarchy, inebriated by power and wealth, began producing less noble
and capable rulers.
In
a trail of blood that would mark the later kings, King Xerxes was murdered by
one of his powerful advisors, Artabanus. Xerxes's son, Artaxerxes, installed
himself as king, killing his eldest brother, the rightful heir to the throne.
Another brother who was satrap of the province of Bactria led a revolt and was
defeated in battle and executed by Artaxerxes. Meanwhile, Artabanus, the
murderer of Xerxes, was killed by Artaxerxes for plotting to take the throne.
During
his forty-one-year sovereignty, Artaxerxes quelled rebellions in Egypt and
Syria. Insurgence was a growing problem throughout the empire as satraps gained
extensive power, ethnic and cultural interests intensified, and the domination
of the Persian kings became more repressive.
Despite
the violent beginnings of his reign, Artaxerxes was known as a relatively kind
and forgiving king. His interactions with Ezra, and later Nehemiah, show his
generous and sympathetic spirit.”
Excerpt
From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament
Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08.
iBooks.
This
material may be protected by copyright.
UNDERSTAND THE
CONTEXT
“Hundreds
of years before Ezra's time, Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan River ready
to lead the Israelites into the promised land. God called him to act
courageously. He knew that Joshua would face danger, difficulties, even
uncertainty and loneliness. To persevere he needed courage. Each directive of
God—‘be strong and courageous’—was founded on one of three critical elements.
First,
his courage rested on God's promise that Joshua would ‘lead these people to
inherit the land’ (Josh. 1:6). He was participating in God's design; he was a
partner in God's work. Joshua could lead confidently because he believed God
was trustworthy, and he knew he was centered in the divine will.
Second,
Joshua's courage issued from his own obedience (Josh. 1:7). While the
foundation for Joshua's courage rested on God's character, he was responsible
to act in harmony with God's instructions; he was to obey. Obedience was
evidence of trust; it complemented God's guidance and compassion.
Third,
a relationship was established. This intimacy armed Joshua with courage because
he knew God would never leave him or forsake him (Josh. 1:9). As Joshua headed
into the unknown, he was defended and loved by the God who ruled the nations.
In
the spring of 458 B.C., Ezra assembled a small group of Jews on the banks of a
Babylonian canal (8:15). The return of the people seemed less threatening than
similar events from the early pages of Jewish history. But for Ezra and those
with him, it was no small mission. Ahead stretched nine hundred miles of
hostile territory and uncertainty about how the people would receive them. Even
so, according to Ezra's journal, he was filled with courage because ‘the hand
of the LORD my God was on me’ (Ezra 7:28).
Ezra
rediscovered the truths declared to Joshua. He saw God's sovereign power at
work in the heart of Artaxerxes, the supply of materials, and the gathering of
exiles. He recognized divine providence and God's faithfulness to his people. Assured
of God's nearness, Ezra set his face toward Jerusalem.”
Excerpt
From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament
Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08.
iBooks.
This
material may be protected by copyright.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
“Since
Ezra represented God and king before the Jews, his ancestry was written into
the record to show his legitimacy for the tasks ahead.”
Excerpt
From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary
- Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.
This
material may be protected by copyright.
EZRA
7: 1-10 NASB
VERSE
1a:
·
This refers to all of the events in the first
six chapters, the return and rebuilding the temple under Jeshua and Zerubbabel.
VERSES
1b-5:
there went up Ezra son
of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2 son of Shallum,
son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3 son of Amariah,
son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4 son of
Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
·
Seraiah had been the chief priest in Jerusalem at the time of the
city’s destruction in 586 B.C.
o
He and other key leaders were captured and executed by the Nebuchadnezzar some 130
years earlier.
o
Their families and many other Jews were then taken as captives to
the land of Babylon.
o
The time of exile fulfilled God’s judgment against His covenant
people who had fallen into gross idolatry.
·
Another of Ezra’s ancestors, Azariah, served as chief priest in
Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah.
o
Azariah’s administration of the temple offerings yielded a
surplus, motivating the king to prepare additional chambers in the temple.
o
Extra officers were appointed to supervise the distribution of the
offerings.
·
Hilkiah was high priest during King Josiah’s reign in Jerusalem.
o
This priest discovered the lost scrolls of the law in the temple.
o
The reading of the law to the king sparked a season of spiritual
and cultural renewal in the land.
·
Zadok served as high priest during King David’s time.
o
David assigned him the responsibility of leading the Levites who
brought the ark into Jerusalem.
o
An important aspect of their preparation was personal purification
before transporting the ark of God.
·
Some of Ezra’s ancestors have less information recorded about them
in Scripture.
o
Shallum was included in the priestly genealogy but without any
notable deeds.
o
Ahitub is known only as the father of a priest whose loyalty to
David cost him his life.
o
Amariah, Azariah, Meraioth, Zerahiah, Uzzi, Bukki, and Abishua
also appear to be without special distinction.
·
Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, displayed zeal for the Lord during the
Israelites’ wilderness journey.
o
He intervened when an Israelite man brought an idol-worshiping
woman into the Hebrew encampment to live.
o
God granted Phinehas a permanent covenant of peace and priesthood
in light of his zeal.
·
Eleazar was a son of Aaron.
o
Eleazar’s two older brothers died under God’s judgment, because
they offered false worship.
o
Eleazar distinguished himself as the priest in charge of the
Levites who served the sanctuary of the Lord.
o
At the end of Aaron’s life, God commanded Moses to take Aaron’s garment
and place it on Eleazar.
o
The act symbolized Eleazar’s ascension as high priest.
VERSE
6:
6 This Ezra went
up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the
LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because
the hand of the LORD his God was
upon him.
“Ezra is given a variety of attributes, most of
them centering around his ability as a scribe and teacher of the law of the God
of heaven. As a scribe, Ezra was possibly a member of the Persian bureaucracy.
It was a common practice for ancient Near Eastern governments to employ persons
trained not only as secretaries or clerks, but as diplomats and lawyers. These
individuals were used to interpret documents from subject and allied peoples.
They were also sent on investigative missions to aid the king and his advisors
in making decisions.”
IVP Bible
Background
·
The
words “the hand of the LORD his
God was upon him.”, is often used here and in the book of
Nehemiah to stress that it is God and not man’s ability as a leader that is the
prime mover in these events.
VERSES
7-8:
7 Some of the
sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the
gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of
King Artaxerxes.
8 He came to
Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
·
Priests could not offer sacrifices for others’ sins without first
making a sacrifice for their own sins.
·
Levites also served in the Lord’s house.
o
Their primary role was to assist the priests in the activities
surrounding worship and the matters of the Lord’s house.
·
Singers were cherished as a part of the worship experience.
o
They likely sang psalms and other spiritual songs.
·
Gatekeepers and temple servants helped maintain the temple and its
activities.
·
These workers and other Israelites joined Ezra in the journey to
Jerusalem.
·
Verse
8 represents the fulfillment of decades of hopes,
dreams, and prayers.
o
Ezra and his group of returnees completed their long journey from
Babylon to Jerusalem.
o
They had prayerfully stepped out in faith, knowing there could be
threats and obstacles along the way.
o
But God delivered His people safely through the journey.
VERSE
9:
9 For on the
first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of
the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.
·
The
trip took 4-5 months to travel nearly 1,000 miles.
·
The
time was late spring thru early summer.
·
Egypt
was in revolt and this is the time that wars were fought, so the trip was very
treacherous and dangerous.
VERSE
10:
10 For Ezra had
set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in
Israel.
“The pattern of Ezra's preparation is exemplary.
He studied before he attempted to live a life of obedience, and he studied and
practiced the law in his own life before he opened his mouth to teach that law.
But the success of Ezra's leadership did not come from his strength alone;
rather, most significantly, it came because ‘the good hand of his God was upon
him’”
John
MacArthur Commentary on the Bible
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