◄ Ezra 7:1 ►
Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Study Bible
Many years later
This phrase indicates a significant passage of time since the events of the previous chapters. The return of the exiles under Zerubbabel and the rebuilding of the temple occurred decades earlier. This gap highlights the ongoing process of restoration and reform in Israel, emphasizing God's continued faithfulness to His people over time.

during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia
Artaxerxes I reigned from 465 to 424 BC. His rule is significant in biblical history as it marks a period of relative stability and support for the Jewish people. Artaxerxes' policies were generally favorable towards the Jews, allowing Ezra to lead a group back to Jerusalem. This period is crucial for understanding the political backdrop that enabled the religious reforms Ezra would implement.

Ezra son of Seraiah
Ezra is introduced as a direct descendant of Seraiah, the last high priest before the Babylonian exile. This lineage establishes Ezra's authority and legitimacy as a leader and reformer. Seraiah was executed by Nebuchadnezzar, and Ezra's connection to him underscores the restoration of the priestly line and the continuity of God's covenant with Israel.

the son of Azariah
Azariah is a common name in the Old Testament, and this reference helps trace Ezra's priestly lineage. It connects him to a heritage of faithfulness and service to God, reinforcing his role as a spiritual leader tasked with guiding the people back to adherence to the Law.

the son of Hilkiah
Hilkiah was a high priest during the reign of King Josiah and is known for discovering the Book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22:8). This connection to Hilkiah highlights Ezra's mission to restore the Law's centrality in Jewish life, mirroring Josiah's earlier reforms. It underscores the theme of rediscovery and recommitment to God's Word.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezra
A scribe and priest, Ezra is a central figure in the restoration of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. He is known for his dedication to the Law of Moses and his leadership in spiritual reform.

2. Artaxerxes
The king of Persia during Ezra's time. His reign provided the political backdrop for Ezra's mission to Jerusalem.

3. Seraiah
Ezra's father, part of a priestly lineage. His mention underscores the importance of Ezra's heritage and his qualifications for leadership.

4. Azariah and Hilkiah
Ancestors of Ezra, highlighting the priestly lineage that traces back to Aaron, the brother of Moses. This lineage is significant for establishing Ezra's authority and role.

5. Persia
The ruling empire during this period, under which the Jewish people were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple and community.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Heritage and Calling
Ezra's lineage underscores the significance of heritage in God's plan. Our spiritual heritage and calling are vital in fulfilling God's purposes in our lives.

Leadership in Times of Restoration
Ezra's leadership during a time of rebuilding and spiritual renewal is a model for leading with integrity and dedication to God's Word.

The Role of Scripture in Revival
Ezra's commitment to the Law of Moses highlights the transformative power of Scripture in personal and communal revival.

God's Sovereignty in World Affairs
The reign of Artaxerxes and the Persian Empire's role in the return of the Jews to Jerusalem demonstrate God's control over world events to fulfill His purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Ezra's priestly lineage prepare him for his role in leading the Jewish people? Reflect on how your own background and experiences have prepared you for your current responsibilities.

2. In what ways does Ezra's account illustrate the importance of Scripture in personal and communal revival? How can you prioritize Scripture in your daily life?

3. Consider the political context of Ezra's mission. How does understanding God's sovereignty over world events encourage you in today's global climate?

4. What qualities of Ezra's leadership can you apply to your own life, whether in your family, workplace, or community?

5. How does the account of Ezra inspire you to take action in areas of your life that need spiritual renewal or reform? What steps can you take this week to begin this process?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Nehemiah 8
Ezra's role in reading the Law to the people and leading a revival in Jerusalem is detailed here, showing his impact on the spiritual life of the community.

1 Chronicles 6
This chapter provides a genealogy that includes Ezra's lineage, affirming his priestly heritage and connection to Aaron.

Exodus 28
The priestly garments and duties are described, which relate to Ezra's role as a priest and his dedication to the Law.
Sermons
A Mind Saturated with ScriptureEzra 7:1-10
Divine Sequence in ServiceSunday School Teacher.Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra the DistinguishedWilliam Jones.Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra the ScribeJames Menzies.Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra the Type of as Ideal MinisterJ.S. Exell Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra: His Character and WorkW. Clarkson Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra's Exemplary ConductWilliam Jones.Ezra 7:1-10
God's Helping HandJ. M. Sherwood, D. D.Ezra 7:1-10
Man's Duty in Relation to God's Redemptive TruthHomilistEzra 7:1-10
New Year's DayD. Davies.Ezra 7:1-10
New Year's DayJ. Reid Howatt.Ezra 7:1-10
ScribismW. F. Adeney, M. A.Ezra 7:1-10
Study of the ScripturesJ. Bawden Allen.Ezra 7:1-10
Testimonies to the BibleSunday School TimesEzra 7:1-10
The Christian MinistryThe Preacher's Portfolio.Ezra 7:1-10
The Exodus Under EzraJ.A. Macdonald Ezra 7:1-10
The Inestimable Value of the ScripturesEzra 7:1-10
The Scriptures a Safeguard of a NationW. E. Gladstone.Ezra 7:1-10
The Scriptures a Winding SplendourChristian AgeEzra 7:1-10
People
Aaron, Abishua, Ahitub, Amariah, Artaxerxes, Azariah, Bukki, Eleazar, Ezra, Hilkiah, Israelites, Levites, Meraioth, Phinehas, Seraiah, Shallum, Uzzi, Zadok, Zerahiah
Places
Babylonia, Beyond the River, Jerusalem, Persia
Topics
Artaxerxes, Ar-ta-xerx'es, Azariah, Azari'ah, Ezra, Hilkiah, Hilki'ah, Hilkijah, Persia, Reign, Seraiah, Serai'ah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezra 7:1-5

     1350   covenant, with Israel's priests

Ezra 7:1-21

     7464   teachers of the law

Library
Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.
1. The Greek word Apocrypha, hidden, that is, hidden or secret books, was early applied by the fathers of the Christian church to anonymous or spurious books that falsely laid claim to be a part of the inspired word. By some, as Jerome, the term was extended to all the books incorporated by the Alexandrine Jews, in their Greek version, into the proper canon of the Old Testament, a few of which books, though not inspired, are undoubtedly genuine. Another designation of the books in question …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Reading the Law with Tears and Joy
'And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate, from the morning until midday, before …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Rome and Ephesus
Corinth as portrayed in the Epistles of Paul gives us our simplest and least contaminated picture of the Hellenic Christianity which regarded itself as the cult of the Lord Jesus, who offered salvation--immortality--to those initiated in his mysteries. It had obvious weaknesses in the eyes of Jewish Christians, even when they were as Hellenised as Paul, since it offered little reason for a higher standard of conduct than heathenism, and its personal eschatology left no real place for the resurrection …
Kirsopp Lake—Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
The term Pentateuch is composed of the two Greek words, pente, five, and teuchos, which in later Alexandrine usage signified book. It denotes, therefore, the collection of five books; or, the five books of the law considered as a whole. 1. In our inquiries respecting the authorship of the Pentateuch, we begin with the undisputed fact that it existed in its present form in the days of Christ and his apostles, and had so existed from the time of Ezra. When the translators of the Greek version, …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
BY JOHN BUNYAN PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR This important treatise was prepared for the press, and left by the author, at his decease, to the care of his surviving friend for publication. It first appeared in a collection of his works in folio, 1692; and although a subject of universal interest; most admirably elucidated; no edition has been published in a separate form. Antichrist has agitated the Christian world from the earliest ages; and his craft has been to mislead the thoughtless, by …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Brave Encouragements
'In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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