EZRA COMES TO JERUSALEM (EZRA 7:1). Almost sixty years after the completion of the Temple, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem as an Expert in the Law of Moses, eager to teach it to the worshippers of YHWH, and accompanied by many Israelite exiles who had been given permission to return. It will be noted that... [ Continue Reading ]
ALMOST SIXTY YEARS AFTER THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE EZRA, AN EXPERT IN THE LAW, COMES TO JERUSALEM BRINGING WITH HIM A GROUP OF FELLOW-JEWS AND MUCH TREASURE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD, BEING AUTHORISED BY KING ARTAXERXES TO TEACH THE LAW OF GOD AND ENFORCE IT AMONG THOSE WHO HAD COME THERE OUT OF THE CAP... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA'S COMMISSION FROM THE PERSIAN KING ARTAXERXES (EZRA 7:11). We are now provided with a copy of Artaxerxes' decree to Ezra, recorded in its original Imperial Aramaic. We must remember that this was the same king as the one who would order the work on the walls of Jerusalem to cease (Ezra 4:7), so... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LETTER TO THE TREASURERS IN BEYOND THE RIVER A COPY OF WHICH IS INCLUDED IN ARTAXERXES LETTER (EZRA 7:21). It will be noted that there is in these verses an opening address, followed by the detail of what is required. All that is missing is Darius' final signing off. The treasurers would need t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES AND THE LEVELS OF PUNISHMENT PERMITTED (EZRA 7:25). Ezra 7:25 ‘And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are in Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God, and teach you... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA EXPRESSES HIS APPRECIATION TO YHWH (EZRA 7:27). From this point on we have a passage (Ezra 7:27 to Ezra 9:15) where Ezra uses the first person singular in what are often called ‘The Ezra Memoirs'. But it is quite clear that Ezra 7:27 connect back with what has gone before from Ezra 7:1. This ha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIST OF THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GATHERED IN ORDER TO GO WITH EZRA FROM BABYLON (EZRA 7:28 TO EZRA 8:14). Having been given permission by Artaxerxes to take with him on his mission all Israelites who freely and voluntarily wanted to return to their own land, Ezra gathered together to go with him ‘... [ Continue Reading ]