Ezra 7

Ezra 7:1-10

Here is, 1. The things and character of Ezra, ver. 1—6. 2. His command from Jerusalem, and journey to Jerusalem, ver. 7—26. 3. His grateful acknowledgment of the mercy, ver. 27, 28.

1. NOW after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Perias, Ezra the son of Seiraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2. The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahituh, 3. The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4. The son of Zcrainah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5. The son of Abishua, the son of Phemhas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: 6. Thus 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 respect, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the fingers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 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. 10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel flatutes and judgments.

Ezra forms, soon after the dedication of the temple, to have returned to court, whether to give an account of their proceedings, or to complain of the backwardness of the governors to supply them according to the king’s commission, or to invite more of his brethren to return, since their beginnings were now so prosperous. We have,

1. His genealogy. He was a priest, and nearly allied, probably uncle, to Jethus the high-priest. The omission in his genealogical line may be supplied out of 1 Chron. vi. 7—10.

2. His character answered his high birth. He was eminent for his learning, especially in the law of God; and as eminent for his practice. His knowledge was not barren and unfruitful, it engaged him to fidelity in doing God’s will, whilst he earnestly sought deeper discoveries of it; and he was zealously communicative of his spiritual welfare, in order to teach others how to walk and please God. Note, (1.) Of all learning, scripture learning is most desirable; none before can make us wise to salvation. (2.) They who would know God’s truth, must search for it as for slaves. Idleness and ignorance are necessarily connected. (3.) That is truly profitable knowledge, which is employed in the instruction of others in the good ways of God. (4.) They who practise what they teach, can speak with greater confidence, and may expect forceful little can be hoped from the scribe that fits in Moses’s seat, who faith, and doth not.

3. Having executed his commission successfully at the Persian court, he returned to Jerusalem, bringing along with him a number of his brethren, who bearing the postpones of Zura, were delibors to share in it. Though the journey was lost, God’s patience and providence comforted and throughout them, and they arrived safe, after four months travel, at Jerusalem. Note, God’s merciful providence is continually to be acknowledged in all our gongs out, and comings us; every mercy we enjoy comes from his good hand.

4. 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 flatutes to Israel. 12. Artaxerxes’ king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and art 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 free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. 14. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand: 15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habit

EXHIBIT

tation in Jerusalem. 16. And ‘all the silver and gold that thou can’t find in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem.’ 17. That ’thou mayst 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 reds of the silver and gold, that do after the will of your God. 19. The vessels also that are given thee, for the service of the house of thy God, they deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. 20. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bethow, bethow it out of the king’s trudate-house. 21. And I, now I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasures 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 I an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred I measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without precluding how much. 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? 24. Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests, and Levites, fingers, porters, Nethanites, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, ’let magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river,’ all such as know the laws of thy God, and ’teach ye them that know them not. 26. And whatsoever 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.

9. 11-26. We have here the honourable commission addressed to Ezra the scribe, from the king of Babylon, whose dominions were so extensive, that he assumed the title of King of kings.

10. He gives full liberty to all the Jews in his dominions to return to their own land, under the leading of Ezra, who is constituted chief inquisitor into the affairs of the Jewish people, and authorized to take care, that the law of God in all things may be observed among them.

11. He sends by him a noble present from himself and his princes, with vessels of silver and gold, to be employed in the service of the temple, as Ezra and his brethren few most admirably; and authorises him to collect from the Jews, who continued to reside in Babylon, whatever free-will offerings they abide to find to the house of God at Jerusalem, to be laid out according to the will of God. Note, (1.) The revealed will of God must be the constant standard of our conduct. (2.) They who are employed in such trusts of public money, need be men of trial integrity.

12. He gives him a large order upon his governors, for whatever more might be wanting for the service of God; to maintain which, he would grudge no expence, knowing how much his interest it was to engage him as a friend, and how dangerous he neglect to provoke him as an enemy. Note, (1.) How will the multitude of a heathen king to obtain God’s favour, rise up in judgment to reprove the negligence and carelessness of professed Christians? (2.) They who are zealous in the cause of God, will have generous hearts, and open hands.

13. He exempts all the ministers of the sanctuary, from the highest to the lowest, from tribute, as an honourable mark of distinction. However now they may be slighted, once even heathen kings thought they ought to be had in honour.

14. Ezra is empowered to nominate magistrates, skilled in God’s law, over his own people, that no heathen judge might have jurisdiction among them. They were to administer justice, and instruct the ignorant; and all pains and penalties were put in their power, to punish the disobedient, even to prison or death. Note, (1.) Magistrates must not bear the sword in vain. (2.) Among the greatest temporal blessings, is an impartial administration of justice, according to the law of God.

15. ¶ 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: 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.

9. 27. 28. With grateful acknowledgment Ezra interrupts the story, to offer up one pious thankful ejaculation to his merciful God.

10. For the gracious commission, which the Lord had put into the king’s heart to give him. Note, (1.) In all our blessings we must look above men and means to the great Author of all grace. (2.) If there be a good desire put into the heart, we may be assured it is from above.

11. For the support and strength he had been supplied with in negotiating this service. Note, ‘Whatever abilities or natural fortitude we possess, we must ascribe all our success not to ourselves, but the happens of God’s good grace.

12. For the company God gave him, including his brethren, and the chief of them, to go with him. Note, (1.) It is not our perquisitions as ministers, but God’s powerful operative grace upon the heart, which can engage any man to quit this Babylon of the world, to travel to Zion the mount of God. (2.) It is matter of most unspeakable thankfulness to ministers, when their preaching is made effectual to the engaging men’s hearts to follow Christ and his gospel.