Artaxerxes is a name associated with several Persian kings mentioned in the Bible, most notably in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The name Artaxerxes is derived from the Old Persian "Artaxšaçā," meaning "righteous ruler" or "whose reign is through truth." The most prominent Artaxerxes in the biblical narrative is Artaxerxes I, who reigned from 465 to 424 BC. His reign is significant in the context of the Jewish return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Artaxerxes I and the Jewish Return

Artaxerxes I is primarily known for his interactions with Ezra and Nehemiah, two key figures in the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem. In the book of Ezra, Artaxerxes is depicted as a king who showed favor to the Jewish people. Ezra 7:11-26 records a letter from Artaxerxes granting Ezra permission to lead a group of exiles back to Jerusalem and to ensure the proper worship of God according to the Law of Moses. The king's decree provided Ezra with the authority to appoint magistrates and judges and to teach the Law, as well as to ensure that the temple services were properly funded and maintained.

Ezra 7:27-28 reflects Ezra's gratitude: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way, and who has shown me favor before the king and his counselors and all his powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me."

Artaxerxes I and Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah further highlights Artaxerxes' role in the restoration of Jerusalem. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to Artaxerxes, was deeply troubled by the news of Jerusalem's dilapidated state. In Nehemiah 2:1-8, Nehemiah recounts how he approached Artaxerxes with a request to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. The king not only granted Nehemiah's request but also provided him with letters of safe passage and resources for the construction.

Nehemiah 2:8 states, "And may I have a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the house I will occupy?” And the king granted my requests, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me."

Artaxerxes and the Opposition

Despite Artaxerxes' support, the rebuilding efforts faced opposition from surrounding peoples. In Ezra 4, adversaries of Judah and Benjamin wrote to Artaxerxes, accusing the Jews of planning rebellion. Initially, Artaxerxes ordered the work to cease until further investigation. However, the efforts resumed under his reign, demonstrating his eventual support for the Jewish cause.

Artaxerxes II and III

While Artaxerxes I is the most significant in the biblical context, Artaxerxes II (reigned 404-358 BC) and Artaxerxes III (reigned 358-338 BC) are also noted in historical records. However, they do not play a direct role in the biblical narrative. Their reigns are marked by internal strife and external conflicts, which are documented in historical sources outside the Bible.

Conclusion

Artaxerxes I's reign is a pivotal period in Jewish history, as it marks the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. His interactions with Ezra and Nehemiah highlight the providential role of God in the restoration of His people, as well as the influence of a foreign king in fulfilling divine purposes.Artaxerxes

the silence of light; fervent to spoil

Artaxerxes

(the great warrior).

1. The first Artaxerxes is mentioned in (Ezra 4:7) and appears identical with Smerdis, the Magian impostor and pretended brother of Cambyses, who usurped the throne B.C. 522, and reigned eight months.
2. In (Nehemiah 2:1) we have another Artaxerxes. We may safely identify him with Artaxerxes Macrocheir or Longimanus, the son of Xerxces, who reigned B.C. 464-425.

Artaxerxes

Great king, the name or title of several kings of Persia.

1. It is given in Ezra 4:7-24, to Smerdis the Magian, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, B. C. 522, pretending to be Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, whom Cambyses had put to death. His usurped power was used, at the rebuilding of the temple. He was murdered, after a reign of eight months, and was succeeded by Darius son of Hystaspes.

2. The king of this name mentioned in Ezra 7:1-28, is most probably Artaxerxes Longimanus, the son and successor of Xerxes, who ascended the throne B. C. 425, after a mild reign of thirty-nine years. In the seventh year of his reign, Ezra led a second company of the Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, Nehemiah was sent to Jerusalem as governor, Nehemiah 2:1; 5:14.

The Greek form of the name of several Persian kings.

(1.) The king who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:7). He was probably the Smerdis of profane history.

(2.) The king mentioned in Ezra 7:1, in the seventh year (B.C. 458) of whose reign Ezra led a second colony of Jews back to Jerusalem, was probably Longimanus, who reigned for forty years (B.C. 464-425); the grandson of Darius, who, fourteen years later, permitted Nehemiah to return and rebuild Jerusalem.

ARTAXERXES

ar-taks-urk'-sez (Artaxerxes): Is the Greek and Latin form of one, and perhaps of two or three kings of Persia mentioned in the Old Testament.

(1) All are agreed that the Artaxerxes at whose court Ezra and Nehemiah were officials is Artaxerxes I, the son of Xerxes, commonly called Longimanus, who reigned from 465 to 424 B.C. This Artaxerxes was the third son of Xerxes and was raised to the throne by Artabanus, the murderer of Xerxes. Shortly after his accession, Artaxerxes put his older brother Darius to death; and a little later, Artabanus, who perhaps aimed to make himself king, was killed. Hystaspes, the second brother, who seems to have been satrap of Bactria at the time of his father's death, rebelled, and after two battles was deprived of his power and probably of his life. The reign of Artaxerxes was further disturbed by the revolt of Egypt in 460 B.C., and by that of Syria about 448 B.C.

The Egyptians were assisted by the Athenians, and their rebellion, led by Inarus and Amyrtaeus, was suppressed only after five years of strenuous exertions on the part of the Persians under the command of the great general Megabyzus. After the re-conquest of Egypt, Artaxerxes, fearing that the Athenians would make a permanent subjugation of Cyprus, concluded with them the peace of Callias, by which he retained the island of Cyprus; but agreed to grant freedom to all Greek cities of Asia Minor. Shortly after this Megabyzus led a revolt in Syria and compelled his sovereign to make peace with him on his own terms, and afterward lived and died in high favor with his humiliated king. Zopyrus, the son of Megabyzus at a later time, while satrap of Lycia and Caria, led a rebellion in which he was assisted by the Greeks. It is thought by some that the destruction of Jerusalem which is lamented by Nehemiah occurred during the rebellion of Syria under Megabyzus. Artaxerxes I died in 424 B.C., and was succeeded by his son Xerxes II, and later by two other sons, Sogdianus and Ochus, the last of whom assumed the regnal name of Darius, whom the Greeks surnamed Nothus.

(2) Ewald and others have thought that the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7 was the pseudo-Smerdis. The principal objection against this view is that we have no evidence that either the pseudo-Smerdis, or the real Smerdis, was ever called Artaxerxes. The real Smerdis is said to have been called Tanyoxares, or according to others Oropastes. Ewald would change the latter to Ortosastes, which closely resembles Artaxerxes, and it must be admitted that many of the Persian kings had two or more names. It seems more probable, however, that Artaxerxes I is the king referred to; and there is little doubt that the identification of the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7 with the pseudo-Smerdis would never have been thought of had it not been for the difficulty of explaining the reference to him in this place.

(3) The Greek translation of the Septuagint renders the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther by Artaxerxes, and is followed in this rendering by Josephus. There is no doubt that by this Artaxerxes Josephus meant the first of that name; for in the Antiquities, XI, vi, 1 he says that "after the death of Xerxes, the kingdom came to be transferred to his son Cyrus, whom the Greeks called Artaxerxes." He then proceeds to show how he married a Jewish wife, who was herself of the royal family and who is related to have saved the nation of the Jews. In a long chapter, he then gives his account of the story of Vashti, Esther and Mordecai. In spite of this rendering of the Septuagint and Josephus, there is no doubt that the Hebrew achashwerosh is the same as the Greek Xerxes; and there is no evidence that Artaxerxes I was ever called Xerxes by any of his contemporaries. The reason of the confusion of the names by the Septuagint and Josephus will probably remain forever a mystery.

R. Dick Wilson

783. Artachshashta' -- a son and successor of Xerxes, king of ...
... a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia. Transliteration: Artachshashta' Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-takh-shash-taw') Short Definition: Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes ...
/hebrew/783.htm - 5k

783b. Artachshast -- a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia
... 783a, 783b. Artachshast. 784 . a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia.
Transliteration: Artachshast Short Definition: Artaxerxes. ...
/hebrew/783b.htm - 5k

783a. Artachshasta -- a son and successor of Xerxes, king of ...
... 783, 783a. Artachshasta. 783b . a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia.
Transliteration: Artachshasta Short Definition: Artaxerxes. ...
/hebrew/783a.htm - 5k

325. Achashverosh -- king of Persia
... 10:1); of Persian origin; Achashverosh (ie Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this
case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king -- Ahasuerus. ...
/hebrew/325.htm - 6k

Concerning Esther and Mordecai and Haman; and How in the Reign of ...
... CHAPTER 6. Concerning Esther And Mordecai And Haman; And How In The Reign Of Artaxerxes
The Whole Nation Of The Jews Was In Danger Of Perishing. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning esther and.htm

Fragment xvi. On the Seventy Weeks of Daniel. ...
... answer and to build Jerusalem. And this happened in the twentieth year of
the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia. For Nehemiah his cup ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment xvi on the seventy.htm

Fragment xviii. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviour's ...
... 2. From Artaxerxes, moreover, 70 weeks are reckoned up to the time of
Christ, according to the numeration of the Jews. For from ...
/.../the writings of julius africanus/fragment xviii on the circumstances.htm

At this Period of Time we Think Esther and Judith Lived...
... For, while Esther is said to have lived under King Artaxerxes, I find that there
were two Persian kings of that name, and there is much hesitation in ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xii at this period.htm

In the Meantime, those Jews, Who, as we have Said Above...
... But, being few and poor, they made but little progress, until, at last, after the
lapse of about a hundred years, while Artaxerxes the king ruled over the ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ix in the meantime.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... Artaxerxes I.((465-424): the revolt of Megabyzos"The palaces of Pasargadae.
Persepolis, and Susa; Persian architecture and sculpture ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of.htm

Ezra, the Priest and Scribe
... About seventy years after the return of the first company of exiles under Zerubbabel
and Joshua, Artaxerxes Longimanus came to the throne of Medo-Persia. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 50 ezra the priest.htm

The Manner in which Josephus Mentions the Divine Books.
... 3. From the death of Moses to the death of Artaxerxes, who succeeded Xerxes as king
of Persia, the prophets that followed Moses wrote the history of their own ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter x the manner in which.htm

Book 11 Footnotes
... [16] If the Chaldee paraphrast be in the right, that Artaxerxes intended to show
Vashti to his guests naked, it is no wonder at all that she would not submit ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 11 footnotes.htm

Our Friends Take it Amiss that I have Spoken of the Origenists as ...
... He should act like Esther who changed the purpose of Artaxerxes by having so long
concealed the truth as to her race; and still more the patriarch Jacob who ...
/.../18 our friends take it.htm

Artaxerxes (14 Occurrences)
...ARTAXERXES. ar-taks-urk'-sez (Artaxerxes): Is the Greek and Latin form of one, and
perhaps of two or three kings of Persia mentioned in the Old Testament. ...
/a/artaxerxes.htm - 16k

Ar-ta-xerx'es (14 Occurrences)
Ar-ta-xerx'es. Artaxerxes, Ar-ta-xerx'es. Artemas . Multi-Version Concordance
Ar-ta-xerx'es (14 Occurrences). Ezra 4:7 In the days ...
/a/ar-ta-xerx'es.htm - 10k

Bishlam (1 Occurrence)
... bish'-lam (bishlam, "peaceful" (?)) One of three foreign colonists who wrote a letter
of complaint against the Jews to Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7 = 1 Esdras 2:16). ...
/b/bishlam.htm - 7k

Persians (6 Occurrences)
... HISTORY 1. Cyrus 2. Capture of Babylon 3. Cambyses 4. Pseudo-Smerdis 5. Darius I
6. Darius' Suez Canal 7. Xerxes I 8. Artaxerxes II 9. Xerxes II 10. ...
/p/persians.htm - 20k

Rehum (8 Occurrences)
... (2.) The "chancellor" of Artaxerxes, who sought to stir him up against the Jews
(Ezra 4:8-24) and prevent the rebuilding of the walls and the temple of ...
/r/rehum.htm - 10k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... of Shushan. The king, Artaxerxes Longimanus, seems to have been on terms
of friendly familiarity with his attendant. Through his ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Ezra (28 Occurrences)
... In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus (see DARIUS), he obtained
leave to go up to Jerusalem and to take with him a company of Israelites ...
/e/ezra.htm - 29k

Persia (30 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:7 In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the ...
/p/persia.htm - 20k

Mithredath (2 Occurrences)
... Jewish exiles (Ezra 1:8). (2) A Persian, perhaps an official, who was associated
with Bishlam and Tabeel in corresponding with Artaxerxes concerning the ...
/m/mithredath.htm - 8k

Colleagues (8 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:7 In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the ...
/c/colleagues.htm - 8k

Who was Artaxerxes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Darius in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Medo-Persian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

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